The Canterbury Tales Pilgrims Descriptions

Merchant

The author doesn’t remember his name. He has a forked beard.

Lawyer

Served as the king’s sergeant at the law.

Franklin

Elected to Parliament. He’s traveling with the lawyer. Has a house full of food.

Cook

Likes to drink. Has a running sore on his leg.

Doctor

Depended on astrology, traveled with the pharmacist.

Parson of a Town

Only religious person the author admired. A shepard.

Wife of Bath

Had 5 husbands, wears red hose, has many boyfriends.

Nun

named Madame Eglantine, dogs are traveling with her, wears a broach that says “Love conquers all.”

Knight

Loves chivalry, probable most noble of all pilgrims.

Monk

Has a gold pin tied under his neck in a love knot. Disagreed with St. Augustine who said all religious order should do manual work.

Reeve

Superintendent of a large farming estate, rode at end of pilgrims on a horse named Scot.

Pardoner

Had a pillowcase he said belonged to Mary. He’s greedy and feminine.

Sailor/Shipman

Made his prisoners walk the plank, has a suntan.

Miller

Weighted sixteen stone (over 200 lbs.), had a red beard and a wart of his nose.

Yeoman

Servant to knight and squire, a forester, wore a St. Christopher’s medal.

Friar

Name was Hubert, hood was stuffed with knives to give to women.

Manciple

A business agent, in charge of law firm in London, steals from his business.

Summoner

Has acne and is usually drunk.

Squire

Knight’s son, a lover and a lady’s man.

Oxford Student

This character is probably patterned after the author, spends everything on books and education, borrows money from friends to go to school.

Plowman

Brother to the priest, very poor, very devoted to God and lives the example of the golden rule.

Guildmen

Haberdasher, carpenter, weaver, dyer, and tapestry maker (carpet maker), wears the same uniform, part of rising, lower class, travel together.