The Canterbury Tales Characters

Knight (class/occupation)

nobility

Knight (physical description)

plainly simply dressed

fustian (coarse cloth of cotton and linen) tunic

smudges from his armor - shows he is a knight who does things

Knight (personality traits/talents)

generousness

courtesy

honor

distinguished

wise

polite

noble

good at fighting in battle

Knight (contrasts with)

Squire

Knight (fulfills or contradicts role)

Fulfills - ideal role of a chivalrous knight

Knight (reason for pilgrimage)

give thanks for surviving battle (been in Crusades)

Knight (character chaucer’s opinion of character)

Respects him

Knight (writer chaucer’s opinion of character)

Also sees highly of him

Knight (faults according to Chaucer)

no faults?

Squire (class/occupation)

nobility/knight’s son

Squire (physical description)

brightly dressed

sleeves long and wide

curly locks

looks twenty

medium height

short gown

strength and agility

(well dressed)

Squire (personality traits/talents)

lover

passionate

brave

accomplished

amorous (loves love)

joust

dance

draw

writes and recites poetry

Squire (contrasts with)

Knight - the Knight is dressed modestly and focuses on Christianity vs. Squire who focuses on social part of being a knight

Squire (fulfills or contradicts role)

Fulfills - everything he does is required (he is nobility)

Squire (reason for pilgrimage)

Serve his father

Squire (character chaucer’s opinion of character)

He is well-dressed, skilled, and educated

Squire (writer chaucer’s opinion of character)

thinks he is a little too much into upper class dressing/wants to be noticed

Squire (faults according to Chaucer)

loves too much

Yeoman (class/occupation)

commoner/noble man’s attendant

Yeoman (physical description)

sword

horn on baldric

belt & bow

brown face & hair

dirk (dagger)

bracelet

peacock-feathered arrows

coat and hood of green

head like a nut

shield

medal of St. Christopher

Yeoman (personality traits/talents)

skilled in woodcraft

Yeoman (contrasts with)

Yeoman (fulfills or contradicts role)

Fulfills

Yeoman (reason for pilgrimage)

Yeoman (character Chaucer’s opinion of character)

Yeoman (writer Chaucer’s opinion of character)

Yeoman (faults according to Chaucer)

Nun (pilgrim name)

Nun (class/occupation)

Nun (physical description)

Nun (personality traits/talents)

Nun (contrasts with)

Nun (fulfills or contradicts role)

Nun (reason for pilgrimage)

Nun (character Chaucer’s opinion of character)

Nun (writer Chaucer’s opinion of character)

Nun (faults according to Chaucer)

Monk (class/occupation)

Monk (physical description)

Monk (personality traits/talents)

Monk (contrasts with)

Monk (fulfills or contradicts role)

Monk (reason for pilgrimage)

Monk (character Chaucer’s opinion of character)

Monk (writer Chaucer’s opinion of character)

Monk (faults according to Chaucer)

Friar (pilgrim name)

Friar (class/occupation)

Friar (physical description)

Friar (personality traits/talents)

Friar (contrasts with)

Friar (fulfills or contradicts role)

Friar (reason for pilgrimage)

Friar (character Chaucer’s opinion of character)

Friar (writer Chaucer’s opinion of character)

Friar (faults according to Chaucer)

Merchant (class/occupation)

Merchant (physical description)

Merchant (personality traits/talents)

Merchant (contrasts with)

Merchant (fulfills or contradicts role)

Merchant (reason for pilgrimage)

Merchant (character Chaucer’s opinion of character)

Merchant (writer Chaucer’s opinion of character)

Merchant (faults according to Chaucer)

Oxford Cleric (class/occupation)

Oxford Cleric (physical description)

Oxford Cleric (personality traits/talents)

Oxford Cleric (contrasts with)

Oxford Cleric (fulfills or contradicts role)

Oxford Cleric (reason for pilgrimage)

Oxford Cleric (character Chaucer’s opinion of character)

Oxford Cleric (writer Chaucer’s opinion of character)

Oxford Cleric (faults according to Chaucer)

Sergeant at the Law (class/occupation)

Sergeant at the Law (physical description)

Sergeant at the Law (personality traits/talents)

Sergeant at the Law (contrasts with)

Sergeant at the Law (fulfills or contradicts role)

Sergeant at the Law (reason for pilgrimage)

Sergeant at the Law (character Chaucer’s opinion of character)

Sergeant at the Law (writer Chaucer’s opinion of character)

Sergeant at the Law (faults according to Chaucer)