What sub genre of prose is The Canterbury Tales?

The Canterbury Tales is primarily considered a frame story, which is a literary device where a larger story is used to hold together multiple smaller stories.

Here's a breakdown of why and how it fits in:

* Frame Story: The main story is the pilgrimage to Canterbury, with the travelers telling stories along the way.

* Genre: Although the frame story is a narrative poem, the tales themselves encompass various genres like:

* Romance: The Knight's Tale, The Wife of Bath's Tale

* Fable: The Nun's Priest's Tale

* Satire: The Miller's Tale, The Reeve's Tale

* Moral Tale: The Pardoner's Tale

* Tragedy: The Merchant's Tale

While frame stories can be found in prose, The Canterbury Tales is a narrative poem written in Middle English. It is significant for its mix of genres and its insightful social commentary.