Canterbury Tales: Characters

Clerk

The ________: A sincere, devout student at Oxford University who loves learning and is respected by all the pilgrims.

Knight

The ________: Socially the most prominent person on the pilgrimage, epitomizing chivalry, truth, and honor.

Miller

The ________: A drunken, brash, and vulgar man who rudely interrupts the Host, demands that his tale be next, and warns everyone that his tale about a carpenter will be vulgar because it is true.

Reeve

The ________: A very old and irritable man who was once a carpenter.

Monk

The ________: A man who tends the property of the monastery.

astrology

The Physician: A doctor who can speak knowingly of medicines, drugs, and humours, and who knows ________ as well.

Prioress

The ________ (Madame Eglantine): A very gentle lady who is coy and delicate.

Summoner

The ________: An officer of the church who calls people for a church trial.

Squire

The ________: A vain, lusty young man and a candidate for knighthood.

Merchant

The ________: A shrewd and intelligent man who knows how to strike a good bargain and is a member of the rich rising middle class.

Shipman

The ________: A huge, uncouth man who can steer a(n) ________ but flounders on his horse.

Parson

The ___: A very poor but very holy and virtuous religious man who tells a highly moral tale.

The Host

___ (Harry Bailey): The owner of the Tabard Inn, who volunteers to travel with the pilgrims

The Knight

Socially the most prominent person on the pilgrimage, epitomizing chivalry, truth, and honor

The Cook

Known for his cooking and characterized by a chancre sore that runs with pus

The Wife of Bath

Characterized as gat-toothed, somewhat deaf, and wearing bright scarlet red stockings

The Friar

A sensual, licentious man who seduces young girls and then arranges their marriages

The Merchant

A shrewd and intelligent man who knows how to strike a good bargain and is a member of the rich rising middle class

The Squire

A vain, lusty young man and a candidate for knighthood

The Prioress

A very genteel lady who is coy and delicate

The Monk

A man who tends the property of the monastery

The Clerk

A sincere, devout student at Oxford University who loves learning and is respected by all the pilgrims

The Sergeant of Law

A lawyer and one of the high justices of the court

The Franklin

A large and wealthy landowner who enjoys fine living and good companionship

The Shipman

A huge, uncouth man who can steer a ship but flounders on his horse

The Physician

A doctor who can speak knowingly of medicines, drugs, and humours, and who knows astrology as well

The Parson

A very poor but very holy and virtuous religious man who tells a highly moral tale

The Miller

A drunken, brash, and vulgar man who rudely interrupts the Host, demands that his tale be next, and warns everyone that his tale about a carpenter will be vulgar because it is true

The Manciple

The steward for a law school

The Reeve

A very old and irritable man who was once a carpenter

The Summoner

An officer of the church who calls people for a church trial

The Pardoner

The most complex of all the pilgrims. He is an intellect and uses advanced psychological means to gain his objective. Although he is not a good person, he can preach a good sermon.