poet a chance to bring together people of all classes- knight monk merchant wife and ploughman It makes the poem like a mirror of life Through this simple frame Chaucer unites variety movement and conversation It is one of the earliest and most natural narrative structures in English literature Realistic and Vivid Character Chaucer s narrative power shines most in his portraits of pilgrims He gives each pilgrim a lively introduction He shows their clothes habits and speech to show who they are For example the Knight is noble and humble He has fought mortal battles Chaucer says At mortal batailles hadde he been fiftene He had been at fifteen mortal battles The Prioress is polite but worldly She weeps if she sees a mouse in a trap Chaucer says She wolde wepe if that she saugh a mouse Kaught in a trappe She would weep if she saw a mouse Caught in a trap The Wife of Bath is bold and talkative Chaucer says about her knowledge of romantic matters in such a way Of remedies of love she knew per chaunce She knew as it happened about remedies for love Each character seems to move and speak like a real person This makes Chaucer not only a poet but also a born storyteller and painter of life Use of Humour and Satire Chaucer s humour is gentle not cruel He laughs at human weakness but never hates anyone He shows both good and bad sides with a smile The Monk loves hunting instead of praying The Friar knows the taverns better than the church Chaucer writes humorously He knew the tavernes wel in every toun He knew the taverns well in every town Through such lines he criticizes corruption but keeps the tone soft This mixture of fun and truth gives life to his storytelling The Poet as a Narrator and Observer Chaucer appears in the story as one of the pilgrims He speaks in a friendly and curious tone He observes each character with interest and love He never judges harshly He writes as if talking to a friend saying Me thynketh it acordaunt to resoun To telle yow al the condicioun It seems to me in accord with reason To tell you all the circumstances This personal conversational tone makes the narrative warm and natural It feels like a story being told at an inn not a formal poem Variety of Tone and Style Chaucer s narrative art is full of variety Sometimes he is serious sometimes funny Sometimes he praises sometimes he mocks gently He can move easily from the nobility of the Knight to the vulgar talk of the Miller His language changes with each pilgrim This skill shows his deep understanding of human nature and social life Realism and Humanism Chaucer s pilgrims come from all walks of life They are nobles clergy merchants and workers They eat laugh argue and love like real people He observes them with sympathy and truth He gives English literature its first realistic social picture Chaucer s The General Prologue is a masterpiece of narrative art His story is simple but full of life His characters speak like real people His humour is kind his observation sharp and his tone full of humanity Through this work Chaucer proves himself a great poet a true realist and the first great storyteller in English literature