Here we are concerned with Chaucer’s use of humour in his ‘Prologue to the Canterbury Tales’. We also find some examples of pure humour in his work. Pure humour is just like humour, there is no considerable difference between both.

A humorist is one who is quick to perceive the funny sides of the things which are absurd and ridiculous. They have special sense of humour with which they can make the others laugh at what is inconsistent and incongruous. Humour is generally created with the help of irony and satire. Irony means difference between appearance and reality whereas satire means to mend the follies by correction. The clerk of Oxford carries in him an example of pure humour and Chaucer makes the fullest use of the situation and remarks about him;

“He is as lean as is a rake.”

Apart from the character of 'The Knight' and 'The Parson', almost all the characters have been dealt with ridiculous touch.