Canterbury Tales Charachter

The Knight

• genteel man who loved truth, freedom,

chivalry and honor, a truly distinguished man

• battled Christians and non-Christians,

(Crusades), his fighting spanned 40 years over

three groups of people, over 15 battles

• always victorious, plain and honest

• going to thank the saints for preserving his

life through his battles

• MOST prominent and respected character of the tales

The Squire

• the knight's son, about 20 years old

• ladies' man, handsome (curly hair, strong and

agile), singing, playing the flute

• light-hearted, pleasant, talented

• a fine horseman, knows how to joust, dance,

write and draw

• (staying out all night)

The Yeoman

• servant to the knight and squire

• outdoorsman, talented wood carver

• carried a bow, a shield, a sword and a knife

• excellent shot with the bow and arrow

a Nun (Madam Eglantyne)

• or Prioress, spoke French (but very poorly), eats in a

refined manner

• Swore constantly "By St. Loy!" a saint known for

not swearing

• very concerned with outward appearances

• she had 3 dogs with her, seemed to care more for

the animals around her than humans

• physically - big forehead, sign of intelligence

• coral trinket and rosary (coral trinket fight worldly

temptations

• Amor vincit omnia - "Love conquers all

The Monk

• loved hunting, fine foods and had several

good hunting dogs that he was very proud of

• dressed in fine clothes, some even trimmed in

fur

• rather fat, very jolly, and bald headed

• favorite food was roasted swan

• he tended to ignore the rules of the

monastery, everything he does is a violation

of his monastic vows

A Friar (Hubert)

• jolly, merry, very festive but notoriously evil and

cunning

• married off girls after he had gotten them into

trouble

• he charged people to hear their confessions, the

more you paid the more "repentant you were"

• white neck = loose or immoral person

• He knew all the taverns, innkeepers and barmaids

(not the sick and needy)

• He even begged off of poor widows who had next

to nothing

• dressed with expensive fabrics

• overweight

A Merchant

• He convinces everyone that he was an expert

in finance (his secret - he was horribly in

debt)

• solemn, serious, intelligent and cunning

• He sets up a safety patrol at the English

Channel, safety for tradesmen

• excellent fellow

An Oxford Cleric

• very thin (almost under fed), threadbare

clothing

• but has 20 books with him (a small fortune)

• Hasn't sought secular employment yet, still

studying

• He did not talk often, but when he did it was

with great dignity and moral virtue

a Serjeant at the Law

• "Serjeant" means that he had to practice law

with distinction for at least 16 years

• he knew every law that ever existed, every

judgment, every case, every crime

• occasionally appointed by the king to serve as

the judge on cases

• "parti-colored coat," sign of affluence, silk

was expensive (imported from the East and

had to be tailored)

a Franklin

• wealthy landowner, but not of noble birth

• "Epicurus' son" = pleasure was his priority

• entertained in a very lavish manner

• "purse of silk" = wealth

• acted as Sheriff, checking and auditing each

person's property

a Haberdasher, a Dyer, a Carpenter,

a Weaver, and a Carpet-Maker

• all belonged to a guild (associations of

tradesmen, somewhat powerful in this time

period)

• luxuriously dressed

• their wives are demanding and controlling,

they want servants to carry their mantles and

trains like a queen

a Cook

• servant to the Haberdasher, Dyer, Carpenter,

Weaver, and Carpet-maker

• excellent cook!!! no one can cook like him

• open sore on knee though, can that make his

food unappetizing?

a Skipper

• from Dartmouth, known for its piracy and

for the brutality of its sailors

• couldn't ride his horse, looked awkward on it

• stole wine while in Bordeaux

• ignored his conscience, immoral, well-tanned,