Cook
Specific Quotes
Direct
Characterizati
on
Indirect
Characterization
Social
Class
“For boiling chicken with a marrow-bone,
Sharp flavoring-powder and a spice for savor.
He could distinguish London ale by flavor,
And he could roast and seethe and broil and fry,
Make good thick soup and bake a tasty pie.
But what a pity — it seemed to me,
That he would have an ulcer on his knee.
As for blancmange (a creamy chicken soup),
He made it with the best.” (lines 389-398)
He is short
with a dark
complexion
and dark hair.
He has a huge
ulcer on my
knee
- While an
Peasant
apprentice he
would leave work
to enjoy himself.
He was fired for
this.
Deadly
Sin
Sloth
- He resells pies
that are full of
flies
Do they
uphold to
proper values
of their social
position?
Yes, he does.
The peasants
had nothing
and no morals.
The Cook is
lazy and
corrupt.
Hence, he
holds to the
values of the
peasant class.
Chaucer’s
Criticism
No, he does
not. The
Merchant is
not a worthy
man of
anything
because he is a
liar. He is also
in debt, which
no one knows
about.
- greedy and
immoral many
merchants were
-His kitchen is
unsanitary b/c of
his ulcer
Merchant
- "His wits to work, none knew he was in debt,
he was so stately in negotiation, loan bargain,
and commercial obligation."(lines 290-292).
-"there was a merchant with a forking beard and
motley dress, high on his horse he sat, upon his
head a Flemish beaver hat and on his feet
daintily buckled boots."(lines 280-83)
He has a
beard and
wears a
beaver hat
from Flanders
and buckled
boots. He sits
on a high
horse.
- He’s very
greedy. He lies
and cheats out
the people he
sells to. All he
cares about is
making money
for himself.
-He dresses nice
even though he
can’t afford it.
-He is in debt and
a fraud.
Middle
Class
Greed
- a lazy & bad
apprentice
- lower class
people who
have no morals
- how
disgusting the
cooks were
during
Chaucer’s time
- how people buy
nice things (like
clothes) even
though they
can’t afford it