ENGL120-Chaucers General Prologue

The Knight

Chivalric hero embodies truth honor and freedom. Has fought in many battles including the crusades. Wears bismotered haubergeoun* because he is more amor dei than amor

The Squier

Lusty batchelor with curly hair, twenty years old, strong, son of knight, has little battle experience, pretty, likes to sing and play the flute, and read and write. wears short gown with long sleeves

Yeoman

Wears all green with bow and arrow, good shot, with sheaf of peacock feathers, wears badge of St. Christopher, dog headed saint

The Nun

Simple and coy, wanted to be a courtier but had no dowry and could not marry, Madame Églantine, speaks french, good manners, charitable and pious, has little dogs, pretty with a fair forehead

The Monk

Loved venerye (hunting+sexual innuendo) had many fine things, horses, bells on his horses louder than the church bell

The Frere

The Friar, merry, so much of daliance? sexual innuendo+made many young womens marriages on his own dime, pleasant, knew taverns well, best beggar in the house

The Merchant

Well dressed, good at bargains

The Clerk

Of Oxenforde, skinny and hollow, prefers books to food

A Seargent of the Law

Prudent and wise, a great purchaser of land, actually a swindler of law experts

The Frankelin

Drinks often, a great homemaker, used to be a member of parliament

The Cook

good cook, knows his london ales, had a large ulcer on his shin

The Shipman

Dagger hanging around his neck, knew all the harbors and the stars, sailor/pirate?

The Doctor of Physic

Doctor of Medicine, surgery, grounded in astronomy, understood humors and many famous physicians, study was little on the Bible, dressed in silk and taffeta, loves gold.

The Wife

Of Bath, had 5 husbands and many boyfriends in her youth, funny, knows remedies for love, has been on many pilgrimages already

The Parson

Holy man, poor, learned clerk, gives money away to the point of poverty, grows angry with stubborn people

The Plowman

Brother of Parson, good man, lives in peace and charity, wears a tabard on a mare.

The Miller

Stout, strong, thick headed man, red hair and beard, nose with a wart with hair, teller of lewd stories, plays the bagpipe.

The Manciple

Steward of a college, careful purchaser, better than all the students of law and learned men

The Reeve

Slender choleric man, keeps grainery, animals, and manages crops, secretly rich, gets gifts from his lord, wears a long blue coat, carries a rusty blade.

The Somnour

Summons men for ecclesiastical courts and enforces discipline, cherubic face, pimply, with patchy beard, scares children, drinks and only speaks latin. Noble rascal, confided in by children and gives them advice

The Pardoner

Lank yellow hair, glaring eyes, sells pardons from god for money, says random objects belonged to holy figures, gelding or mare, homosexual?

The Tabard

Pub by the hostel in Southwark