The Canterbury Tales
“The General
Prologue”
The Knight
Social Group: Feudal
The Knight





Physical Appearance
Perfect, Gentle Knight
Generous, Honorable, Truthful
Fought in many battles all around the
world.
Wise, but modest.
The Knight




Has come directly from battle to go on the
pilgrimage.
Fine horses
Christian
Wise
How do you think Chaucer intends the
reader to feel about The Knight?
•The Knight, seems to be an idealized
portrait—he embodies everything a person
who devotes himself to God/country should
be.
•Only positive representative of the Feudal
class.
The Squire
Social Group: Feudal
Note that The Squire is
The Knight’s son
The Squire

Physical Appearance
–
–
–
–
Curly hair (as if it had been “pressed”) (83)
20 years old (84)
“of a moderate length” (85)
agile, strong (86)
The Squire (continued)

Manner of Dress
–
–
Shirt “embroidered like a meadow bright / And
full of freshest flowers, red and white” (91-92)
Short gown, sleeves long and wide (94)
The Squire (continued)

Personal Qualities:
–
–
–
–
–
“A lover and cadet, a lad of fire” (82)
“He loved so hotly that till dawn grew pale / He slept as
little as a nightingale” (99-100)
Courteous, lowly, serviceable (101)
Conceited—overly concerned with his appearance (I)
Motivated to fight “in hope to win his lady’s grace”
The Squire (continued)

Skills/Talents
–
–
–
–
Had limited battle experience (places
mentioned fairly close to England) (87-88)
Sang and fluted “all the day” (93)
“knew the way to sit a horse and ride” (96)
“could make songs and poems and recite”
(98)
How do you think Chaucer intends the
reader to feel about The Squire?




First pilgrim sketch that involves satire
Squire overly concerned with his dress and
appearance—seems to be vain (compare his
dress with The Knight’s)
Values also misplaced—fights not for God and
King (like the Knight) but to impress the girls
Why might you “excuse” these qualities in The
Squire?
The Yeoman
Social Group:
Feudal
Note that The
Yeoman is the
Knight’s servant and
part of his
entourage (along
with The Squire)
The Yeoman

Physical Appearance
–
–
“His head was like a nut” (111)
“Face was brown” (111)
Why?
The Yeoman (continued)

Manner of Dress
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Wore a coat and hood of green (105)
Peacock-feathered arrows hung at his belt (106-107)
Carried “a mighty bow” (110)
Wore a brace on his arm (113)
A shield and sword hung at one side (114-115)
Carried a dirk (116)
Wore a St. Christopher medal (117)
A hunting horn hung from his bright green baldrick
(119-120)
The Yeoman (continued)

Personal Qualities
–

Very neat (106-107, 109)
Skills/Talents
–
–
“Knew the whole of woodcraft” (112)
“was a proper forester” (121)
How do you think Chaucer intended
the reader to feel about The Yeoman?




One of the lesser important pilgrims
Overall portrait is positive
Very good at what he does—an excellent
woodsman
Sounds very much like the popular
conception of “Robin Hood”
The Nun (a.k.a. The Prioress)
Social Group: Clergy
The Nun is head of a
priory—she would be in
charge of both nuns and
monks
Her entourage consists of
another nun and three
priests, though none is
given a portrait by
Chaucer
Nun’s name is
“Madame Eglantyne”
Nuns and Monks



Several orders of both in medieval England
Most lived “cloistered” lives—lived and worked
in convent (nuns) or monastery (monks)—some
were not permitted to leave except on rare
occasions
Took “Vows”
–
–
–
Poverty (could not own any personal property—
everything was owned by the order collectively
Chastity (no sex whatsoever)
Obedience (must obey rules of order as well as do
whatever your superiors tell you to do—without
question)
The Nun

Physical Appearance
–
–
–
–
Elegant nose, glass-gray eyes (156)
Very small mouth—soft and red (157)
Very high forehead—fashionable and
considered a sign of beauty in 14th Century
(158-159)
“She was indeed by no means undergrown”—
polite way of saying she was full-figured (160)
The Nun (continued)

Manner of Dress
–
–
–
–
–
Veil gathered in “a seemly way” (155)
Cloak had “a graceful charm” (161)
Wore a coral trinket on her arm (162)
Rosary “tricked in green”—suggests the
beads are jewels (163)
Wore a gold brooch with an engraved “A”
under which was written “Amor vincit
omnia”—”Love Conquers All” (164-166)
The Nun (continued)

Personal Qualities
–
–
–
–
–
–
Simple, coy smile (123)
Didn’t curse—greatest oath was “By St. Loy!”
(124)
Entertaining, pleasant, friendly (141-142)
Dignified (145)
Sympathetic, tender, charitable (146-147)
Loved animals—kept dogs as pets (148-154)
The Nun (continued)

Skills/Talents
–
–
–
Sang well, although nasal (126-127)
Spoke French, but such as a lady would
learn at school (128-130)
Exquisite table manners (131-140)
How do you think Chaucer intends the
reader to feel about The Nun?



Described in flattering terms overall—especially
her physical features (Some speculate that
Chaucer had a crush on the real Madame
Eglantyne!)
Not a bad woman—but what kind of nun is she?
Remember the vows of poverty and obedience—
and as a prioress is in charge of other nuns—she
should be a role model
First of satirical portraits mocking corruption in
the 14th Century Church—not all seemed to have
a deep religious “calling”
The Monk
Social Group: Clergy
The Monk is an
Abbot—he is in charge
of his abbey
Like the Nun—he
would have taken vows
of povery, chastity, and
obedience
The Monk

Physical Appearance
–
–
–
–
–
Bald, shiny head (202)
Shiny face (203)
Fat (204)
Prominent eyeballs—”never seemed to settle”
(205)
Not pale (209)
The Monk (continued)

Manner of Dress
– Sleeves garnished with “fine gray fur”
(197-198)
– Had a gold pin on his hood—”into a
lover’s knot it seemed to pass” (200201)
– Supple boots (207)
The Monk (continued)

Personal Qualities
– “A manly man” (171)
– Ignored the rules that he didn’t like
(177-186)
– Spared no expense for hunting (196)
– Personable (204)
– “Liked a fat swan best, and roasted
whole” (210)
The Monk (continued)

Skills/Talents
– “Hunting was his sport” (170)
– Had many horses (172) and
greyhounds (194)
– A good horseman (193)
How do you think Chaucer intends the
reader to feel about The Monk?



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
The narrator says he is “one of the finest sort”
(169) and agrees with his views about not
following the rules of his order with which he
doesn’t agree (187-192)
But Chaucer wants you to remember his vows of
poverty, chastity, and obedience
Like The Nun, he is in charge of other monks and
should be setting an example for them
Not a bad man, but not a good monk
Another example of Chaucer satirizing the
medieval Church—there must have been many
monks like this one
Question:
If they weren’t interested in
obeying the rules they were
expected to follow, why would
The Nun and The Monk (and
others like them) have joined
the clergy in the first place?
The Friar
Social Group: Clergy
Like nuns and monks,
friars took vows of
poverty, chastity, and
obedience. However,
they did not live
cloistered lives but were
expected to preach and
beg money from people
to be used for charity
The Friar’s name is Hubert
The Friar

Physical Appearance
– Gay, sturdy voice (239)
– Strong, white neck (242-243)
– “lisped a little” (274)
– “His eyes would twinkle in his head” (277)

Manner of Dress
– Kept his tippet stuffed with pins and pocketknives to
give to pretty girls (237-238)
– Wore a double-worsted semi-cope (270)
The Friar (continued)

Personal Qualities
–
–
–
–
–
Wanton, merry, festive, mellow (212-214)
“highly beloved and intimate / With County folk… / And
city dames” (219-221)
Gave easy penance when he heard Confession if he
was given money or gifts in exchange (222-236)
Seduced and impregnated unmarried girls and then
arranged marriages for them to unsuspecting husbands
(216-217)
Hung out in taverns during the day so he could beg
money from wealthy people (244-252)
The Friar (continued)

Skills/Talents
– “Glib with gallant
phrase and well-turned
speech” (215)
– Good singer, played
the hurdy-gurdy (240)
– “the finest beggar of
his batch” (256)
– Charming—could get a
poor widow to give him
her last farthing (259263)
Hurdy-gurdy
How do you think Chaucer intends the
reader to feel about The Friar?



Character sketch is loaded with irony: Narrator
says “He was a noble pillar to his Order” (218);
“For in so eminent a man as he / It was not fitting
with the dignity / Of his position, dealing with a
scum / Of wretched lepers” (247-250)
Narrator also praises his begging skills for being
able to get the last farthing from a poor widow to
whom he should be giving money
Good example of how Chaucer the poet uses
Chaucer the narrator for satire—the reader needs
to consider the whole portrait and “read between
the lines”
Question:
 In
what ways is The Friar worse
than The Nun or The Monk—
earlier targets of Chaucer’s
criticism regarding corruption in
the Church?
The Merchant
Social Group: City
The Merchant

Physical Appearance
–

Forking beard (280)
Manner of Dress
–
–
–
“motley dress” (281) Motley was expensive—a
sign of The Merchant’s wealth
Wore a Flemish beaver hat (282) also
expensive
Daintily buckled boots (283)
The Merchant (continued)

Personal Qualities
–
–
–
–
Opinionated—always talked about business
(284-287)
Estimable (289)
“An excellent fellow” (293)
In debt—but careful not to let anyone know
(290)
The Merchant

Skills/Talents
–
–
“Expert at dabbling in exchanges” (288)
“So stately in administration, / In loans and
bargains and negotiation” (291-292)
How do you think Chaucer intends the
reader to feel about The Merchant?
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


First of the “City” group—most of whom have a
“dirty little secret” or “live by their wits”
Merchant is deep in debt but hides the fact from
everyone
Seems to bore The Narrator by droning on about
his business ventures
Narrator ends sketch with “To tell the truth I do
not know his name”—some speculate The
Merchant may be based on a real person and
Chaucer was careful not to betray his secret by
identifying him
The Oxford Cleric
Social Group: City
(Technically not a
member of the
clergy—even
though he is
seeking a position)
Oxford University (founded in 12th Century)
Oldest surviving university in England
The Oxford Cleric

Physical Appearance
–
–

“He was not too fat” (298)
“A hollow look, a sober stare” (299)
Manner of Dress
–
“The thread upon his overcoat was bare” (300)
The Oxford Cleric (continued)

Personal Qualities
–
–
–
–
–
–

Still a student (295)
Still had not found a preferment in the Church (301)
Loved books and learning; “His only care was study”
(304-305; 310; 314)
A philosopher (307)
“Never spoke a word more than was need” (324)
Formal, respectful, to the point, lofty in speech (315316)
Skills/Talents
–
“Gladly would he learn, and gladly teach” (318)
How do you think Chaucer intends the
reader to feel about The Oxford Cleric?



Stereotype of poor college student
Overall a positive characterization,
although he is denying himself food and
clothing for the sake of buying expensive
books
Note that like The Cleric, his horse was
“thinner than a rake” (297)
The Sergeant at the Law
Social Group: City
In order to be a sergeant at
the law (one of the king’s legal
servants) a lawyer had to have
at least sixteen years
experience. There were only
twenty such lawyers in
Chaucer’s day
The Sergeant at the Law

Physical Appearance
–

None
Manner of Dress
–
–
Wore a “homely parti-colored coat” (338)
Had a silk pinstripe belt (339)
The Sergeant at the Law (continued)

Personal Qualities
–
–

Wary, wise, discreet (320-322)
Busy (but “less busy than he seemed to be”)
(331-332)
Skills/Talents
–
–
–
Expert in real estate law (328)
Knew the law by heart (333-334; 337)
Drew up loophole-proof legal documents (335336)
How do you think Chaucer intends the
reader to feel about The Sergeant at
the Law?



Another pilgrim from the City group who
may not be all that he appears to be
An excellent and eminent lawyer, but not
as busy as he appears to be—compare to
modern negative stereotypes about
lawyers
The Narrator suggests he may be taking
advantage of his position to acquire land
cheaply
The Franklin
Social Group:
Animated Reptiles
The Franklin
Social Group:
Feudal
The Franklin is a
wealthy landowner
(although he is not a
nobleman)
Note The Franklin is
traveling with The Sergeant
at the Law
The Franklin

Physical Appearance
–
–

“White as a daisy petal was his beard” (342)
“High colored”—red cheeks (343)
Manner of Dress
–
–
Carried a dagger and a little silk purse (367)
Wore a white girdle (belt) (368)
The Franklin (continued)

Personal Qualities
–
–
–
–
Sanguine (343)
“Lived for pleasure” (345)
Generous—”He made his household free to all
the County” (350)
Insisted on the best quality food and drink and
lots of it (351-364)
The Franklin (continued)

Skills/Talents
–
–
–
–
Was a Justice of the Peace (365)
Served as member of Parliament (366)
Collected taxes for the king (369)
“He was a model among landed gentry” (370)
How do you think Chaucer intends the
reader to feel about The Franklin?



The Franklin is an epicure—he lives for sensual
pleasure with regard to food and drink
He is also the “St. Julian” of his county—St.
Julian was the patron saint of hospitality; The
Franklin’s table is always set with great food and
wine and it’s always “open house”
Overall a positive portrait—when The Narrator
calls him “a model among landed gentry”
Chaucer seems to agree
The Five Guildsmen
Social Group: City
Entourage consisting
of a Haberdasher, a
Dyer, a Carpenter, a
Weaver, and a Carpetmaker
All members of the
same religious guild
The Five Guildsmen

Physical Appearance
–

Manner of Dress
–
–

None
“All in the livery / Of one impressive guild-fraternity”
(373-374)
Carrying silver knives (376-377)
Personal Qualities
–
–
“Each seemed a worthy burgess” (379)
Wise (381)
Medieval Guilds




Forerunners of modern trade unions
Set quality standards and fixed requirements for
becoming a “master” tradesman or craftsman
One had to serve for years as an apprentice
before being considered for full membership in
the guild
Each trade or craft would have its own guild, so
The Five Guildsmen must be members of the
same religious guild
Knights of Columbus (a modern
Roman Catholic religious “guild”)
How do you think Chaucer intends the
reader to feel about The Five
Guildsmen?


Guildsmen represent nouveau riche (“new
rich”)—people who have newly acquired
wealth and want everyone else to know it
Almost half the sketch talks about their
wives (who aren’t even on the
pilgrimage); Wives insist on being called
“Madam” and have servants carry their
cloaks when they go to church
The Cook
Social Group: City
Note The Cook is a servant
of The Five Guildsmen and is
traveling with them (Another
example of their showing off
their wealth—they can afford
to bring their own cook on
the pilgrimage!)
The Cook

Physical Appearance
–

Had an ulcer on his knee (sign of an STD in
Chaucer’s time) (396)
Skills/Talents
–
–
–
An excellent cook (389-394)
“Could distinguish London ale by flavor” (nice
way of saying he drank a lot of ale) (392)
Made the best blancmange (chicken stew)
(397)
How do you think Chaucer intends the
reader to feel about The Cook?



Another member of the City group who is
“the best of the best at his profession”
(notice The Narrator says this about
almost everyone)
As tasty as his chicken stew is, why is it
so difficult to enjoy?
Example of a Chaucerian “gross joke”
The Skipper (a.k.a. The Shipman)
Social Group: City
A ship called The
Maudelayne is documented
in Chaucer’s time—The
Skipper may be based on
its real life owner
The Skipper

Physical Appearance
–
–

Tanned (404)
Had a beard (416)
Manner of Dress
–
–
Wore a woolen gown that reached his
knee (401)
Carried a dagger on a lanyard around
his neck (402-403)
The Skipper (continued)

Personal Qualities
–
–
–
–
–
“Rode a farmer’s horse as best he could”—
has trouble getting his “land legs” (400)
“an excellent fellow” (405)
Steals wine he is transporting when the trader
is asleep (406-407)
“The nicer rules of conscience he ignored”
(408)
Hardy, prudent (415)
The Skipper (continued)

Skills/Talents
–
–
Made his prisoners walk the plank (409410)
An excellent sailor—”none from Hull to
Carthage was his match” (411-414)
How do you think Chaucer intends the
reader to feel about The Skipper?
Even though The Narrator praises
him as “the best of the best”
shipmen, he also implies he’s a
thief—and remember he makes his
prisoners walk the plank
 Seems to be more of a pirate than a
respectable skipper

The Doctor
Social Group: City
Medieval Medicine


Doctors would treat their patients using
astrology—they would consider what
planets were aligned when a person was
born and consult the stars
Bloodletting also a common treatment—
doctors attempted to restore a balance of
the “Four Humors” through bleeding
The Four Humors
(Excess of one humor affected a person’s
disposition)
Black Bile = Melancholy (sad,
gloomy)
 Phlegm = Phlegmatic (slow, dull)
 Red Blood = Sanguine (cheerful,
optimistic)
 Yellow Bile = Choleric (irritable,
short- tempered)

The Doctor

Physical Appearance
–

None
Manner of Dress
–
Dressed in blood-red garments,
slashed with bluish gray and lined with
taffeta (449-450)
The Doctor (continued)

Personal Qualities
–
–
–
–
–
Had a scam going with apothecaries
(druggists)—would prescribe medicine
patients didn’t really need and get a kickback
from the druggists (435-438)
Careful about what he ate (445-447)
Did not read the Bible very much (448)
Cheap (“rather close as to expenses”) (451)
Had a special love of gold (454)
The Doctor (continued)



“No one alive could talk as well as he did /
On points of medicine and surgery” (422423)
“A perfect practicing physician” (432)
Well-read in medical authorities (439-444)
How do you think Chaucer intends the
reader to feel about The Doctor



Like most of the City group, he’s the best
doctor—knows medicine very well
Again, like most of the City group, he has
his negative side—he’s cheap and has
that scam going with the apothecaries to
cheat his patients
Keep an eye on The Doctor
The Wife of Bath
Social Group: City
Any married woman was
often referred to as the
“Wife” of whatever town
she was from—
remember people didn’t
have surnames
The Wife’s name is Alice
The Wife of Bath

Physical Appearance
–
–
–
–
Somewhat deaf (456)
Bold, handsome, red face (468)
Had gap-teeth, set widely—a sign in Chaucer’s
time that she was “hot to trot” (478)
Had large hips (483)
Famous Gap-Toothed People
The Wife of Bath (continued)

Manner of Dress
–
–
–
–
Wore scarlet red hose (466)
Soft new shoes (467)
Well wimpled up, wore a broad hat (480-481)
Wore a flowing mantle (482)
The Wife of Bath (continued)

Personal Qualities
–
–
–
–
–
–
Hot-tempered (459-462)
Married five times—and five times a widow (470)
“Apart from other company in youth; / No need just
now to speak of that, forsooth” (471-472)
Well-traveled—had been on pilgrimage to Jerusalem
three times, as well as Rome, Bologna, Compostella,
and Cologne—she has been around the block (in more
ways than one) (473-476)
Liked to laugh and chat (484)
An expert in giving advice about love and marriage
(485-486)
The Wife of Bath (continued)

Skills/Talents
–
An expert in cloth-making (457-458)
How do you think Chaucer intends the
reader to feel about The Wife of Bath?



One of the most individualized of the
pilgrims
Her personality really emerges when she
tells her tale
A “larger than life” character—has been
compared to Shakespeare’s Falstaff in
Henry IV Part One
The Parson
Social Group: Clergy
A parson was a parish
priest—his job was to
minister to all the people
in his parish—administer
sacraments as well as
take care of the poor and
sick
The Parson

Physical Appearance
–

None
Manner of Dress
–
Carried a stave (walking stick) (505)
The Parson (continued)

Personal Qualities
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Holy-minded, of good renown (487)
Poor, but rich in holy thought and work (488-489)
Benign, wonderfully diligent (493)
Patient (494)
Charitable—gives to poor from church offerings and
from his own pocket (497-500)
Devoted to his parishoners (501-505)
Holy and virtuous (523)
The Parson (continued)

Skills/Talents
–
–
–
–
Learned (490)
Knew Christ’s gospel and would preach it devoutly
(491-492)
Believes he must set an example for his parishoners to
follow—”If gold rust, what then will iron do?” (506-514)
“Christ and His Twelve Apostles and their lore / He
taught, but followed it himself before” (535-536)
How do you think Chaucer intends the
reader to feel about The Parson?



Like The Knight, The Parson seems to be an
idealized portrait—he embodies everything a
person who devotes himself to God should be
Only positive representative of the clergy (think
back to The Prioress, The Monk, and The Friar)—
suggests Chaucer believed the Church wasn’t
completely corrupt
When The Narrator says “I think there never was
a better priest” (532) Chaucer seems to agree
completely
The Plowman
Social Group: Feudal
The Plowman is a peasant
farmer. Note that he is
The Parson’s brother and
they are traveling together
on the pilgrimage.
The Plowman

Physical Appearance
–

None
Manner of Dress
–
Wore a tabard smock (553)
The Plowman (continued)

Personal Qualities
–
–
–
–
–

Honest worker, good and true (540)
Lived in peace and perfect charity (541)
Loved God and his neighbor (543-544)
Never complained (344-345)
Charitable (348-350)
Skills/Talents
–
–
Steadily went about his work (546)
Paid his tithes promptly (551)
How do you think Chaucer intends the
reader to feel about The Plowman?



Like his brother The Parson, The
Plowman is an idealized portrait
Lives the hard-working but content life of
a peasant
Does not have much himself, but is
willing to pay his tithe to the Church and
give to charity as well
The Miller
Social Group: Feudal
The job of millers was
to grind grain into flour
at his mill. Millers had a
reputation for always
trying to cheat their
customers.
Note The Miller rides first in
the cavalcade of pilgrims as
they ride to Canterbury
The Miller

Physical Appearance
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Weighed sixteen stone (1 stone = 14 pounds) (559)
Stout, big in brawn and bone (560)
Broad, knotty, short-shouldered (563)
Had a broad red beard (566-567)
Wart at tip of his nose had red hairs growing on it (568570)
Wide, black nostrils (571)
Mouth “like a furnace door” (573)
The Miller (continued)

Manner of Dress
–
–
Had a sword and buckler at his side (572)
Wore a blue hood and white coat (580)
The Miller (continued)

Personal Qualities
–
–

A wrangler and buffoon (574)
Likes to tell filthy stories in the tavern (574-575)
Skills/Talents
–
–
–
–
Good wrestler—won the ram at any competition (561562)
“A master hand at stealing grain” (576)
Had a “thumb of gold” (579)
Played the bagpipes (581)
How do you think Chaucer intends the
reader to feel about The Miller?



Another one of the most individualized
portraits
The Miller’s repulsive physical
appearance reflects his inner qualities
Description in “General Prologue”
prepares us for his tale—which is an
elaborate dirty joke that he tells while he
is drunk
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The Manciple
Social Group: City
A manciple was an
administrator whose job it
was to purchase food and
provisions. This particular
manciple works for a
society of distinguished
lawyers in London.
The Manciple

Physical Appearance
–

Manner of Dress
–

None
None
Personal Qualities
–
Illiterate (590)
The Manciple (continued)

Skills/Talents
–
–
–
Shrewd purchaser—watched the market
carefully and was able to purchase provisions
at the lowest price (584-588)
Able to cheat the brilliant lawyers for whom he
works without them ever suspecting (589-602)
Was able to “wipe their eye”—knock the
conceit out of them (602)
How do you think Chaucer intends the
reader to feel about The Manciple?




Another one of the lesser important pilgrims
More than half of the portrait is spent describing
the lawyers who employ The Manciple
He’s the best manciple—”All caterers might
follow his example / In buying victuals” (584-585)
Another member of City group who “lives by his
wits” by embezzling money from his employers
The Reeve
Social Group: Feudal
A minor official on a
country estate who
served as an
intermediary
between the lord of
the manor and his
serfs
The Reeve’s name is
Oswald and his horse’s
name is Scot. He rides last
on the cavalcade of
pilgrims.
The Reeve

Physical Appearance
–
–
–
–
Old, thin (603)
Beard shaven closely to the skin (604)
Short hair (605-607)
Lean legs “like sticks they were” (607608)
The Reeve (continued)

Manner of Dress
–
–
–
Wore a long, bluish overcoat (633)
Had a rusty blade slung at his side
(634-635)
Coat tucked under belt and splayed
(637)
The Reeve (continued)

Personal Qualities
–
–
–
Choleric (603)
A tough boss—”He knew their dodges, knew
their every trick; / Feared like the plague he
was, by those beneath” (620-621)
Dishonest—apparently stole money from his
lord and then loaned it back to him or bought
him gifts in order to win favor (624-628)
The Reeve (continued)

Skills/Talents
–
–
–
Very neat and meticulous (609-610)
Good at managing the lord’s crops
(611-613)
Was a “carpenter of first-rate skill”
(630)
How do you think Chaucer intends the
reader to feel about The Reeve?



The Reeve is the kind of boss you would hate to
work for because you couldn’t get away with
anything
Also the kind of supervisor you would want to
hire—but at the same time he’s a thief—he steals
from the lord who has total trust in him
His choleric personality also makes him the kind
of person with whom you probably wouldn’t want
to hang out
Reeves vs. Millers

Reeves and millers were natural enemies—one of
the reeve’s jobs was to take the lord’s grain to be
milled into flour. Reeves knew that most millers
were dishonest so they watched them very
carefully. Millers didn’t like reeves because they
knew they didn’t trust them. The Reeve and The
Miller on the pilgrimage can’t stand one
another—that’s why The Host makes The Miller
ride first and The Reeve ride last in the cavalcade
of pilgrims on their way to Canterbury.
The Summoner
Social Group: Clergy
A summoner’s job was to
summon sinners to the
ecclesiastical court for
violations of Church law.
Summoners also were
expected to report anyone
they found committing sins
to the Church court.
The Summoner

Physical Appearance
–
–
–
–
“His face on fire…for he had
carbuncles” (641)
Narrow eyes (642)
Black scabby brows, a thin beard (643)
“Children were afraid when he
appeared” (644)
What’s a carbuncle?
The Summoner (continued)

Manner of Dress
–
–
Wore a garland on his head (682)
Carried a round cake that he pretended
was a shield (684-686)
The Summoner (continued)

Personal Qualities
–
–
–
As hot and lecherous as a sparrow (642)
Loved garlic, onions, leeks, and strong red
wine (650-651)
Got drunk and would pretend he could speak
Latin—but he really couldn’t—he would just
repeat phrases he had heard in Court—if
someone pressed him he would say “Questio
quid juris” and nothing more.
The Summoner (continued)

Personal Qualities (continued)
–
–
–
–
“A noble varlet and a kind one” (663)
Would overlook sins he was supposed to
report for a bribe (665-667)
Had mistresses on the side (668)
Would also extort money from sinners—would
report them unless they paid him (669-681)
How do you think Chaucer intends the
reader to feel about The Summoner?



Probably the worst pilgrim so far—he
abuses his position—takes bribes and
commits extortion
The Summoner’s physical repulsiveness
mirrors his inner depravity
In Chaucer’s time people believed
pimples were caused from overindulging
in food and drink—The Summoner “wears
his sins on his face”
The Pardoner
Social Group: Clergy
Pardoners would sell “pardons”
to sinners who had committed
serious sins and had significant
penances to complete. Chaucer’s
Pardoner also sells
indulgences—he sold people
pardons that would get them out
of Purgatory and into Heaven
sooner than they would
otherwise. The money was
supposed to be used by the
Church to help the poor and sick.
Note The Pardoner is
traveling with his friend
The Summoner—they sing
together as they ride.
The Pardoner

Physical Appearance
–
–
–
Had hair “as yellow as wax” that fell behind
his head down to his shoulders like “rat-tails”
(693-697)
Had bulging eyeballs “like a hare” (702)
Had no beard—very smooth chin (707-708)
The Pardoner (continued)

Manner of Dress
–
–
–
Wore a little cap on his head (701)
Had sewn a relic on his cap (703)
His wallet full of pardons lay on his lap (704705)
The Pardoner (continued)

Personal Qualities
–
–
–
–
Had a high voice “like a goat” (706)
“I judge he was a gelding, or a mare” (709)
Dishonest—passes off rags and animal bones
as holy relics in order to con people out of
their money—which he keeps for himself (712724)
“In church he was a noble ecclesiast” (726)
The Pardoner (continued)

Skills/Talents
–
–
–
–
“There was no pardoner of equal grace” (751)
Read a lesson or told a story well (727)
“But best of all he sang an Offertory”—part of
the Mass when he would charge people to
venerate his “relics” or buy his “pardons”
(728)
Good preacher—had a “honey tongue” (730)
How do you think Chaucer intends the
reader to feel about The Pardoner?





Chaucer seems to save the worst for last
He says The Pardoner and The Summoner are
birds “of the same feather” (688)
Even The Narrator (who likes almost everybody)
admits that The Pardoner is a corrupt con-man—
all of his relics and pardons are fake
Chaucer implies The Pardoner is a eunuch—a
man born without testicles or who has been
castrated
His “unnatural” condition is a reflection of his
inner depravity
The Host
Social Group: City
The Host, whose name is Harry
Bailey, owns the Tabard Inn where
the pilgrims are staying before
setting out for Canterbury the next
morning.
The Host

Physical Appearance
–
–

“A very striking man” (769)
Bright eyes, “girth a little wide” (771)
Manner of Dress
–
None
The Host (continued)

Personal Qualities
–
–
–
–
–

“Fit to be a marshall in a hall” (770)
“No finer burgess in Cheapside” (772)
Bold in speech, wise, full of tact (773)
Manly (774)
Merry-hearted (775)
Skills/Talents
–
Served the finest victuals (767)
How do you think Chaucer intends the
reader to feel about The Host?



Positive portrait—he has all the qualities one
would expect of a successful innkeeper and
tavern owner
A “people person”
His personality emerges in his role as emcee of
the storytelling contest he proposes—he makes
several references to his nagging wife (which
may be the real reason he wants to go to
Canterbury with the pilgrims—to get away from
her for a week!)
The Narrator (a.k.a. Chaucer)
The Narrator is our eyes and
ears on the pilgrimage. He
promises to report everything
exactly as it happened.
Remember to distinguish
between Chaucer the
Narrator/Pilgrim and Chaucer
the Poet—they don’t always
have the same view.
The Narrator

Personal Qualities
–
–
–
–
Friendly—is able to befriend 29 other people and learn
about them in the course of an evening
Good listener—apparently people “open up” to him in
conversation
Naïve—he tends to say something nice about almost all
of the pilgrims—most of them are “the best of the best”
at their profession or trade
Just don’t forget that Chaucer the Poet wants you to
see the irony in many of Chaucer the Narrator’s
conclusions
The Host’s Proposal



The Host suggests that since the pilgrims will
probably tell stories on the way to Canterbury
anyway, they could make it more enjoyable by
having a storytelling contest
Each of the thirty pilgrims would tell two stories
on the way to Canterbury—and two more on the
way back to London
Chaucer originally planned to include a total of
120 tales—he finished fewer than 30
The Host’s Proposal (continued)


The Host offers to join the pilgrimage and
ride to Canterbury to serve as judge and
referee of the contest—all at his own
expense
He says the best tale will be determined
based on “good morality and general
pleasure” (816)
The Host’s Proposal (continued)


What’s a contest without a prize? The winner
will receive a free supper at the Tabard Inn when
they return from Canterbury—paid for by all of
the other pilgrims
Once everyone agrees to The Host’s plan, they
must play according to his rules—anyone who
doesn’t will have to pay the cost of everyone’s
pilgrimage—a considerable sum of money