Symbol: Springtime
The pilgrimage begins in the spring, "whan that Aprill, with his shoures soote / The droghte of March hath perced to the roote" (General Prologue 1 – 2). Since this is the beginning of the po...
Symbol: Physical Features
The practitioners of medieval physiognomy thought that it was possible to learn things about someone's personality from their physical characteristics. For this reason, various physical features in...
Symbol: Clothing and Hairstyles
The portraits of the pilgrims use their clothing as a symbol of the personality traits of the wearer. The Wife of Bath's red stockings probably symbolize her lustful nature, and her large hat repre...
Allegory: Pilgrimage from London to Canterbury
It's probable that the pilgrims' journey from London to Canterbury represents another journey that was very important to a medieval person: the journey from Earth to Heaven. As the journey begins,...