The “Gentil” Knight The General Prologue to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales is easily comparable to an introduction of a story. Using careful language and a subtle manipulation of words, Chaucer gives a slight glimpse inside each of the pilgrim’s characters. It is a difficult task, however, to distinguish the difference between Chaucer the writer and Chaucer the Pilgrim. How much of what is written on the page are we supposed to believe to be …showed first 75 words of 1200 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1200 total…each pilgrim’s personalities. The openness of the language and the complicating idea of Chaucer the Pilgrim and Chaucer the writer as two separate identities raises many questions about the validity of what Chaucer the Pilgrim believes. However, the entire process only draws the reader further into the story and the quest for the truth. Chaucer, the Pilgrim and the Writer, just wanted to set the scene, make you think, and seek out the ending.