The Canterbury Tales is a collection of twenty-four stories written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer. The tales are presented as a storytelling contest by a group of pilgrims on a journey from Southwark to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. Each pilgrim tells a story to pass the time, and their tales range from bawdy and humorous to serious and moralistic.
The stories provide valuable insights into medieval English society as they explore social class, religion, and morality. Chaucer also contributed significantly to the development of the English language, helping establish it as a legitimate language for serious literary works-a masterpiece whose vivid cast of pilgrims and unforgettable tales still delight readers over six centuries later.
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