<P> The Canterbury Tales is generally thought to have been incomplete at the end of Chaucer 's life . In the General Prologue , some thirty pilgrims are introduced . According to the Prologue , Chaucer 's intention was to write two stories from the perspective of each pilgrim on the way to and from their ultimate destination , St. Thomas Becket 's shrine ( making for a total of four stories per pilgrim ) . Although perhaps incomplete , The Canterbury Tales is revered as one of the most important works in English literature . It is also open to a wide range of interpretations . </P>
how many characters are in the prologue of canterbury tales
some thirty pilgrims