Name______________________________________
Date_______________________________________
English 12
bCanterbury Tales, “The General Prologue”
You will find below all the pilgrims mentioned in “The General
Prologue.” Be able to answer the following:
1. How does Chaucer characterize each one? Offer two details with
line numbers to support this (include figures of speech or Cicero’s
aspects of characterization).
2. Describe Chaucer’s attitude toward each pilgrim.
3. Rank this person in the chart at the end of this handout.
Chaucer’s
Characterization
brave
The Knight
courage
(father)
noble wise, rust
Lines 42-80
stains with blood
Young, lover,
Squire
lustful, vain, curly
(son)
hair, short tunic,
Spent $ for
red flowered top,
clothes
feminine, sing,
Lines 81-102 plays the flute,
athletic, dance,
fun, loyal to dad.
Well- equipped,
Yeoman
(page 97 pic) forester, not
talkative, well
Spent $ on
dressed, with a
equipment
sword, works for
Lines 103-121 the squire and
knight.
Prioress=Nun Acting like a lady
Lines 122-168 of the court,
dainty, overly
dramatic, well
Pilgrim
Two Details
1. 46, 74
Chaucer’s
Attitude
Likes him
2. 64-65
1. 82
Likes him
2. 101
1. 108
2. 121
1. 143-part of the
court
Don’t
know. only
described
by
appearance
Does not
respect her
but thinks
2. 162-wears jewelry she is
mannered, speak
funny.
French incorrectly,
large forehead,
vain, under
grown=over
weight, wears
jewelry (love
conquers all)
Monks usually live 1. 196- He spared no Satirizes
Monk
for expense
him.
Lines 169-211 in poverty but he is
selfish, He is a
hypocrite,
2. 180- took modern
supposed to study
world more
and work the land
spacious
but doesn’t. He
loves to hunt=has
horses and
greyhounds. He
has fur lined cloak,
gold jewelry.
Boots=leather
Mocks the
Friar
Lines 212-279 teaching of Christ,
hangs out at the
bar with rich, well
kept, jolly, and
gets trust and then
he takes advantage
of you. Hears
confessions for a
fee. Fixed up man
young pregnant
woman. (Sings),
overweight.
Broke, proclaims
Merchant
that he is clever,
Lines
he thought he
280=294
1. 227-easy man in
penance 228
2. 242-Neck was
whiter than a
flower
1.293- he was an
excellent fellow
Satirizes
him.
Not a true
priest.
Likes monk
better then
Friar.
Does not
like him
knew about
commercial trade,
confident
Intelligent, loved
Clerklearning, lean,
forever
spends his $ on
student
Lines 295-318 learning & books
but his horse is
thin, no job,
unworldly
Sergeant-at- Good lawyer, very
Law =lawyer knowledgeable,
Lines 319-340 wise, fair,
everyone benefits,
good lawyer to
higher for defense.
Wealthy
landowner, liked
to have fun,
generous, hedonist
(self-pleasure),
house is always
open, lives for
pleasure, party
every night, white
beard and red face,
fired cooks
Haberdasher, New middle class,
new $, well
Carpenter,
dressed,
Weaver,
accessories,
Dyer,
women wanted to
Tapestry
be called madam
Maker
Lines 371FranklinLines 341370
2.284= He told of his
opinions and
pursuits.
1. 309, 294, 298
Likes and
respects
2. 318, 313
him but
needs a job
so that
annoys him
1. 321
2. 322(discrete)
3. 335- draft the
deeds
1. 343
2. 345
1. 374
2. 383
Respects
him but he
is not as
busy as he
claims.
Likes his
generosity
but not
impressed
that he only
shares
among his
friends.
He likes
them,
nothing bad
to say but
does not
respect
them
388
CookLines 389397
Great cook but has 1.392- distinguished
an ulcer on his
by his flavor
knee. Great food
but not eating it.
2.395- Ulcer
Sociopath,
ShipmanLines 398-420 excellent sailor,
steals, no
conscience, makes
them walk the
plank right at the
shore of their
home.
Doesn’t know
Doctor of
about medicine
MedicineLines 421-454 and surgery,
studies the stars,
he made money
from the black
plague, not a good
doctor, does not
have good
hygiene, greedy,
and deceitful
Wife of Bath- 5 husband and
Lines 487-538 other lovers when
she was younger.
st
Promiscuous, gap
1 feminist
tooth= Lustful, she
has made her own
$, overdressed,
likes to travel,
heavy, handsome,
loud, fearless,
outspoken, skilled
1.402 & 403- dagger
2.408- nicer rule of
conscience
Likes him
but pity’s
him for his
ulcer,
won’t eat
his food
He respects
that he is
good sailor
but he is
mean, like
a pirate
1.Line 448- didn’t
read the bible much
Doesn’t
like him he
is driven by
2.Line 449- blood on greed
his clothing
3. 454- special love
of gold
1.470- five husband
at the church door
Chaucer
does not
like her but
2.477- well- traveled creates a
strong
female.
seamstress
ParsonPreaches the
Lines 487-535 word of God, will
*GOOD***** help the poor and
sick, model priest,
humble,
PlowmanPoor, works with
Lines 539-555 dung, not proud,
*GOOD***** pays taxes, pride
in his work,
not arrogant
1.498- gives to the
poor
2.532- never a
better priest than
him
1. Line 542 honest
worker
Likes HIM
Likes HIM
2. Line 543- peace
and perfect
charity
3. Line 549
Short, brawny,
1. Line- 571- wart Doesn’t
Millerlike him
Lines 561-584 violent, red bread,
not favorable, wart
2. Line- 576with hair,
buffoon
compared to a fox
and a pig, told
3. Line- 578- stole
filthy stories,
grain
disgusting, led
pilgrims out of
town with bag
pipes, a buffoon &
Vulger
MancipleLines 585604- from a
law school
He cannot read
and write. He
working with 30
lawyers and is
more
knowledgeable
then them. Lived
debt free, live
frugally, smart
1. Line 604- out
smart lawyers
2. Line 592, 593never rash
He likes
him
ReeveLines 605640
He was carpenter
when he was
young, he would
take the estate
owners cattle and
keep them, stole
animals, no one
would confront
him, give the
animals back as a
gift, people fear
him, lovely house,
Ugly, scabby
SummonerLines 641-688 eyebrows, puss on
his face, corrupt
soul, garlic and
leek breath, loud
drunk, alcoholic,
allow young
people to have
lovers if you paid
him.
Yellow stringy
PardonerLines 689-734 hair, compared to a
rat, goat and
rabbit, bulging
eyeballs, no hair
on his chin, sells
relics and claimed
they were real,
conman, gift of
speech
1. 612 NO auditor Does not
could gain a
like him,
point on him
feared
Line- 623- compared
to the Black plague
1. Line 644- hot
and lecherous
He does
not like
him
2. Line 666- no
better fellow
(satire)
1. Line 7132. Line 732honey tongue
He does
not like
him (worst)
1.
HostLines 767
page 112
2.
Best Pilgrims
1. Parson
Worst Pilgrims
1. ReeveReeve
2. Plowman
2. Summoner
3. Manciple
3. Pardoner *********
4.
4.
5.
5.
6.
6.