In two later manuscripts, apparently intended for young readers, the Prologues and other references to the pilgrimage frame in the
Pardoner's Tale, the Tale of Sir Thopas, and the Clerk's Tale are edited, rewritten, or simply dropped so that the complex ironies of different narrative levels are transformed into the simple pleasures of a good tale, good advice about proper behavior, and a good moral lesson.
The Canterbury Tales consists of the General Prologue, Knight's Tale, The, Miller's Tale, The, Reeve's Tale, The, Cook's Tale, The, Man of Law's Tale, The , Wife of Bath's Tale, The, Friar's Tale, The, Summoner's Tale, The, Clerk's Tale, The, Merchant's Tale, The, Squire's Tale, The, Franklin's Tale, The , Second Nun's Tale, The, THE CANON'S YEOMAN'S TALE, THE PHYSICIAN'S TALE,
Pardoner's Tale, The , Shipman's Tale, The, Prioress's Tale, The, Tale of Sir Thopas, The, THE TALE OF MELIBEUS (in prose), Monk's Tale, The, Nun's Priest's Tale, The, Manciple's Tale, The, and Parson's Tale, The (in prose), and ends with "Chaucer's Retraction." Not all the tales are complete; several contain their own prologues or epilogues.