The Canterbury tales is influenced by the Decameron in that they are both a collection of stories told by different people of different status and sex. The Canterbury tales however are more interesting due to the fact that they are told by a diverse and broader variety of people each with a different personality appearance and gender this creates contrast. Chaucer speaks in quite an ironic tone and sometimes in a slightly satirical manner. At the beginning of the prologue he says that he will describe their condition "To tell you all of their condicioun Of each of them so as it semed me". What they are wearing " And eek in what array that they were inne". He gives enough evidence for the reader or audience to make their own assumptions or accusations and hints at what he thinks of them for example when he talks about the Shipman he says of how he knows all the nooks and crannies of the coast which makes him sound quite suspicious "With many a tempest had his berd been shake and . He knew alle the havenes, as they were, Fro the Gootlond to the cape of Finistere, And every crike in Britaigne and Spaine. This suggests that he knows all the places to smuggle things to and where to hide. .
The contrast in the way he describes the characters also adds interest and humour, some are good some evil some ugly some pretty. Some he describes just their appearance and attire others what they do and their profession. Some characters such as the knight are slightly stereotypical whereas some such as the Frere and the Monk are more of a surprise which again adds interest, neither of these characters do what they are meant to and actually abuse their possessions by taking advantage of people who think they need money for the church. .
"A monk ther was, a fair for the maistrie, An outridere, that lovede venerie, a manly man, to been an abbot able. .
The monk is outgoing and jolly the complete opposite to a normal monk who would probably be quite boring to describe and this is perhaps the reason Chaucer created a monk like this so as not to be boring.
