The Canterbury Tales
GENERAL & CHARACTER PROLOGUE
The Knight
 Lines 43-80 The Knight—follows code of chivalry.
 Has had long career – fought in the “holy wars”
 Is modest, considerate, well mannered.
 Clothing is soiled– this suggests he is plain, honest,
modest, cares more about thanking God than making
impression on others.
 Also might not have much $
 Embodies the ideal chivalric knight – closest
character to perfection in Chaucer’s eyes.
The Squire
 Lines 81-102 The Squire
 20 years old. Young, naïve, full of youthful vanity
 His clothes were flashy which then stress his
youthfulness and frivolity
 Interested in “playing the part”
 Seems to be a lady’s man (lust vs. love)
 Embodies the aspect of courtly love of the chivalric
code
The Yeoman
 Lines 103-121 The Yeoman (a manservant above
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the rank of groom—servant who tended horses)
Originally yeomen were knights’ servants, they later
became landowners.
Dressed in all green; carries bows & arrows and a
dagger; neat & orderly, and careful with equipment.
Knowledgeable/skilled as a woodsman.
He wears a St. Christopher medal (patron saint of
travelers)
The Prioress (Nun)
 Lines 122-168 The nun, a Prioress (prioress was in
charge of a group of nuns in a convent– Mother
Superior)
 Lots of irony associated w/her: she leaves convent (as
Prioress not supposed to), she swears by St. Loy (ironic
b/c Saint was known for his refusal to swear), her French
is not good, she’s extremely careful about her table
manners, she consciously eats in a supposedly refined
way. She puts on the airs of courtly grace, but they seem
false. She has pet dogs and feeds them well (nuns not to
have pets, instead should spend $ on poor)
Prioress (Nun) continued
 Note her forehead spans 9 inches (she’s big!)
 High foreheads were supposed to indicate
intelligence and good breeding.
 Chaucer is probably mocking her pretensions here.
 She wears coral– this was considered a defense
against worldly temptations as well as a love charm
(ironic for a nun!)
The Monk
 Lines 169-211 The Monk
 Not a bit “monkly”
 Has a stable full of horses.
 Doesn’t believe in being cloistered.
 Ignores rules
 Is an avid hunter. Has lots of greyhounds, worldly
things.
 Wears rich clothing and jewelry, enjoys good food
 Is fat (b/c peasants often didn’t have enough to eat,
obesity was a sign of success & affluence, thus ironic for a
monk