CANTURBURY

TALES
CHARACTERS
NARRATOR
- Called Chaucer
- Gregarious and nave
- Accused of being silent
and sullen
- Writes down his
impression of pilgrims
from memory
- Tells about prejudices
THE HOST
- Leader of the group
- Large, loud and merry
quick tempered
- Mediates among
pilgrims and facilitates
the flow of tales
- Harry Bailey
CLERK/OXFORD
STUDENT
- Poor student of
Philosophy
- Spend money on books
- More to learning than
clothes
PARDONER
- Granted papal
indulgence in exchange

for charitable donations

to church
- Collects for profit
- Excels in fraud, carry a
bag full of fake relics
- Has long greasy yellow
hair
- Has gift of singing and
preaching
WIFE OF BATH
- Bath town in Avon
River
- Seamstress
- Takes pleasure in rich
attire
- Presents herself as
someone who loves
marriage
- Deaf leaf ear
- Travelled pilgrimage to
Jerusalem and Europe
- Attractive in Chaucers
time has a gap between
in her front teeth
THE MILLER
- Big mouth
- Stout and brawny
- blasphemous
- Threatens Hosts notion
of propriety when he
drunkenly insist on
telling the 2nd tale
- Seems to enjoy
overturned conventions
THE PRIORES (NUN)

Modest and quiet

Head of her convent
Aspires to have
exquisite taste
- Table manners are
dainty
- Knows French ( not
court)
- Dresses well
- Charitable and
compassionate
THE MONK
- Cares little for rule
- his devotion is to
hunting and eating
- large and loud
- dressed in hunting boots
and furs
- lived in Monasteries
accordingly
- under the rule of St.
Benedict
THE FRIAR
- Roaming priest with no
ties in monasteries
- A great object of
criticism in Chaucers
time
- Always ready to befriend
young women or rich
men who might need
services
- Actively administers the
sacraments in town,

especially those of
marriage and confession
THE SUMMONER
- Brings people accused
of violating church law
to ecclesiastical court
- Face is scarred in
leprosy
- Gets drunk frequently,
irritable nor qualified for
his position
- Speaks few words of
Latin known in attempt
to sound educated
PARSON
- Not corrupt
- Only devout church man
in company
- Lives in poverty but rich in
holy thoughts and deeds
- Pastor of town
- Preaches Gospel and
Practice it
- Everything the Monk, Friar
and Pardoner are not
THE SQUIRE
- Curly haired, youthfully
handsome
- Loves dancing and
courting
- Apprentice and son of
Knight
- Pilgrim that has literary
ambitious besides
Chaucer

KNIGHT
- Pilgrim described in
general prologue
- Teller of 1st tale
- Represents the ideal of a
medieval Christian man
at arms
- First pilgrim Chaucer
describes
- Experienced
- brave
THE LAWYER
- Successful in his field
- Commissioned by the
king
- Knows every stature of
Englands Law by heart
- Upholds justice
THE MANCIPLE
- In charge of getting
provisions for a college
or court
- Lack education smarter
than the 30 lawyers he
feeds
THE MERCHANT
- Trades fur and other
cloths from Flanders
- Part of powerful and
wealthy class in
Chaucers society
THE SHIPMAN
- Rascal
- Known for stealing wine
when captain is sleeping

Brown skinned
Has seen every bay of
England, Spain and
Cartage
THE PHYSICIAN
- Knows the cause of
every malady and cure
most of them
- Spiritual health was
questioned by narrator
- Rarely consults the Bible
- Has an unhealthy love of
financial gain
- Best in his profession
THE FRANKLIN
- Meaning freeman
- Connoisseur (expert) in
food and wine
- His table remains laid
and ready for food all
day
- Neither a vassal serving
lord / member of the
noble class
THE REEVE
- Similar to a manor
steward
- Performs hi job
shrewdly( lord never
loses so much as a ram
to other employees and
vassals under his rule
- Command kept in line
- Steals from master
THE PLOWMAN

Parsons bother and

equally good hearted
Member of peasants
class
Pays his
to church

Leads a good Christian

life
THE GUILDSMEN
Appear as a unit
- Combination of labor
unions and social
fraternity

Craftsmen of similar
occupations joined
together to increase
their bargaining power
and live communally