캔터베리 대성당으로 가는 30여 명의 순례자들이 런던의 타바드 여관에 모이게 된다. 여관 주인의 제안으로 순례자들은 한 사람씩 돌아가며 이야기를 들려주어 가장 훌륭한 이야기를 들려준 이는 저녁 식사를 제공받는 시합을 벌이게 된다. 첫 번째 이야기를 하게 된 기사는 고대 아테네의 군주 테세우스에게 포로로 잡힌 테베 왕족 팔라몬과 아르시테의 이야기를 시작한다. 포로 신세로 감방에 갇혀 있던 팔라몬과 아르시테는 테세우스의 처제 에밀리를 우연히 보게 되고 두 사람은 모두 그녀를 사랑하게 되는데…….

A retelling of the medieval poem about a group of travelers on a pilgrimage to Canterbury and the tales they tell each other.

*Contents

Introduction: Chaucer's Life -- Chaucer's Works xi
The Canterbury Tales
[GROUP A]
The Prologue 3(23)
The Knight's Tale 26(62)
Words between the Host and the Miller 86(2)
The Miller's Tale 88(20)
The Reeve's Prologue 106(2)
The Reeve's Tale 108(12)
The Cook's Prologue 119(1)
The Cook's Tale 120(6)
[GROUP B]
Introduction to the Man of Law's Tale 122(3)
The Man of Law's Prologue 125(1)
The Man of Law's Tale 126(31)
Epilogue to the Man of Law's Tale 156(1)
The Shipman's Tale 157(13)
Words of the Host to the Shipman and the Prioress 169(1)
The Prioress's Prologue 169(1)
The Prioress's Tale 170(7)
Words of the Host to Chaucer 176(1)
Chaucer's Tale of Sir Topaz 177(8)
The Host stops Chaucer's Tale of Sir Topaz 183(2)
Chaucer's Tale of Melibee (in synopsis) 185(4)
Words of the Host to the Monk 186(3)
The Monks Tale 189(25)
(Lucifer, Adam, Samson, Hercules, Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Zenobia, King Peter of Spain, King Peter of Cyprus, Bernabo Visconti of Lombardy, Count Ugolino of Pisa, Nero, Holofernes, King Antiochus the Illustrious, Alexander, Julius Caesar, Croesus)
Words of the Knight and the Host 213(1)
The Nun's Priest's Tale 214(18)
Words of the Host to the Nun's Priest 231(1)
[GROUP C]
The Physician's Tale 232(12)
Words of the Host to the Physician and to the Pardoner 239(2)
The Pardoner's Prologue 241(3)
The Pardoner's Tale 244(37)
[GROUP D]
The Wife of Bath's Prologue 258(22)
Words between the Summoner and the Friar 280(1)
The Wife of Bath's Tale 281(12)
The Friar's Prologue 292(1)
The Friar's Tale 293(12)
The Summoner's Prologue 303(2)
The Summoner's Tale 305(17)
[GROUP E]
The Clerk's Prologue 320(2)
The Clerk's Tale 322(35)
Chaucer's Envoy to the Clerk's Tale 354(2)
The Merchant's Prologue 356(1)
The Merchant's Tale 357(32)
Epilogue to the Merchant's Tale 388(1)
[GROUP F]
The Squire's Prologue 389(1)
The Squire's Tale 389(20)
Words of the Franklin to the Squire and of the Host to the Franklin 407(1)
The Franklin's Prologue 408(1)
The Franklin's Tale 409(28)
[GROUP G]
The Second Nun's Prologue 433(4)
The Second Nun's Tale 437(17)
The Canon's Yeoman's Prologue 449(5)
The Canon's Yeoman's Tale 454(24)
[GROUP H]
The Manciple's Prologue 475(3)
The Manciple's Tale 478(9)
[GROUP I]
The Parson's Prologue 485(2)
The Parson's Tale (in synopsis) 487(3)
Chaucer's Retractions 489(1)
Notes 490