The narrator

When we read The Canterbury Tales, we often focus on the outrageous characters that Chaucer has created.  But we do not hear directly from them: there's an intermediary--the narrator--who first reports on what they look and sound like and who, later, is responsible for transmitting the pilgrims' tales to us.  What do you make of this narrator?  Where does he fit into the social scheme of the "General Prologue."  And how does he operate as a narrator--as an observer and recorder?  Do we have any reason to be concerned about the authenticity of his records?  And what do you think of his perspective?

Class and Rank and Social Positioning

Chaucer's pilgrims are a motley crew, coming from a number of ranks in medieval society.  If you select this line of discussion, I'd like you to comment on how Chaucer suggests rank (or how the pilgrims themselves suggest their social position).  How do you know who is high and who low?  Who's a poser and who's the real thing?  Alternatively, you may comment more broadly on the social vision that you see at work so far in The Canterbury Tales.

Attire

In the "General Prologue," Chaucer's narrator is very concerned with what his pilgrims are wearing.  Select one pilgrim (or maybe for the sake of contrast two), and discuss in a short post how the pilgrim is dressed and what, in turn, attire tells about this character.  Alternatively, you might speak broadly about the role of clothing in the "GP."