The Canterbury Tales
by Geoffrey Chaucer
Introduction and Notes
•Theme
– infinite variety of human nature
•Pilgrimage – used as a device to frame
individual stories told by individual
characters
•Date – April 11, 1387
•St. Thomas’ shrine – to ask for help &
healing
•Narrator – Chaucer
•Number – 29
•Naïve & observant – Chaucer pretends to
be naïve, but he is really observant of
human nature
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Chaucer’s plan – to describe the pilgrims
Knight – 1st because he had the highest
social rank – noble, distinguished, honorable,
truthful, generous, courteous – he has just
returned from the Crusades – he has been
spreading Christianity – true Christian
Direct characterization – lines 70-74 – “He was a
true, a perfect gentle-knight”
Squire – 20 – agile, strong, valiant, welldressed, sang, played music, horseman, fighter,
dancer, lover – he was courteous/solicitous of
his father – he respected his father
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Yeoman – pg. 97 – hood/coat of green,
bow & arrow, hunter, shield & sword,
fighter, dagger, serious-minded, medal
of St. Christopher – patron St. of travelers
– well traveled – outdoorsman
Nun – Prioress (ranked just below the
head nun of an abbey) – simple, coy (shy
but flirtatious) – clinging, helpless,
dainty, jewelry, wealth – Madame
Eglantyne (wild rose with long, thorny
stems) – a put on - pretentious
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Chaucer's attitude toward the nun amused tolerance – he thinks she is
amusing, but at the same time, he simply
tolerates her
Monk – ignored rules – worldly – fine
clothes – overweight – wealthy –
hypocrite – eats too much – rides, hunts,
sports
Picture on pg. 99 – clothes, ignores
doctrines of the church, spurs, hunting,
heavy, eats much
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Friar – represents corruption of the church
– forgives sins for gifts
Lines 227-254 – The more a person gave
the more the Friar forgave
Lines 244-254 – Indirect characterization –
Chaucer describes who the Friar knew and
how he spent his time
Lines 253-254 – The Friar will use people
for money
Why didn’t Friar develop relationship with
poor? Because they were poor and could
not help him
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Merchant – spoke highly of himself –
others thought he actually occupied a high
paying position – In reality, he was broke
Oxford Cleric – (Oxford student) thin,
poorly dressed, serious student, loved
books over all else
Lines 309-312 – Any money the cleric took
from friends, he would buy books – He
would pray for them in return for
borrowing books
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Sergeant at the Law – (Lawyer) wary,
wise, discreet, respected
Line 325 – commission – to give
authorization
Franklin – wealthy landowner –
confident, cheerful, lives for pleasure,
entertains a lot
Middle class – Just emerging – new social
class
Line 368 – girdle – emphasizes his
obsession with food
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Haberdasher, Dyer, Carpenter,
Weaver, Carpet-maker – members of
the middle class – skilled workers
Line 377 – avouches – affirms; asserts
positively
Cook – pus on his knee – prepared meals
for them all – cream of chicken
Skipper – rode horse poorly – used to the
sea – thief – ruthless – competent
Finisterre – means “end of the world” –
skipper has traveled to the ends of the
earth
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Line 420 – The Maudelayne – irony? –
comes from the word maudlin – means
sentimental – the Skipper is not
sentimental
Doctor – quack – treated patients by
looking at their stars instead of at their
illnesses – makes charms & magic images
– blood - red clothes – loves gold – love of
$ is the root of evil – stars – Bible –
charms – effigies
4 humors - *see footnote #56 on pg. 105
– leeches/bleeding
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Woman (Wife) of Bath – has had 5 husbands
– deaf in one ear – skilled @ cloth making –
bold, saucy, outspoken, angry when others don’t
give in to her – self-confident, loves traveling
Lines 459-460 – selfish and arrogant
Parson – practiced what he preached – gave to
poor – holy, pure, kind, good
Why is he poor? Gave to others
How does he lead? By example
How should priests behave? They should take
care of parishioners & mind their duties
Chaucer thinks others should share traits of
integrity, kindness, & generosity
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Plowman – brother of the Parson – honest
worker, good & true, good citizen
Line 542 – direct characterization – honest,
good, & true
Why does Chaucer place the description of the
Miller after the Plowman? Accentuates the
virtues of the Plowman vs. the buffoonishness &
criminality of the Miller
Miller – 224 lbs. – stout, big, big, brawny,
broad, slovenliness, cunning
Miller’s hair color – red like a sow or fox –
slovenliness, cunning
Line 575 – direct characterization – mighty
mouth like a furnace
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Manciple – buyer of provisions – shrewd
– trickster – made shrewd decisions –
masters were lawyers
Reeve – old, choleric (easily angered),
thin, bad temper – estate manager –
close-cut hair – in charge of livestock –
nice house – has saved/hoarded $$ carpenter by trade – rides gray stallion
named Scot – rode at the end of the
group
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Summoner – fire-red face, carbuncles (pusfilled boils resulting from a bacterial infection
under the skin), has pimples, unintelligent,
black, scabby brows
Line 644 – “hot and lecherous as a sparrow” lewd, sexually corrupt
Line 646 – Indirect characterization
Immoral behavior - drunkenly behavior – would
allow immoral behavior to continue if paid off –
knew the secrets of young men
Sneaky or respectable?
Truly religious or an illusion?
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Pardoner – somewhat like the Summoner
– maybe even worse – sang like a woman
– yellow hair
Hair like rat-tails – implies moral
corruption – like a rat
Holy relic on his hat – bag full of pardons
– voice like a goat – no facial hair –
Line 711 – gelding/mare – meaning?
How does . . . treat poor country people?
Tricks them and makes the priests and
congregation feel foolish
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Lines 748-749 – Chaucer apologizes b/c he is
going to report matters frankly and not spare
any details
Host – jovial, enjoys entertaining, compliments
all of the pilgrims, blesses them, generous,
curious fellow
Proposes idea – for their enjoyment, each
should tell 2 tales going and 2 tales returning
from Canterbury – winner receives a feast – this
will draw business for him
Pilgrims agree
Drawing for cut – draw lots or pull straws
Pilgrims agree to allow Host to judge their tales