THE ROLE OF THE GENERAL PROLOGUE IN ESTABLISHING COMPOSITION
Keywords:
Keywords: General Prologue, composition, narrative structure, frame narrative, characterization, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, pilgrimage, medieval literature, thematic unityAbstract
Annotation: This article examines the role of the General Prologue in
establishing composition in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. The General
Prologue serves as the structural and thematic foundation of the entire work,
introducing the setting, the pilgrimage framework, and the diverse group of characters
who participate in the storytelling process. It plays a crucial role in shaping the
narrative organization, connecting individual tales into a unified literary composition.
Through vivid characterization, social representation, and detailed description,
Chaucer creates a complex artistic structure that reflects the social, cultural, and moral
realities of medieval England.
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