The Canterbury Tales

1
The Canterbury Tales

• The General Prologue

2
The Squire
Social Group Feudal Note that The Squire is
The Knights son
3
The Squire

• Physical Appearance
• Curly hair (as if it had been pressed) (83)
• 20 years old (84)
• of a moderate length (85)
• agile, strong (86)

4
The Squire (continued)

• Manner of Dress
• Shirt embroidered like a meadow bright / And
  full of freshest flowers, red and white (91-92)
• Short gown, sleeves long and wide (94)

5
The Squire (continued)

• Personal Qualities
• A lover and cadet, a lad of fire (82)
• He loved so hotly that till dawn grew pale / He
  slept as little as a nightingale (99-100)
• Courteous, lowly, serviceable (101)
• Conceitedoverly concerned with his appearance
  (I)
• Motivated to fight in hope to win his ladys
  grace

6
The Squire (continued)

• Skills/Talents
• Had limited battle experience (places mentioned
  fairly close to England) (87-88)
• Sang and fluted all the day (93)
• knew the way to sit a horse and ride (96)
• could make songs and poems and recite (98)

7
How do you think Chaucer intends the reader to
feel about The Squire?

• First pilgrim sketch that involves satire
• Squire overly concerned with his dress and
  appearanceseems to be vain (compare his dress
  with The Knights)
• Values also misplacedfights not for God and King
  (like the Knight) but to impress the girls
• Why might you excuse these qualities in The
  Squire?

8
The Yeoman
Social Group Feudal Note that The Yeoman is the
Knights servant and part of his entourage (along
with The Squire)
9
The Yeoman

• Physical Appearance
• His head was like a nut (111)
• Face was brown (111)
• Why?

10
The Yeoman (continued)

• Manner of Dress
• Wore a coat and hood of green (105)
• Peacock-feathered arrows hung at his belt
  (106-107)
• Carried a mighty bow (110)
• Wore a brace on his arm (113)
• A shield and sword hung at one side (114-115)
• Carried a dirk (116)
• Wore a St. Christopher medal (117)
• A hunting horn hung from his bright green
  baldrick (119-120)

11
The Yeoman (continued)

• Personal Qualities
• Very neat (106-107, 109)
• Skills/Talents
• Knew the whole of woodcraft (112)
• was a proper forester (121)

12
How do you think Chaucer intended the reader to
feel about The Yeoman?

• One of the lesser important pilgrims
• Overall portrait is positive
• Very good at what he doesan excellent woodsman
• Sounds very much like the popular conception of
  Robin Hood

13
The Nun (a.k.a. The Prioress)
Social Group Clergy The Nun is head of a
prioryshe would be in charge of both nuns and
monks Her entourage consists of another nun and
three priests, though none is given a portrait by
Chaucer
Nuns name is Madame Eglantyne
14
Nuns and Monks

• Several orders of both in medieval England
• Most lived cloistered liveslived and worked in
  convent (nuns) or monastery (monks)some were not
  permitted to leave except on rare occasions
• Took Vows
• Poverty (could not own any personal
  propertyeverything was owned by the order
  collectively
• Chastity (no sex whatsoever)
• Obedience (must obey rules of order as well as do
  whatever your superiors tell you to dowithout
  question)

15
The Nun

• Physical Appearance
• Elegant nose, glass-gray eyes (156)
• Very small mouthsoft and red (157)
• Very high foreheadfashionable and considered a
  sign of beauty in 14th Century (158-159)
• She was indeed by no means undergrownpolite
  way of saying she was full-figured (160)

16
The Nun (continued)

• Manner of Dress
• Veil gathered in a seemly way (155)
• Cloak had a graceful charm (161)
• Wore a coral trinket on her arm (162)
• Rosary tricked in greensuggests the beads are
  jewels (163)
• Wore a gold brooch with an engraved A under
  which was written Amor vincit omniaLove
  Conquers All (164-166)

17
The Nun (continued)

• Personal Qualities
• Simple, coy smile (123)
• Didnt cursegreatest oath was By St. Loy!
  (124)
• Entertaining, pleasant, friendly (141-142)
• Dignified (145)
• Sympathetic, tender, charitable (146-147)
• Loved animalskept dogs as pets (148-154)

18
The Nun (continued)

• Skills/Talents
• Sang well, although nasal (126-127)
• Spoke French, but such as a lady would learn at
  school (128-130)
• Exquisite table manners (131-140)

19
How do you think Chaucer intends the reader to
feel about The Nun?

• Described in flattering terms overallespecially
  her physical features (Some speculate that
  Chaucer had a crush on the real Madame
  Eglantyne!)
• Not a bad womanbut what kind of nun is she?
  Remember the vows of poverty and obedienceand as
  a prioress is in charge of other nunsshe should
  be a role model
• First of satirical portraits mocking corruption
  in the 14th Century Churchnot all seemed to have
  a deep religious calling

20
The Monk
Social Group Clergy The Monk is an Abbothe is
in charge of his abbey Like the Nunhe would have
taken vows of povery, chastity, and obedience
21
The Monk

• Physical Appearance
• Bald, shiny head (202)
• Shiny face (203)
• Fat (204)
• Prominent eyeballsnever seemed to settle (205)
• Not pale (209)

22
The Monk (continued)

• Manner of Dress
• Sleeves garnished with fine gray fur (197-198)
• Had a gold pin on his hoodinto a lovers knot
  it seemed to pass (200-201)
• Supple boots (207)

23
The Monk (continued)

• Personal Qualities
• A manly man (171)
• Ignored the rules that he didnt like (177-186)
• Spared no expense for hunting (196)
• Personable (204)
• Liked a fat swan best, and roasted whole (210)

24
The Monk (continued)

• Skills/Talents
• Hunting was his sport (170)
• Had many horses (172) and greyhounds (194)
• A good horseman (193)

25
How do you think Chaucer intends the reader to
feel about The Monk?

• The narrator says he is one of the finest sort
  (169) and agrees with his views about not
  following the rules of his order with which he
  doesnt agree (187-192)
• But Chaucer wants you to remember his vows of
  poverty, chastity, and obedience
• Like The Nun, he is in charge of other monks and
  should be setting an example for them
• Not a bad man, but not a good monk
• Another example of Chaucer satirizing the
  medieval Churchthere must have been many monks
  like this one

26
If they werent interested in obeying the rules
they were expected to follow, why would The Nun
and The Monk (and others like them) have joined
the clergy in the first place?
Question
27
The Friar
Social Group Clergy Like nuns and monks, friars
took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
However, they did not live cloistered lives but
were expected to preach and beg money from people
to be used for charity
The Friars name is Hubert
28
The Friar

• Physical Appearance
• Gay, sturdy voice (239)
• Strong, white neck (242-243)
• lisped a little (274)
• His eyes would twinkle in his head (277)
• Manner of Dress
• Kept his tippet stuffed with pins and
  pocketknives to give to pretty girls (237-238)
• Wore a double-worsted semi-cope (270)

29
The Friar (continued)

• Personal Qualities
• Wanton, merry, festive, mellow (212-214)
• highly beloved and intimate / With County folk
  / And city dames (219-221)
• Gave easy penance when he heard Confession if he
  was given money or gifts in exchange (222-236)
• Seduced and impregnated unmarried girls and then
  arranged marriages for them to unsuspecting
  husbands (216-217)
• Hung out in taverns during the day so he could
  beg money from wealthy people (244-252)

30
The Friar (continued)

• Skills/Talents
• Glib with gallant phrase and well-turned speech
  (215)
• Good singer, played the hurdy-gurdy (240)
• the finest beggar of his batch (256)
• Charmingcould get a poor widow to give him her
  last farthing (259-263)

Hurdy-gurdy
31
How do you think Chaucer intends the reader to
feel about The Friar?

• Character sketch is loaded with irony Narrator
  says He was a noble pillar to his Order (218)
  For in so eminent a man as he / It was not
  fitting with the dignity / Of his position,
  dealing with a scum / Of wretched lepers
  (247-250)
• Narrator also praises his begging skills for
  being able to get the last farthing from a poor
  widow to whom he should be giving money
• Good example of how Chaucer the poet uses Chaucer
  the narrator for satirethe reader needs to
  consider the whole portrait and read between the
  lines

32
Question

• In what ways is The Friar worse than The Nun or
  The Monkearlier targets of Chaucers criticism
  regarding corruption in the Church?

33
The Merchant
Social Group City
34
The Merchant

• Physical Appearance
• Forking beard (280)
• Manner of Dress
• motley dress (281) Motley was expensivea sign
  of The Merchants wealth
• Wore a Flemish beaver hat (282) also expensive
• Daintily buckled boots (283)

35
The Merchant (continued)

• Personal Qualities
• Opinionatedalways talked about business
  (284-287)
• Estimable (289)
• An excellent fellow (293)
• In debtbut careful not to let anyone know (290)

36
The Merchant

• Skills/Talents
• Expert at dabbling in exchanges (288)
• So stately in administration, / In loans and
  bargains and negotiation (291-292)

37
How do you think Chaucer intends the reader to
feel about The Merchant?

• First of the City groupmost of whom have a
  dirty little secret or live by their wits
• Merchant is deep in debt but hides the fact from
  everyone
• Seems to bore The Narrator by droning on about
  his business ventures
• Narrator ends sketch with To tell the truth I do
  not know his namesome speculate The Merchant
  may be based on a real person and Chaucer was
  careful not to betray his secret by identifying
  him

38
The Oxford Cleric
Social Group City (Technically not a member of
the clergyeven though he is seeking a position)
39
Oxford University (founded in 12th
Century)Oldest surviving university in England
40
The Oxford Cleric

• Physical Appearance
• He was not too fat (298)
• A hollow look, a sober stare (299)
• Manner of Dress
• The thread upon his overcoat was bare (300)

41
The Oxford Cleric (continued)

• Personal Qualities
• Still a student (295)
• Still had not found a preferment in the Church
  (301)
• Loved books and learning His only care was
  study (304-305 310 314)
• A philosopher (307)
• Never spoke a word more than was need (324)
• Formal, respectful, to the point, lofty in speech
  (315-316)
• Skills/Talents
• Gladly would he learn, and gladly teach (318)

42
How do you think Chaucer intends the reader to
feel about The Oxford Cleric?

• Stereotype of poor college student
• Overall a positive characterization, although he
  is denying himself food and clothing for the sake
  of buying expensive books
• Note that like The Cleric, his horse was thinner
  than a rake (297)

43
The Sergeant at the Law
Social Group City In order to be a sergeant at
the law (one of the kings legal servants) a
lawyer had to have at least sixteen years
experience. There were only twenty such lawyers
in Chaucers day
44
The Sergeant at the Law

• Physical Appearance
• None
• Manner of Dress
• Wore a homely parti-colored coat (338)
• Had a silk pinstripe belt (339)

45
The Sergeant at the Law (continued)

• Personal Qualities
• Wary, wise, discreet (320-322)
• Busy (but less busy than he seemed to be)
  (331-332)
• Skills/Talents
• Expert in real estate law (328)
• Knew the law by heart (333-334 337)
• Drew up loophole-proof legal documents (335-336)

46
How do you think Chaucer intends the reader to
feel about The Sergeant at the Law?

• Another pilgrim from the City group who may not
  be all that he appears to be
• An excellent and eminent lawyer, but not as busy
  as he appears to becompare to modern negative
  stereotypes about lawyers
• The Narrator suggests he may be taking advantage
  of his position to acquire land cheaply

47
The Franklin
Social Group Animated Reptiles
48
The Franklin
Social Group Feudal The Franklin is a wealthy
landowner (although he is not a nobleman)
Note The Franklin is traveling with The Sergeant
at the Law
49
The Franklin

• Physical Appearance
• White as a daisy petal was his beard (342)
• High coloredred cheeks (343)
• Manner of Dress
• Carried a dagger and a little silk purse (367)
• Wore a white girdle (belt) (368)

50
The Franklin (continued)

• Personal Qualities
• Sanguine (343)
• Lived for pleasure (345)
• GenerousHe made his household free to all the
  County (350)
• Insisted on the best quality food and drink and
  lots of it (351-364)

51
The Franklin (continued)

• Skills/Talents
• Was a Justice of the Peace (365)
• Served as member of Parliament (366)
• Collected taxes for the king (369)
• He was a model among landed gentry (370)

52
How do you think Chaucer intends the reader to
feel about The Franklin?

• The Franklin is an epicurehe lives for sensual
  pleasure with regard to food and drink
• He is also the St. Julian of his countySt.
  Julian was the patron saint of hospitality The
  Franklins table is always set with great food
  and wine and its always open house
• Overall a positive portraitwhen The Narrator
  calls him a model among landed gentry Chaucer
  seems to agree

53
The Five Guildsmen
Social Group City Entourage consisting of a
Haberdasher, a Dyer, a Carpenter, a Weaver, and a
Carpet-maker All members of the same religious
guild
54
The Five Guildsmen

• Physical Appearance
• None
• Manner of Dress
• All in the livery / Of one impressive
  guild-fraternity (373-374)
• Carrying silver knives (376-377)
• Personal Qualities
• Each seemed a worthy burgess (379)
• Wise (381)

55
Medieval Guilds

• Forerunners of modern trade unions
• Set quality standards and fixed requirements for
  becoming a master tradesman or craftsman
• One had to serve for years as an apprentice
  before being considered for full membership in
  the guild
• Each trade or craft would have its own guild, so
  The Five Guildsmen must be members of the same
  religious guild

56
Knights of Columbus (a modern Roman Catholic
religious guild)
57
How do you think Chaucer intends the reader to
feel about The Five Guildsmen?

• Guildsmen represent nouveau riche (new
  rich)people who have newly acquired wealth and
  want everyone else to know it
• Almost half the sketch talks about their wives
  (who arent even on the pilgrimage) Wives
  insist on being called Madam and have servants
  carry their cloaks when they go to church

58
The Cook
Social Group City Note The Cook is a servant of
The Five Guildsmen and is traveling with them
(Another example of their showing off their
wealththey can afford to bring their own cook on
the pilgrimage!)
59
The Cook

• Physical Appearance
• Had an ulcer on his knee (sign of an STD in
  Chaucers time) (396)
• Skills/Talents
• An excellent cook (389-394)
• Could distinguish London ale by flavor (nice
  way of saying he drank a lot of ale) (392)
• Made the best blancmange (chicken stew) (397)

60
How do you think Chaucer intends the reader to
feel about The Cook?

• Another member of the City group who is the best
  of the best at his profession (notice The
  Narrator says this about almost everyone)
• As tasty as his chicken stew is, why is it so
  difficult to enjoy?
• Example of a Chaucerian gross joke

61
The Skipper (a.k.a. The Shipman)
Social Group City A ship called The Maudelayne
is documented in Chaucers timeThe Skipper may
be based on its real life owner
62
The Skipper

• Physical Appearance
• Tanned (404)
• Had a beard (416)
• Manner of Dress
• Wore a woolen gown that reached his knee (401)
• Carried a dagger on a lanyard around his neck
  (402-403)

63
The Skipper (continued)

• Personal Qualities
• Rode a farmers horse as best he couldhas
  trouble getting his land legs (400)
• an excellent fellow (405)
• Steals wine he is transporting when the trader is
  asleep (406-407)
• The nicer rules of conscience he ignored (408)
• Hardy, prudent (415)

64
The Skipper (continued)

• Skills/Talents
• Made his prisoners walk the plank (409-410)
• An excellent sailornone from Hull to Carthage
  was his match (411-414)

65
How do you think Chaucer intends the reader to
feel about The Skipper?

• Even though The Narrator praises him as the best
  of the best shipmen, he also implies hes a
  thiefand remember he makes his prisoners walk
  the plank
• Seems to be more of a pirate than a respectable
  skipper

66
The Doctor
Social Group City
67
Medieval Medicine

• Doctors would treat their patients using
  astrologythey would consider what planets were
  aligned when a person was born and consult the
  stars
• Bloodletting also a common treatmentdoctors
  attempted to restore a balance of the Four
  Humors through bleeding

68
The Four Humors(Excess of one humor affected a
persons disposition)

• Black Bile Melancholy (sad,
  gloomy)
• Phlegm Phlegmatic (slow, dull)
• Red Blood Sanguine (cheerful, optimistic)
• Yellow Bile Choleric (irritable, short-
  tempered)

69
The Doctor

• Physical Appearance
• None
• Manner of Dress
• Dressed in blood-red garments, slashed with
  bluish gray and lined with taffeta (449-450)

70
The Doctor (continued)

• Personal Qualities
• Had a scam going with apothecaries
  (druggists)would prescribe medicine patients
  didnt really need and get a kickback from the
  druggists (435-438)
• Careful about what he ate (445-447)
• Did not read the Bible very much (448)
• Cheap (rather close as to expenses) (451)
• Had a special love of gold (454)

71
The Doctor (continued)

• No one alive could talk as well as he did / On
  points of medicine and surgery (422-423)
• A perfect practicing physician (432)
• Well-read in medical authorities (439-444)

72
How do you think Chaucer intends the reader to
feel about The Doctor

• Like most of the City group, hes the best
  doctorknows medicine very well
• Again, like most of the City group, he has his
  negative sidehes cheap and has that scam going
  with the apothecaries to cheat his patients
• Keep an eye on The Doctor

73
The Wife of Bath
Social Group City Any married woman was often
referred to as the Wife of whatever town she
was fromremember people didnt have surnames
The Wifes name is Alice
74
The Wife of Bath

• Physical Appearance
• Somewhat deaf (456)
• Bold, handsome, red face (468)
• Had gap-teeth, set widelya sign in Chaucers
  time that she was hot to trot (478)
• Had large hips (483)

75
Famous Gap-Toothed People
76
The Wife of Bath (continued)

• Manner of Dress
• Wore scarlet red hose (466)
• Soft new shoes (467)
• Well wimpled up, wore a broad hat (480-481)
• Wore a flowing mantle (482)

77
The Wife of Bath (continued)

• Personal Qualities
• Hot-tempered (459-462)
• Married five timesand five times a widow (470)
• Apart from other company in youth / No need
  just now to speak of that, forsooth (471-472)
• Well-traveledhad been on pilgrimage to Jerusalem
  five times, as well as Rome, Bologna,
  Compostella, and Cologneshe has been around the
  block (in more ways than one) (473-476)
• Liked to laugh and chat (484)
• An expert in giving advice about love and
  marriage (485-486)

78
The Wife of Bath (continued)

• Skills/Talents
• An expert in cloth-making (457-458)

79
How do you think Chaucer intends the reader to
feel about The Wife of Bath?

• One of the most individualized of the pilgrims
• Her personality really emerges when she tells her
  tale
• A larger than life characterhas been compared
  to Shakespeares Falstaff in Henry IV Part One

80
The Parson
Social Group Clergy A parson was a parish
priesthis job was to minister to all the people
in his parishadminister sacraments as well as
take care of the poor and sick
81
The Parson

• Physical Appearance
• None
• Manner of Dress
• Carried a stave (walking stick) (505)

82
The Parson (continued)

• Personal Qualities
• Holy-minded, of good renown (487)
• Poor, but rich in holy thought and work (488-489)
• Benign, wonderfully diligent (493)
• Patient (494)
• Charitablegives to poor from church offerings
  and from his own pocket (497-500)
• Devoted to his parishoners (501-505)
• Holy and virtuous (523)

83
The Parson (continued)

• Skills/Talents
• Learned (490)
• Knew Christs gospel and would preach it devoutly
  (491-492)
• Believes he must set an example for his
  parishoners to followIf gold rust, what then
  will iron do? (506-514)
• Christ and His Twelve Apostles and their lore /
  He taught, but followed it himself before
  (535-536)

84
How do you think Chaucer intends the reader to
feel about The Parson?

• Like The Knight, The Parson seems to be an
  idealized portraithe embodies everything a
  person who devotes himself to God should be
• Only positive representative of the clergy (think
  back to The Prioress, The Monk, and The
  Friar)suggests Chaucer believed the Church
  wasnt completely corrupt
• When The Narrator says I think there never was a
  better priest (532) Chaucer seems to agree
  completely

85
The Plowman
Social Group Feudal The Plowman is a peasant
farmer. Note that he is The Parsons brother and
they are traveling together on the pilgrimage.
86
The Plowman

• Physical Appearance
• None
• Manner of Dress
• Wore a tabard smock (553)

87
The Plowman (continued)

• Personal Qualities
• Honest worker, good and true (540)
• Lived in peace and perfect charity (541)
• Loved God and his neighbor (543-544)
• Never complained (344-345)
• Charitable (348-350)
• Skills/Talents
• Steadily went about his work (546)
• Paid his tithes promptly (551)

88
How do you think Chaucer intends the reader to
feel about The Plowman?

• Like his brother The Parson, The Plowman is an
  idealized portrait
• Lives the hard-working but content life of a
  peasant
• Does not have much himself, but is willing to pay
  his tithe to the Church and give to charity as
  well

89
The Miller
Social Group Feudal The job of millers was to
grind grain into flour at his mill. Millers had
a reputation for always trying to cheat their
customers.
Note The Miller rides first in the cavalcade of
pilgrims as they ride to Canterbury
90
The Miller

• Physical Appearance
• Weighed sixteen stone (1 stone 14 pounds) (559)
• Stout, big in brawn and bone (560)
• Broad, knotty, short-shouldered (563)
• Had a broad red beard (566-567)
• Wart at tip of his nose had red hairs growing on
  it (568-570)
• Wide, black nostrils (571)
• Mouth like a furnace door (573)

91
The Miller (continued)

• Manner of Dress
• Had a sword and buckler at his side (572)
• Wore a blue hood and white coat (580)

92
The Miller (continued)

• Personal Qualities
• A wrangler and buffoon (574)
• Likes to tell filthy stories in the tavern
  (574-575)
• Skills/Talents
• Good wrestlerwon the ram at any competition
  (561-562)
• A master hand at stealing grain (576)
• Had a thumb of gold (579)
• Played the bagpipes (581)

93
How do you think Chaucer intends the reader to
feel about The Miller?

• Another one of the most individualized portraits
• The Millers repulsive physical appearance
  reflects his inner qualities
• Description in General Prologue prepares us for
  his talewhich is an elaborate dirty joke that he
  tells while he is drunk

94
The Manciple
ltgt
Social Group City A manciple was an
administrator whose job it was to purchase food
and provisions. This particular manciple works
for a society of distinguished lawyers in London.
95
The Manciple

• Physical Appearance
• None
• Manner of Dress
• None
• Personal Qualities
• Illiterate (590)

96
The Manciple (continued)

• Skills/Talents
• Shrewd purchaserwatched the market carefully and
  was able to purchase provisions at the lowest
  price (584-588)
• Able to cheat the brilliant lawyers for whom he
  works without them ever suspecting (589-602)
• Was able to wipe their eyeknock the conceit
  out of them (602)

97
How do you think Chaucer intends the reader to
feel about The Manciple?

• Another one of the lesser important pilgrims
• More than half of the portrait is spent
  describing the lawyers who employ The Manciple
• Hes the best mancipleAll caterers might follow
  his example / In buying victuals (584-585)
• Another member of City group who lives by his
  wits by embezzling money from his employers

98
The Reeve
Social Group Feudal A minor official on a
country estate who served as an intermediary
between the lord of the manor and his serfs
The Reeves name is Oswald and his horses name
is Scot. He rides last on the cavalcade of
pilgrims.
99
The Reeve

• Physical Appearance
• Old, thin (603)
• Beard shaven closely to the skin (604)
• Short hair (605-607)
• Lean legs like sticks they were (607-608)

100
The Reeve (continued)

• Manner of Dress
• Wore a long, bluish overcoat (633)
• Had a rusty blade slung at his side (634-635)
• Coat tucked under belt and splayed (637)

101
The Reeve (continued)

• Personal Qualities
• Choleric (603)
• A tough bossHe knew their dodges, knew their
  every trick / Feared like the plague he was, by
  those beneath (620-621)
• Dishonestapparently stole money from his lord
  and then loaned it back to him or bought him
  gifts in order to win favor (624-628)

102
The Reeve (continued)

• Skills/Talents
• Very neat and meticulous (609-610)
• Good at managing the lords crops (611-613)
• Was a carpenter of first-rate skill (630)

103
How do you think Chaucer intends the reader to
feel about The Reeve?

• The Reeve is the kind of boss you would hate to
  work for because you couldnt get away with
  anything
• Also the kind of supervisor you would want to
  hirebut at the same time hes a thiefhe steals
  from the lord who has total trust in him
• His choleric personality also makes him the kind
  of person with whom you probably wouldnt want to
  hang out

104
Reeves vs. Millers

• Reeves and millers were natural enemiesone of
  the reeves jobs was to take the lords grain to
  be milled into flour. Reeves knew that most
  millers were dishonest so they watched them very
  carefully. Millers didnt like reeves because
  they knew they didnt trust them. The Reeve and
  The Miller on the pilgrimage cant stand one
  anotherthats why The Host makes The Miller ride
  first and The Reeve ride last in the cavalcade of
  pilgrims on their way to Canterbury.

105
The Summoner
Social Group Clergy A summoners job was to
summon sinners to the ecclesiastical court for
violations of Church law. Summoners also were
expected to report anyone they found committing
sins to the Church court.
106
The Summoner

• Physical Appearance
• His face on firefor he had carbuncles (641)
• Narrow eyes (642)
• Black scabby brows, a thin beard (643)
• Children were afraid when he appeared (644)

107
Whats a carbuncle?
108
The Summoner (continued)

• Manner of Dress
• Wore a garland on his head (682)
• Carried a round cake that he pretended was a
  shield (684-686)

109
The Summoner (continued)

• Personal Qualities
• As hot and lecherous as a sparrow (642)
• Loved garlic, onions, leeks, and strong red wine
  (650-651)
• Got drunk and would pretend he could speak
  Latinbut he really couldnthe would just repeat
  phrases he had heard in Courtif someone pressed
  him he would say Questio quid juris and nothing
  more.

110
The Summoner (continued)

• Personal Qualities (continued)
• A noble varlet and a kind one (663)
• Would overlook sins he was supposed to report for
  a bribe (665-667)
• Had mistresses on the side (668)
• Would also extort money from sinnerswould report
  them unless they paid him (669-681)

111
How do you think Chaucer intends the reader to
feel about The Summoner?

• Probably the worst pilgrim so farhe abuses his
  positiontakes bribes and commits extortion
• The Summoners physical repulsiveness mirrors his
  inner depravity
• In Chaucers time people believed pimples were
  caused from overindulging in food and drinkThe
  Summoner wears his sins on his face

112
The Pardoner
Social Group Clergy Pardoners would sell
pardons to sinners who had committed serious
sins and had significant penances to complete.
Chaucers Pardoner also sells indulgenceshe sold
people pardons that would get them out of
Purgatory and into Heaven sooner than they would
otherwise. The money was supposed to be used by
the Church to help the poor and sick.
Note The Pardoner is traveling with his friend
The Summonerthey sing together as they ride.
113
The Pardoner

• Physical Appearance
• Had hair as yellow as wax that fell behind his
  head down to his shoulders like rat-tails
  (693-697)
• Had bulging eyeballs like a hare (702)
• Had no beardvery smooth chin (707-708)

114
The Pardoner (continued)

• Manner of Dress
• Wore a little cap on his head (701)
• Had sewn a relic on his cap (703)
• His wallet full of pardons lay on his lap
  (704-705)

115
The Pardoner (continued)

• Personal Qualities
• Had a high voice like a goat (706)
• I judge he was a gelding, or a mare (709)
• Dishonestpasses off rags and animal bones as
  holy relics in order to con people out of their
  moneywhich he keeps for himself (712-724)
• In church he was a noble ecclesiast (726)

116
The Pardoner (continued)

• Skills/Talents
• There was no pardoner of equal grace (751)
• Read a lesson or told a story well (727)
• But best of all he sang an Offertorypart of
  the Mass when he would charge people to venerate
  his relics or buy his pardons (728)
• Good preacherhad a honey tongue (730)

117
How do you think Chaucer intends the reader to
feel about The Pardoner?

• Chaucer seems to save the worst for last
• He says The Pardoner and The Summoner are birds
  of the same feather (688)
• Even The Narrator (who likes almost everybody)
  admits that The Pardoner is a corrupt con-manall
  of his relics and pardons are fake
• Chaucer implies The Pardoner is a eunucha man
  born without testicles or who has been castrated
• His unnatural condition is a reflection of his
  inner depravity

118
The Host
Social Group City The Host, whose name is Harry
Bailey, owns the Tabard Inn where the pilgrims
are staying before setting out for Canterbury the
next morning.
119
The Host

• Physical Appearance
• A very striking man (769)
• Bright eyes, girth a little wide (771)
• Manner of Dress
• None

120
The Host (continued)

• Personal Qualities
• Fit to be a marshall in a hall (770)
• No finer burgess in Cheapside (772)
• Bold in speech, wise, full of tact (773)
• Manly (774)
• Merry-hearted (775)
• Skills/Talents
• Served the finest victuals (767)

121
How do you think Chaucer intends the reader to
feel about The Host?

• Positive portraithe has all the qualities one
  would expect of a successful innkeeper and tavern
  owner
• A people person
• His personality emerges in his role as emcee of
  the storytelling contest he proposeshe makes
  several references to his nagging wife (which may
  be the real reason he wants to go to Canterbury
  with the pilgrimsto get away from her for a
  week!)

122
The Narrator (a.k.a. Chaucer)
The Narrator is our eyes and ears on the
pilgrimage. He promises to report everything
exactly as it happened. Remember to distinguish
between Chaucer the Narrator/Pilgrim and Chaucer
the Poetthey dont always have the same view.
123
The Narrator

• Personal Qualities
• Friendlyis able to befriend 29 other people and
  learn about them in the course of an evening
• Good listenerapparently people open up to him
  in conversation
• Naïvehe tends to say something nice about almost
  all of the pilgrimsmost of them are the best of
  the best at their profession or trade
• Just dont forget that Chaucer the Poet wants you
  to see the irony in many of Chaucer the
  Narrators conclusions

124
The Hosts Proposal

• The Host suggests that since the pilgrims will
  probably tell stories on the way to Canterbury
  anyway, they could make it more enjoyable by
  having a storytelling contest
• Each of the thirty pilgrims would tell two
  stories on the way to Canterburyand two more on
  the way back to London
• Chaucer originally planned to include a total of
  120 taleshe finished fewer than 30

125
The Hosts Proposal (continued)

• The Host offers to join the pilgrimage and ride
  to Canterbury to serve as judge and referee of
  the contestall at his own expense
• He says the best tale will be determined based on
  good morality and general pleasure (816)

126
The Hosts Proposal (continued)

• Whats a contest without a prize? The winner
  will receive a free supper at the Tabard Inn when
  they return from Canterburypaid for by all of
  the other pilgrims
• Once everyone agrees to The Hosts plan, they
  must play according to his rulesanyone who
  doesnt will have to pay the cost of everyones
  pilgrimagea considerable sum of money