Discuss the allegorical content of The Canterbury Tales by examining characters embodying specific flaws of medieval society. How can the characters you encountered so far be considered allegorical?
An allegory is in
effect a highly organized protracted metaphor. The New Evidence legend of the winegrower
is one: Jesus is talking not about fair pay for farm workers (he was not a
union rep) but about entry to Heaven, and every character and incident in his
story exactly matches an element of the deeper meaning. Spenser's 'Faerie
Queene' is similarly allegorical, and every child will have spotted the
Christian hope it helps
