The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1345–1400) was enormously popular in medieval England, with over 90 copies in existence from the 1400s.
Its popularity may be due to the fact that the tales were written in Middle English, a language that developed after the Norman invasion, after which those in power would have spoken French. Continuous publication of The Canterbury Tales since Chaucer's death, and the inspiration it has provided for other writers and artists, are testimony to the enduring appeal of his characters and their stories: proof that people's hopes and fears – and the English sense of humour – are little changed by six centuries of history. Read here.
Like many frame narratives, The Canterbury Tales lacks a clear protagonist because the work acts as a vessel for the individual stories. Chaucer himself narrates the frame story of the pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral, but he doesn’t drive the storytelling contest, which is the main action of the frame. He offers observations and opinions, but aside from when he tells his own tale, he remains in the background. The Host initiates the contest, but the pilgrims themselves push the plot from story to story with their interjections and arguments. The individual tales, with their structured plots, generally have clear protagonists. They often reflect on the teller of the story. For example, “The Miller’s Tale” revolves around Alisoun and Nicholas’s elaborate plot to commit adultery. By having the primary actors of his story be deceptive and hard-hearted, the Miller reveals himself to be a bit cruel instead of merely bawdy. Read here.
Here you can read a detailed description of the pilgrims.
https://cspace.spaggiari.eu/CHAUCER.pdf
https://www.mondadorieducation.it/chaucer.pdf
http://opere.loescher.it/opere/Chaucer_Canterbury.pdf
https://www.loescher.it/Risorse/LOE/The_Origins_(bozza).pdf
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