"Sir Thopas" comes after the "Prioress's Tale", a poem which is exemplary of the "miracle of the Virgin" genre and which tells the story of a child martyr killed by Jews. Seemingly wishing to counter the sombre mood that this tale instills in the pilgrims, the Host hails Chaucer and suggests that he: "Telle us a tale of myrth, and that anon" (line 706). Chaucer admits to having no tales to tell other than a "rym lerned longe agoon" (line 709), and on the acceptance of the Host proceeds to tell the "Tale of Thopas".