Spring
The earliest example of imagery that occurs in The Canterbury Tales is the General Prologue's description of springtime. The narrator describes spring in sexual terms, depicting how the "showers" of April impregnate the "drought" of March and engender new life. This imagery is significant because it underscores the tone at the beginning of the text, which is one of rebirth, renewal, and lighthearted celebration.
Bodies and Faces
Appearance and physiognomy (a person's facial structure and expression) play a major role in determining the personalities and motivations of the characters. The Miller, for example, is described as having a mouth as big as a furnace – a feature that comes into play during his crass and over-the-top fabliaux tale. The Wife of Bath is described as gap-toothed and loose in her bodily demeanor, suggesting her comfort with herself and her sexual confidence despite her lack of beauty.
Apparel
Along with bodies and faces, apparel is another marker of a character's social standing and reputation. Many of the religious figures, for example, don elaborate outfits that are at odds with their purported commitment to poverty and modesty. Readers will likely notice that the way a character dresses often conflicts with the reputation they are trying to maintain for themselves.
Violence
Throughout The Canterbury Tales, there are varying degrees of violent acts that occur: a brutal fight between Palamon and Arcite in The Knight's Tale, a thunderous fart in the Miller's Tale, and moments of what would now be considered domestic violence in the Wife of Bath's Tale, to name only a few. At times, violence is serious and has major consequences. Other times, violence is a source of humor and entertainment. The way that violence is depicted in the text mirrors the balance of "earnest and game" that the narrator alludes to in the General Prologue.
