Canterbury Tales Cheat Sheet of The Franklin, Squire, and Miller
Franklin- Wealthy landowner who travels with the Man of Law
Physical Characteristics
 “White as a daisy-petal was his beard. A sanguine man, highcolored and benign” (line 342-343). He is an aged man with a pure
white beard and a confident, cheerful personality.
 His complexion is ruddy (due to his high alcohol intake), and he is
stout (due to his consumption of sweets).
Words, Experiences, and Personality Traits
 He loved a morning sop of cake in wine. He lived for pleasure and
had always done” (344). He is a big eater, and his house is
overflowing with a large variety of foods. For example, “his house
was never short of baked-meat pies, of fish and flesh” (353-354).
 He changes his meats and drinks according to what foods are in
season. He is a man who takes pleasure in all life has to offer
without sacrificing his desires. However, he is also hospitable and
generous with his culinary fare. “In his hall a table stood arrayed
and ready all day long, with places laid” (363-364).
Indirect Characterization
 Franklin is a shallow, self-indulgent man who cares too much about
eating.
Social Class
 Member for the Shire (Parliamentary representative for the
county).
Inferences
 Franklin is described as wealthy but doesn’t seem to come from a
class of aristocracy. “He was a model among landed gentry” (370).
Deadly Sin or Moral Virtue
 Franklin is described as “Epicurus’ very son,” (line 346) which
means that he lived primarily for personal pleasure.
 Epicurus was a Greek philosopher who taught that pleasure was
the most important goal in life. This is because once the body died,
the soul died too. Therefore all life should be enjoyed. However,
Chaucer implies that the pursuit of pleasure is gluttony.
More Information
 Yes, Franklin upholds the proper values of his social position. He is
generous, a patron of hospitality, and always has food on the
table.
 Chaucer is criticizing the men that indulge in alcohol (wine in
particular), sweets, and other excesses in consumption of food.
Squire- The Squire is the Knight's son, accompanying him on this
pilgrimage.
Physical Characteristics
 Squire is young (around 20 years old), agile and of moderate
height. He is “a lover and cadet, a lad of fire.” (82) Chaucer is
tongue-in-cheek here describing a young person raised in privilege
that is experimenting and sampling pleasures with minimal
responsibilities.
 In his carriage, behavior and tastes, he is still immature, with
nothing like his father’s gravity.
 The imagery that Chaucer uses to describe him includes meadows,
fresh flowers, and songs. “He was as fresh as is the Month of
May.” (94)
 Chaucer also keenly notes that the Squire’s exploits in battle were
not motivated by any loyalty to the realm, but to impress a lady.
Words, Experiences, Personality Traits
 Chaucer tells us that the Squire is an accomplished gentleman who
rides a horse well, jousts well, writes verse, draws, dances and
carves the meat for his father, the Knight, at dinner (which shows
good manners). He also stays out all night and sleeps “as little as a
nightingale” (100).
Indirect Characterization
 Chaucer spends a lot of time describing the Squire’s social
accomplishments and passion. We get the impression that the
Squire is immature, self-indulgent, a little spoiled, a bit of a pretty
boy, and prone to pursuing ladies that keep him up all night.
Social Class
 The Knights Son
Deadly sin or moral virtue
 The Squire represents youthfulness, exuberance, curiosity and
passion. In the extreme, this is the venal sin of lust.
More Information
 Yes, the Squire upholds the proper values of his social position. In
the prologue, the Knight is a grown-up version of the Squire, who
is still callow and carefree.
 Chaucer criticizes the character of the Squire subtly. He paints a
portrait of an accomplished and attractive young man who is
nevertheless not engaged in any serious pursuits. The Squires were
supposed to be "the finests" as many policemen are called today.
These were the young men who would one day become powerful
Knights. However, they are busy “fluting all the day” (93) and
carousing all night.
The Miller
Physical Characteristics, Clothing, and Accessories
 He’s huge, with a red beard, wide black nostrils, a gaping mouth,
and a wart on his nose with a tuft of hairs growing on it that are as
red as the bristles in a sow’s ears.
 “A great stout fellow big in brawn and bone” (562).
 “His beard, like any sow or fox, was red and broad as well, as
though it were a spade” (568-569).
 “He wore a hood of blue and a white coat” (582).
Words, Experiences, and Personality Traits
 Many of the Miller’s activities are physical as well: he can break
doors open with his head and always wins the ram, or top prize, at
wrestling matches
 He regularly steals corn from his customers (probably by mixing
filler into their sacks) or charges 3 times the proper fee for it
Social Class
 The Miller’s portrait draws heavily upon negative medieval
stereotypes about lower-class people. The idea was that such
people were “all brawn, no brains.”
Deadly Sin or Moral Virtue
 In the tale, winning a woman over is only half the battle; securing
her for good is another matter.
More Information
 Yes, the Squire upholds the proper values of his social position. In
the prologue, the Knight is a grown-up version of the Squire, who
is still callow and carefree. The Squire knows how to have a good
time (he gets very little sleep), how to handle a horse and joust,
how to be entertaining (he writes, draws, sings, plays music), and
also courteous and respectful (he carves the meat at dinner for his
father).
 Chaucer is criticizing the relationships of two individuals. He
explains how a carpenter's wife cheats on him with a clerk, which
confirms the Miller's lustful predisposition.
 Therefore, the Miller's character questions as many stereotypes as
it draws upon.