In Canterbury Tales why do scholars consider this work unfinished?

Answer 1

As he joins the pilgrimage Harry Bailey - the innkeeper of the Tabard Inn in Southwark (where the story begins) - announces that each pilgrim will tell two stories on the way to Canterbury, and another two on the way home. Then a decision will be make (by Harry) as to who has told the best story.

In the text we have no pilgrim tells two stories - let alone the four we have been promised - so we know the work was never finished.

Answer 2

Because he died

In September 1390, records say that he was robbed, and possibly injured, while conducting the business, and it was shortly after, on 17 June 1391, that he stopped working in this capacity. Almost immediately, on 22 June, he began as Deputy Forester in the royal forest of North Petherton, Somerset. This was no sinecure, with maintenance an important part of the job, although there were many opportunities to derive profit. He was granted an annual pension of twenty pounds by Richard II in 1394. It is believed that Chaucer stopped work on the Canterbury Tales sometime towards the end of this decade.

Answer 3

Scholars consider "Canterbury Tales" unfinished because Chaucer did not complete the planned structure of the collection of stories. The work was intended to have more tales from a wider range of characters, but Chaucer passed away before he could finish it. Additionally, the Fragmentary nature of the work, with some tales being incomplete or lacking a conclusion, adds to the sense of it being unfinished.

Answer 4

because

Answer 5

He died