A Review of The Canterbury Tales: The Prologue to the Canon Yeoman's Tale

A canon and his yeoman* Chaucer find to be riding together. Chaucer describes how the canon met the pilgrims to Canterbury with a salutation: 

''God save,'' quod he, ''this joly companye!

Faste have I priked,'' quod he, ''for your sake.'' 

By-cause that I wolde yow atake,

To ryden in this mery companye.'' 

The host (Chaucer), welcomes both the canon and the yeoman into their company as he encourages the canon to tell a tale as the rest of their company have been doing. Chaucer finds the canon to wear simple garments even though he is so knowledgeable. Like his master, the yeoman cares little about his appearance. After the yeoman spends time conversing with the host, the canon catches rank with the pilgrims to Canterbury. The canon falsely accuses the yeoman of speaking ill about him as he always looks is suspicious of others. Chaucer explains that the reason for this suspicion of others is because the canon always speaks ill of others and assumes others talk ill of him. Already, Chaucer sides with the yeoman over the canon, and perhaps this explains more influence of John Wycliffe upon Chaucer as the latter reformer stood for the common man against some of the corruption of the clergy. 

The host reveals that the canon's words about the yeoman were simply not true. In response, the canon leaves as he feels sorrow and shame. Shortly thereafter, the yeoman tells a tale.

Chaucer was a mastermind of storytelling. He has left stories that has inspired writers even in the modern era such as J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and J. K. Rowling. The Canterbury Tales is a timeless classic that has lasted the test of time. Here are words as fine as silk and poetry as beautiful as anything that had ever been written in the English language. 

*a yeoman was lesser than many nobilities though higher than serfs.