Chaucer’s Pilgrims
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Your Task: Create a PowerPoint Slide with the Following Items—
Name of Pilgrim
Picture of Pilgrim
Description of Pilgrim (based on text and with line references)
Analysis of Pilgrim (Social Status; Chaucer’s Opinion)
Any extra information you feel is important!!!
You will be presenting these to the class. When finished, save it to your
directory and send a copy to my email (landerson@wcpss.net), so I
can add it to the PowerPoint.
The Canterbury Tales
Pilgrims
The Knight
Description:
Physical:
-possessed fine horses
-wore a fustian tunic stained with
smudges from his armor (lines 75-78)
Personality:
-“He was a true, a perfect gentleknight” (line 74)
-“was a “distinguished knight”(66) who
“had done nobly in his sovereign’s war” (47)
Analysis:
Social Status: Vassal (middle upper)
Chaucer’s Opinion: Chaucer seems to
have great respect for the knight, essentially
saying that he was the living example of chivalry.
He appreciates that he was a wise and modest
man through all of his battles.
Sammi Levy
The Squire
Description
•“Locks as curly as if they had been pressed” (83)
•20 years old, moderate body frame, wonderful agility and
strength (84-86)
•Sings and whistles all day (93)
•He could make songs and poems. Knows how to ride a
horse, dance, draw and write (96-98)
•“lowly and serviceable” (101)
Analysis
Social Class: Middle
Inference of Chaucer’s Opinion:
He mentions in the beginning of the description that he is the
son of the Knight. He also notes that he was humbled to
serve his father but emphasizes more on his physical and
literary talents.
Stanley Okoye
Yeoman
• Name: Yeoman
• Description: Wore medal
of St. Christopher (line
117) and a green coat and
hood. Used peacockfeathered arrows and a
mighty bow (lines 105107).
• Analysis: New breed of
warriors, using bow ‘n
arrows and long daggers.
Part of lower class.
• Knew woodcraft and was
a proper forester (lines
112 and 121).
Addie Jones
Description:
• A Nun
• Known as Madam Eglantyne
• Had a way of smiling that was
very simple and coy
• Spoke in French and went to
stratford-atte-bowe
• Pleasant, and friendly,
compassionate dignified with a
kind of grace
• Had great manners, clean
Analysis :
• Social Class: She acted upper
class (clergy).
• Chaucer’s Opinion: He thought
she seemed fake because she
acted high class.
Sam Dowling
Monk
Description
Hunting was his sport(170)
He was a fat and
personable priest(204)
His coat fastened up to his
chin(199)
His head was bald and
shone like lookingglass(202)
Analysis
people believed that the
monk was lazy and didn’t
do any hard labor
Jasmine Horton
Hubert the Friar
Description:
Social Class:
 Sweet tongued and merry
(260)
 Was a pale man, and
seemed small, but he could
beat almost anyone in a
physical fight (242-243)
 Was a man of the church;
however, he avoided beggars
(246)
 Had affairs with girls, then
married them off to cover it
up (216-217)
•Clergyman/
Upper Middle
Class
Chaucer’s Bias: The friar is
shown as the trickster, coming
across as a friar but always having
an alternative motive, be it money
or girls. Basically described as the
medieval con artist.
Aaron Chapman
The Merchant
• Name : Merchant
• Description : He has a forking
beard and dresses in multi-colors.
He wears a Flemish beaver hat
and daintily buckled boots.(280283)
• Analysis : The merchant acted
proper and fair. He was good at
giving loans, bargains and
negotiations. (291-292) Most likely
he was in the middle class.
• Interesting facts :
– The merchant was well liked by
the people but no one could
remember his name. (294)
– He carried himself so well that no
one knew that he was in
debt.(290)
Heather Parry
Seth Cunningham
Oxford Cleric
• Description:
Thin man
-298
Rides a skinny horse -297
Worn out clothes
-300
Hollow look
-299
• Analysis:
Lower class (Poor)—But
Educated, so Middle Class
Chaucer’s opinion-he is
formal, respectful, logical,
and lofty. A quiet man who
has a burning desire to
learn. When he does speak
he is straight to the point.
SERGEANT OF THE LAW
• He was very successful
and was known all
around for his greatness
and he memorized all of
the court cases and
verdicts of King William’s
time. And worked at St
Paul (which is a
Cathedral)
• A successful lawyer
commissioned by the
king. He upholds justice
in matters large and
small.
By: Justin Pittman
The Franklin
• Description- White as a daisy
petal was his beard and high
colored and benign.
• Analysis- His household was
free to everyone. He was never
out of any food. He loved a
morning sop of cake in wine.
Franklin was a member for the
shire. And a well to do
landowner who is not of the
nobility.
Ahsonna Clanton
The Guildsmen
Description:
• “trim and fresh” (375)
• Were all of one guild (374)
• Carried silver knives that
guaranteed a like display on belts
and in “pouches” (376-7)
• Wealthy and respected enough to
be town council members (382)
• Wives liked “being seen” (387)
Analysis:
Social Class: Upper Middle Class
Chaucer’s Opinion: He seems to see
these men as representative of a
class that is growing in status—the
middle class. They have wealth,
respect and political power in their
towns. However, he does point out
the issue that they may be a little
ostentatious, perhaps due to the
expectations of their wives.
Weaver
Haberdasher
Dyer
Ms. Anderson
Carpenter
Carpet-Maker
The Cook
Description:
• employee of the Guildsmen
(389)
• “stood alone” in his field—best
cook around in a variety of
methods (389-94)
• had an ulcer on his knee (396)
Analysis:
Social Class: Lower
Inference of Chaucer’s Opinion:
He seems to like and respect
the Cook’s dishes, though he
has little to say about him. The
fact that he points out his ulcer
perhaps demonstrates a pity
for the man’s health situation.
Ms. Anderson
The Skipper
•
•
He came from Dartmouth
He rode a farmer’s horse the best he
could
• With a dagger under his arm
• The summer heat tanned his color
brown
• He was certainly an excellent fellow
• He knew all the havens
• The barge he owned was called the
Maudelayne
Analysis:
• He was an excellent fellow, but the nicer
rules of conscience he ignored. When
he fought, the enemy vessel sank, and
he sent his prisoners home; they walked
the plank.
He was hardy and prudent.
Chris Barnes
The Doctor
Description:
- He was a perfect practicing
physician.
-Knows astronomy
-knew nothing of the bible
-loved gold
Analysis:
Social class: middle class
Inference of Chaucer’s opinion:
He views the doctor as the perfect
physician. Chaucer also points out
that the doctor knew nothing of the
bible and loved gold which
demonstrates that the doctor may
only care about gold.
Teressa Whitley
Wife of Bath
Janay Washington
Description
• Somewhat deaf (466)
• Dresses heavenly, with a large
hat upon her head(463-464)
• Her face was bold and
handsome (468)
• She had five husbands (470)
• She had gapped teeth (478)
• Large hips and her heels spurred
under that. (483)
• She was very knowledgeable of
love, art and old dances(485486)
• She rode a horse and traveled to
many places: Jerusalem, rivers,
Rome, Boulogne and many other
places.
Analysis
• In Chaucer’s opinion he seems
to think she is knowledgeable
• He thinks greatly of her and
describes her in a good and
positive way.
• He was poor
• He preached Christ’s Gospel
• Followed what he believed in.
• Never asked for money
• Always helping people
• Never judged people
• Always had a mission
Chaucer’s opinion- He was
a good person who always made
good choices and never begged.
He was always decent and kindhearted.
Amber Rhodes
The Plowman
• Wore a tabard smock ( short
jacket) and rode a mare (555).
• a hard-working, peasant farmer.
• Person with a good heart ( 545)
• Social status: lower class
• Chaucer’s Opinion: He’s an
honest, good and true worker
who has a good heart. He paid
his tithes on what he owned and
earning to the church.
Tien Nguyen
Description:
The Miller
•Chap of sixteen stone, A great stout fellow big in brawn
and bone.
•Broad, Knotty, and short-shouldered,
•His beard, like any sow or fox, was red and broad as
well, as though it were a spade;
•And at its very tip, his nose displayed a wart on which
there stood a tuft of hair red as the bristles in an old
sow’s ear.
•His nostrils were as black as they were
wide.
•He had a sword and buckler at his
side,
•His mighty mouth was like a furnace
door.
•He wore a hood of blue and a white
coat. (Page 135-136, Lines 561- 584)
Analysis:
Social Class: Middle Class (laborer)
Chaucer’s Opinion: Thought he was a
thief. Often fought in bars and also got
into wresting bouts.
Tucker Wolf
Manciple
Description- He was
never rash whether he
bought on credit or paid
cash. Or be frugal as he
might desire, and make
him fit to help in any
legal case there was to
try.
Analysis- The man is
wise with his money,
possibly stingy. He is
also well versed in law.
Will Elam
The Reeve
Description:
• Old, bad-tempered, and thin (605)
• Dresses like a priest (609)
• Once a carpenter of first rate skill (632)
• Wears a long overcoat with a rusty blade on
his side
Analysis
Social Class: Middle
The author explains that he was a mean
person. He watches his master’s properties
on the farm and was feared by people who
were beneath his rank.
Anh Nguyen
Summoner
Description:
• Physical
– Acne on his face; black scabby brows and
thin beard (645; 651)
– Scared little children (646)
– Had a large garland on his head (684-5)
– Loves garlic, leeks and onions (652)
• Personality:
– Knew of people’s sins and used the
knowledge to get money from them ((6715; 683)
– Liked to drink—got drunk and spoke in
Latin (655-6)
– Pretentious—thought he was smarter than
everyone else
Analysis:
• Social Class: Middle/Clergy
• Chaucer’s Opinion: He probably didn’t respect
the fact that the Summoner blackmailed
people by threatening them with
excommunication (681). He also points out
his love of drinking, which shows the sin of
gluttony.
Ms. Anderson
Pardoner
•Rides with the Summoner.(689)
•Has yellow hair like wax.(695)
•Wears a little cap but no hood.(700-703)
•Has bulging eyes like a hare.(704)
•Sweet voice like a goat.(708)
•Has no beard or facial hair only the
smoothest chin.(709-710)
•Liar. (725-726)
•And a great singer. (731-735)
He is of the middle-ish class/clergy man.
Chaucer thought him an important character
for his personality and vocal abilities but no
Louis Muccio
good because he was a liar and a bag of hot
air.
Host (Harry Bailey)
Description:
• Bright eyes, wide girth (773)
• Wise and full of tact (775)
• Manly (776)
• Merry-hearted (779)
• Owner of the Tabard Inn—served fine
food and wine
• Comes up with storytelling idea—acts
as judge
Analysis:
• Social Class: Upper Middle
• Chaucer’s Opinion: He seems to
respect the Host, even maybe admire
him for his decision to travel with the
pilgrims and to come up with an idea
that will not only entertain them all but
will also force all to be involved.
Ms. Anderson