In literary works, one of the most valuable components based on which the whole action is formed is the plot. With the help of this literary tool, the authors masterfully manage the narrative and reveal valuable information to the reader precisely at those moments that seem most appropriate to them. In the parts of The Canterbury Tales called The General Prologue and The Wife of Bath’s Tale, the plot has an excellent meaning; in the first, it is almost missed, and in the second, it provides an opportunity to convey the central message of the story.
The use of the plot as a literary tool is well provided in The Wife of Bath’s Tale. This story recounts the journey of a knight who must “interpret whoever will, and say both up and down” to find the answer to a question that will save his life (Chaucer 193). Therefore, the plot is used to provide the reader with a picture and events that follow the main character in their search for what women desire. Through his encounters and communication with different women, he gradually gains awareness that he needs to find an answer, which makes the plot an integral part of this process.
Unlike The Wife of Bath’s Tale, The General Prologue does not pay so much attention to such a literary tool as a plot. This is because this part provides a general description of all the characters, which will be discussed later in the work, who “were all pilgrims, who intended to ride towards Canterbury” (Chaucer 35). In other words, it does not imply a specific action or message that can be revealed through the plot.
In conclusion, The General Prologue and The Wife of Bath’s Tale put the role of the plot in different ways to reveal their primary purpose. It is worth noting that his presence or absence does not make parts of The Canterbury Tales worse since each of them has its own unique purpose for the reader. In the first case, it is absent because the focus is on getting to know the characters, while in the second narrative, attention is focused on the main idea.
Work Cited
Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Canterbury Tales. Open Road Media, 2020.