canterbury tales, the: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium in academic/literary contexts; Low in everyday conversation.Formal, academic, literary.
Quick answer
What does “canterbury tales, the” mean?
A landmark Middle English collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the late 14th century, framed as tales told by pilgrims traveling to Canterbury Cathedral.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A landmark Middle English collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the late 14th century, framed as tales told by pilgrims traveling to Canterbury Cathedral.
Refers not only to the literary work itself but also to its cultural legacy—studied as a foundational text of English literature, a source of historical insight into medieval England, and a canonical example of early vernacular narrative poetry.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both varieties refer to the same work.
Connotations
In British context, may carry stronger cultural familiarity due to Canterbury's location in England and Chaucer's status as a national literary figure.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK educational contexts, but the title is equally canonical in US literature curricula.
Grammar
How to Use “canterbury tales, the” in a Sentence
be + studying + The Canterbury Taleshave + read + The Canterbury Talesinclude + The Canterbury Tales + in the syllabusVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “canterbury tales, the” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Canterbury Tales manuscript is in the British Library.
- His Canterbury Tales edition includes glosses.
American English
- The Canterbury Tales project digitized all manuscripts.
- Her Canterbury Tales research focuses on the Wife of Bath.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Frequent in literature, history, and medieval studies departments. Example: 'Her thesis examines gender roles in The Canterbury Tales.'
Everyday
Rare, unless discussing literature or education. Example: 'I remember struggling with Middle English in The Canterbury Tales at school.'
Technical
Used in literary criticism, philology, and manuscript studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “canterbury tales, the”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “canterbury tales, the”
- Writing 'Canterburry' (incorrect spelling).
- Saying 'Canterbury Tale' (singular, omitting the 's').
- Omitting 'The' in formal references.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Geoffrey Chaucer, often called the father of English literature.
It was written in the late 14th century (circa 1387-1400).
No, Chaucer planned 120 tales but only completed 24 before his death.
It is one of the first major works written in Middle English, offering vivid insights into medieval life and establishing English as a literary language.
A landmark Middle English collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the late 14th century, framed as tales told by pilgrims traveling to Canterbury Cathedral.
Canterbury tales, the is usually formal, academic, literary. in register.
Canterbury tales, the: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkæntəbəri ˌteɪlz ðə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkæntərˌbɛri ˌteɪlz ðə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CANterbury—where pilgrims CAN travel to tell TALES.
Conceptual Metaphor
LITERATURE IS A JOURNEY (the frame narrative is a pilgrimage); STORIES ARE COMPANIONS (tales accompany the travelers).
Practice
Quiz
What is the narrative frame of The Canterbury Tales?