<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2024786/open_sms">Send us a text</a>April showers bring May flowers, and May flowers bring pilgrims.  No, not those stern po-faced separatists in New England, but a merry fellowship in old England!  We come today to Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, the monument of medieval English literature.  In this episode, we'll focus on the "General Prologue" to the tales: its satirical project, its narrative structure, and a couple of its characters. Additional music:  "Village Theme" by Gesornoud; "Consort for Brass" by Kevin Macleod; "Medieval Flute" by Carlos Carty<a rel="payment" href="https://paypal.me/classicenglishlit?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US">Support the show</a>Please like, subscribe, and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you listen. Thank you! Email: classicenglishliterature@gmail.com Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and YouTube. If you enjoy the show, please consider supporting it with a small donation. Click the "Support the Show" button. So grateful! Podcast Theme Music: "Rejoice" by G.F. Handel, perf. The Advent Chamber Orchestra Subcast Theme Music: "Sons of the Brave" by Thomas Bidgood, perf. The Band of the Irish Guards Sound effects and incidental music: Freesounds.org My thanks and appreciation to all the generous providers!

The Classic English Literature Podcast

"Pilgrims were they all": Chaucer's "General Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales (The Canterbury Tales Part 1)

Where rhyme gets its reason!In a historical survey of English literature, I take a personal and philosophical approach to the major texts of the tradition in order to not only situate the poems, prose, and plays in their own contexts, but also to show their relevance to our own.  This show is for the general listener: as a teacher of high school literature and philosophy, I am less than a scholar but more than a buff.  I hope to edify and entertain!