Canterbury Tales:The Prologue

Here bygynneth the Book of the tales of Caunterbury...

The KnightCharacterization:

-job: Noble English knight; fought in the crusades“...done nobly in his sovereign’s war and ridden into

battle...as well in Christian as in heathen place”-Appearance: not flashy or over dressed “...not

gaily dressed. He wore a fustian tunic stained and dark with smudges where his armor had left marks;”

-quiet and modest in demeanor; never rude“... a bearing quiet as a maid”

-Thoughts and Feelings: follow the codes of Chivalry; deems himself “ had followed chivalry,

truth,honor, generousness, and courtesy.”Deems himself a good Christian; “he had joined our

ranks to do his pilgrimage and render thanks.”-Place in the World: as the knight he is both of

noble birth and of the highest social rank of all the Pilgrims,

“He was of sovereign values in all eyes.” “He was a true, perfect gentle -knight.”

Ironiesperfect gentle -knight- really ?

He has fought not just in the holy Lands but in Alexandria, Prussia, Lithuania, Russia, Granada, Algeciras, Anatolia, etc. He really is nothing but a Sword for Hire ! “Once with the Bey of Balat, doing work for him against another Heathen

Turk;”

Furthermore, he killed others while jousting ( Contests)- “THrice in the lists, and always

killed his man.”

Author’s Attitude:Chaucer is poking fun at the “so-called” noble and

honorable knights who are nothing but mercenaries. Yet, the good knight seems himself as a good Christian,

thus the pilgrimage to Canterbury !

The Squire By:

Alex Abella & Jacob Davis Characterization:

Physical Appearance

•Curly locks of hair-“… with locks as curly as if they had been

pressed.”•In his twenties

-“He was some twenty years of age…”•Average height; great agility and strength

-“In stature he was of moderate length, with wonderful agility and strength.”

•Had a short coat with long, wide sleeves, embroidered with red and white flowers

-“He was embroidered like a meadow bright and full of freshest flowers, red and white… Short was his

gown, the sleeves were long and wide…”

Job Description •The knights’, his father, servant

-“He has his son with him, a fine young squire…”•He was a good horse rider

-“… he knew the way to sit a horse and ride,”•Liked to make songs, poems, joust, dance, draw,

and write.--“He could make songs and poems and recite, knew

how to joust and dance, to draw and write.”

Thoughts and Feelings

•Loved immensely, to the point where he barely slept at night

-“He loved so hotly that till dawn grew pale he slept as little as a nightingale.”

•Believed in being courteous and serviceable, or willing to serve.

-“Courteous he was, lowly and serviceable, or willing to serve his father at the table.”

Place in the World

•He was of noble birth because he was the knights son and his successor.

-“He had his son with him, a fine young Squire…”

Author’s Attitude

• Chaucer describes the Squire as a noble servant to his father, the Knight. He also describes him as an intensely

loving man who is courteous and serviceable as well.-“… a fine young Squire, a lover and cadet…”

-“… in hope to win his lady’s grace… He loved so hotly… Courteous he was, lowly and serviceable…”

Irony•The Squire is supposed to be the finest young man, being

the successor to Knighthood. Yet he’s very sexual in his thoughts of love, which leads to the possibility that the sexual side of his personality could interfere with how a

noble successor should be.- “He loved so hotly that till dawn grey pale he slept as little

as a nightingale.”

The Yeoman By: Alex

Abella & Jacob DavisCharacterization:Physical

Appearance •The Yeoman wore a green coat and hood

-“This Yeoman wore a coat and hood of green…”•Tan Complexion

-“… his face was brown”•Carries a mighty bow and peacock-feathered arrows

-“… and peacock-feathered arrows, bright and Keen and nearly sheathed, hung at his belt the while… and his hand

he bare a mighty bow.”•Wore a leather arm-guard worn by archers

-“A saucy brace was on his arm to ward it from the bow-string”

•Carried a shield and sword and a dirk- “… and a shield and sword hung at one side, and at the

other slipped a jaunty dirk; spear-shorp and well-equipped.”

•Wore a medal of St. Christopher, patron saint of foresters and travelers, on his breast

-“A medal of St. Christopher he wore of shining silver on his breast.”

Job Description•Knights servant

-“There was a Yeoman with him at his side, no other servant; so he choose to ride.”

•Forester - “He was a proper forester, I guess.”

Thoughts and Feelings

•The Yeoman feels like a loyal servant servant to the knight,

riding by his side when no other would.

-“There was a Yeoman with him at his side, no other servant; so

he choose to ride.”

Place in the World

•The Yeoman is most likely not of noble birth because he is the

knight’s servant.-“There was a Yeoman with him

at his side…”

Author’s Attitude

•Chaucer has a positive response of appreciation.

- “He was a proper forester I guess.”

The NunPhysical Appearance:

Pretty nose, grey eyes, small mouth, red lips, but also

described as overweight with a large forehead

“Her nose was elegant, her eyes glass grey; her mouth was very

small, but soft and red…her forehead, certainly, was fair of

spread..”“She was indeed by no means

undergrown.”Job Description:

Nun (Prioress)“There was also a Nun…”Thought & Feelings:

Extremely concerned with having proper etiquette, tenderhearted

towards animals, a bit worldly/secular for a nun.

Seems extremely classy and well-mannered

“…her manners were well taught withal…”

“She used to weep if she but saw a mouse Caught in a trap, if it

were dead or bleeding.”Place in the world:

Prioress: a nun who ranked below the abbess (head) of a

convent; noble“There was also a Nun, a

Prioress…”

Tone: Ironic, Sarcastic, Comical

Ironies: Nuns are typically selfless, always

thinking about the concerns of others, but she is self-absorbed and

too focused on seeming proper.“For courtliness she had a special

zest, And she would wipe her upper lip so clean That not a of grease was

to be seen…”

Instead of striving to be more holy/godly she is striving to be more

elegant and charming. It is also important to note that she is trying too hard and efforts to appear well-

mannered are obvious.“…and straining to counterfeit a

courtly kind of grace,”“…And to seem dignified in all her

dealings…”

A major focus of a nun should be to help the poor, but she is overly

concerned with helping animals. She even feeds them expensive food that should be given to hungry

people instead.“She used to weep if she saw a

mouse caught in a trap…”“…And she had little dogs she would

be feeding with roasted flesh, or milk, or fine white bread…”

Author’s Attitude: The author finds her behavior to be

a bit comical. Before mentioning how the Nun desperately tries to be

graceful and elegant, the author writes, “She certainly was very entertaining.” Chaucer is also

criticizing the Nun for exhibiting several characteristics that are

contradictory to proper behavior of a nun.

By Gabrielle Ferguson

CharacterizationPhysical appearance: Toll in his head. He is excessively dressed in fur and gold jewelry. The Monk is a manly man. He is fat, bald greasy and has eyes that r-“His head was bald and shone like looking-glass; so did his face, as if it had been greased. He was a fat and personable priest; His prominent Eyeballs never seemed to settle.”- “ I saw his sleeves were garnoished at the hand with fine grey fur, the finest of the land, and on his hood, to fasten it at his chin He had a wrought-gold cunningly fashioned pin”Job Description:A monk- He someone who should study, pay and perform manual labor.- “ A manly man, to be an Abbot able”Thoughts and Feelings:He wasn’t an ordinary monk. He was very laid back. He also loved to hunt. He didn’t listen to the rules that monks were supposed to follow. He was rebellious. - “ Who rode the country; hunting was his sport”- “ The rule of good St. Benet or St. Maur As old and strict he tended to ignore; He let go by the things of yesterday and took the modern world’s more spacious way.” Place in the world: Monks are considered to be Nobles.- “ Where my lord Monk was Prior of the cell.”

IroniesThe main irony with the monk is that he is a hunter.Hunters are considered to be unholy men.

Monks are suppose to be studious, respectful, pray and perform manual labor. This monk is

anything but. He is rebellious, doesn’t follow the rules, and

controls his own life.- “ Hunting a hare or riding at

a fence Was all his fun, he spared for

no expense.”- “ … hunters are not holy

men..”

Vanesa Alvarez

Author’s Attitude:The author's attitude toward

the monk isn’t positive. He seems to have a very low

opinion of the Monk. When the author describes the monk he tends to use ironical humor to

describe his appearance. - “ That is to say a monk out of his cloister. That was a text he

held not woth an oyster”

The Monk

Characterization-Job- the duties were to live among the poor, to beg on their behalf and to give his earnings to aid their struggle for livelihood. “Giving each of his young women what he could afford” He was also instructed to take peoples confessions and forgive them in the name of God. “ For he was qualified to hear confessions, Or so he said, with more

than priestly scope; He had a special license from the Pope.”Appearance- he came off as a very pleasant man, a very articulate one indeed “…a wanton one and merry, A Limiter, a very festive fellow. In all Four Orders there was none so mellow, So glib with gallant phrase and well- turned speech.”

Place in the world- the Friar is pledged to a life of poverty so he is of the common people but not of those that own land for he can not own property but of those who beg others for money. “He was a noble pillar to his Order. Highly beloved and intimate was he With Country folk within his boundary…”

Irony- the Friar is supposed to live his life in poverty for religious purposes but he takes bribes and seeks rich men’s companionship. He is a “player” so to speak. “Therefore instead of weeping and of prayer One should give sliver for a poor Friar’s care”

“ Sweetly he heard his penitents at shrift With pleasant absolution, for a gift.”“ To a poor Order that a man’s well shriven, And should he give enough he knew in verity The penitent repented in sincerity.”

“He kept his tippet stuffed with pins for curls And pocket knives to give to pretty girls”Author’s Attitude- Chaucer is showing that not all people are as good as they seem to be. A friar who is supposed to be as humble and forgiving as one can be is tainted by greed. “Sweetly he heard his penitents at shrift With pleasant absolution, for a gift. He was an easy man in peanance-giving Where he could hope to make a decent living”

Canterbury Tales: The Friar

Merchant

Physical appearance: He had facial hair, dressed in many different colors, held his head up high, wore a hat, and buckled boots.

Quote: “There was a merchant with a forking beard and motley dress; high on his horse he sat, upon his head a flemish beaver hat and on his feet daintily buckled boots.”

Job Description: He was a salesman of the time; he was a trickster. He traded goods with other countries and made very little.

Quote: “He was an expert at dabbling in exchanges.” “ He was so stately in administration, in loans and bargains and negotiation.”

Thoughts and feelings He was a very boastful man, but told of his so called accomplishments in a serious manner. Probably to hide the fact that he was in major debt.

Quote: “He told of his opinions and feelings in solemn tones,”

Place in the world: He was a man that only voiced the details about his life that would make him part of the higher rankings. He would not socialize much He tries to live among the wealthy even though he is among the poor.

Quote: “He was an excellent fellow all the same; to tell the truth I do not know his name.” “This estimable Merchant so had set his wits to work, none knew he was in debt, he was so stately in administration, in loans and bargains and negotiation.”

Tone: The tone is a deceptive serious tone. The Merchant speaks with seriousness and fools the pilgrimage into thinking he is wealthy when he in fact isn’t.

Quote: “He told of his opinions and pursuits in solemn tones, he harped on his increase in capital;” “This estimable Merchant so had set his wits to work, none knew he was in debt, he was so stately in administration, in loans and bargains and negotiation.”

Author’s attitude: The author emphasizes the fact that the merchant is deceptive and a trickster. Although making exchanges was illegal at the time, he wishes that there were policemen at the trail.

Quote “there should be a sea-police (he thought) upon the Harwich-Holland ranges; he was an expert at dabbling exchanges”

Ironies: He is dressed in multiple colors, which usually represents the liveliness of a person, but speaks and acts in a very serious way. He also wore a sense of pride, but buckled his boots daintily. He acts as though he is a wealthy man even though he is in major debt.

Quote: “There was a Merchant with a forking beard and motley dress;” “He told of his opinions and feelings in solemn tones,” “high on his horse he sat,...and on his feet daintily buckled boots.” “This estimable Merchant so had set his wits to work, none knew he was in debt, he was so stately in administration, in loans and bargains and negotiation.”

Alexandra Basto

Oxford Clerk

Physical appearance: He is very thin, hollow and pale and his horse is as thin as a rake. He is not appointed in the Church and is extremely poor which is evident from his threadbare short upper coat.

Quote: “An Oxford Cleric, still a student though,One who had taken logic long ago, Was there; his horse was thinner than a rake,And he was not too fat, I undertake,But had a hollow look, a sober stare;The thread upon his overcoat was bare.”

Job description:He is classified as a philosopher. He hasn’t found a job in the Church yet, and refuses to get a “secular” job. He prefers to just pursue his quest for knowledge and learning rather than run after wealth and riches. He would rather have twenty philosophy books at his bedside than clothes or entertainment. Although he is a philosopher he has little gold.

Quote:”He had found no preferment in the church.And he was too unworldly to make search For secular employment. By his bed,He preferred having twenty books in red and black, of Aristotle's philosophy, Than costly clothes, fiddle or psaltery.Though a philosopher, as I have told,He had not found the stone for making gold.”

Thoughts and feelings: He is a man of few words and does not speak more than necessary. But whatever he does say tends to increase morality in the listeners. The Clerk pays back those who buy him books by praying earnestly for their souls and his only care is to study .He is very formal,respectful,and to the point. He is happy to learn and teach others.

Quote:”... His only care was study, and indeed.He never spoke a word more than was need,.Formal at that, respectful in the extreme, Short, to the point, and lofty in his theme.A tone of moral virtue filled his speech And gladly would he learn, and gladly teach.”

Place in the world:He has no status nor money.He does not have the status necessary to become a member of the church,however he can still work outside the church but doesn’t want to.

Quote: ”He had found no preferment in the church,And he was too unworldly to make search for secular employment.”

Tone:The tone is mostly serious with slight irony.The author gives a sincere image of this pilgrim with factual descriptions and a few hints of irony in the pilgrim’s flaws.

Quote:”A tone of moral virtue filled his speech And gladly would he learn, and gladly teach.”

Author's Attitude: The author really appreciates the clerk’s seriousness and praises him for that.He recognizes the Clerk is poor yet hardworking which makes him have a generous opinion of him.The Cleric is presented as a dull character, who cuts himself off from experiencing life so that he can focus on his study.

Quote: “...He spent on learning or another book And prayed for them most earnestly, returning thanks to them thus for paying for his learning. His only care was study.”

Irony: The Clerk is ironic due to the fact that he is a philosopher and yet he is poor.During this time period, a philosopher was also known as an alchemist, who claimed to transform base metals into gold.Ironically, the Clerk has no gold.He is a serious philosophy student that has given up many pleasures for knowledge.

Quote: “Practitioners of the false science of alchemy often sought the "philosopher's stone," supposedly capable of turning common metals into gold.”

Rebeca Mora

Sergeant of the Law

Physical appearance: wears a parti-colored coat with a silk belt that is striped.It deonstrates his wealth.

Job description: highly respected lawyer,sometimes appointed a judge by the King. Also, a wealthy landowner.

Quote: “A Sergeant at the Law who paid his calls,Wary and wise, for clients at St. Paul's There also was, of noted excellence.Discreet he was, a man to reverence,Or so he seemed, his sayings were so wise.”

Thoughts and feelings: He felt as though he was untouchable.

Quote: “There was no such conveyancer as he;All was fee-simple to his strong digestion,Not one conveyance could be called in question.”

Place in the world: He is high on the social ranking, well respected lawyer.

Quote: “There was no such conveyancer as he;All was fee-simple to his strong digestion,Not one conveyance could be called in question.” “His fame and learning and his high position Had won him many a robe and many a fee.”

Tone: The tone is contradictory and secretive. The tone shows the irony in this passage.

Quote: “Discreet he was, a man to reverence,Or so he seemed, his sayings were so wise.”

Author’s attitude: admires the riches and intelligence of the lawyer but claims he is “less

busy than he seems to be”. Quote:.”Wary and wise, for clients at St. Paul's There also was, of noted excellence.Discreet he was, a man to reverence,Or so he seemed, his

sayings were so wise.”

Irony: The irony of the character, The Sergeant, is pretending to have a lot of work and always

being occupied in cases but the truth was he was never busy at all.

Quote:”Though there was nowhere one so busy as he,He was less busy than he seemed to be.”

Rebeca Mora & Alexandra Basto

IroniesWhat is ironic about the Franklin is that he was born of higher class, yet he still tries to gain appreciation and acceptance of the other people.” He was a model among landed gentry… He made his household free to all the county.”

Author’s viewpointChaucer thinks highly of the Franklin, because he is very generous and hospitable. his house is always full of food that he shares with other people, and lives a very sophisticated lifestyle. “ High colored and benign… He made his household free to all the county.”

Josh Chancellor, Nick Orlando

HaberdasherCharacterization

Appearance: Wears the shiniest and newest clothes, always dressing very rich-like. “ They were so trim and fresh their gear would pass for new.”

    Job: sells hats and other clothing accessories. “ Haberdasher: A seller of hats and other clothing accessories.”

    Feelings: Very highly praise their appearance  and how they look: “ Their knives were not tricked out with brass but wrought with purest silver.”

    Place: Commoner “ A Haberdasher… were among our ranks.”

IroniesAlthough they are

commoners, they act like they are of high class by dressing

fancy and living highly. “ Among our ranks, all in the

livery of one impressive guild-fraternity. They were so trim and fresh their gear would

pass for new.

Author’s ViewpointChaucer believes these men to be stuck up and they think that they are better than everyone else. “ To be

called ‘Madam’ is a glorious thought.”

Josh Chancellor, Nick Orlando

CookCharacterization

 Appearance: Doesn’t dress fancy, dresses rather poorly. “ With them who stood alone”

    Job: The cook is a chef: “ They had a cook with them.”

    Feelings: Only cares about his job, as evident by the repeated sentences about the food he makes

    Place: Commoner: “ A cook”

IroniesIt is ironic that he is a cook, yet he cooks with a giant ulcer on

his knee, which is very unsanitary. “So it seemed to me, that he should have an

ulcer on his knee.”

Author’s viewpointChaucer believes that he is a very honest man, one who

cares deeply for his work. “ He could distinguish a London ale by flavor, and he could roast and seethe and boil and

fry.”

Josh Chancellor, Nick Orlando

SkipperPhysical Appearance: Brown-skinned from

years of sailing. “The summer heat had tanned his color brown”

Carries a dagger and dressed in a woolen gown. “In a woolen gown that reached his knee, a

dagger on a lanyard falling free…”Job Description: He was a Pirate/Smuggler and

a Captain of a ship named The Maudelayne. “The barge he owned was called the Maudelayne” “If, when he fought, the enemy vessel sank, he sent

his prisoners home; they walked the plank”Expert Navigator. “ Moons, harbors,… he had

such a dispatch that none from Hull to Carthage was his match.” “And he knew all the havens as

they were from Gottland to the Cape of Finisterre…””

Place in the world: He has difficulty riding a horse, suggesting he is not of noble birth. He

steals and smuggles for a living, no morals, no care in the world it seems. “He rode a farmer’s

horse as best he could” “The nice rules of conscience he ignored”

Thoughts and Feelings: He takes advantage of people “Many a draft of vintage, red and

yellow, He’d drawn at Bordeaux, while the trader snored.” He has no morals and lacks manners due to his pirate-like ways. “The nicer rules of

conscience he ignored” Overpowers and kills if he doesn’t get his way “Hardy he was, prudent in

undertaking”

• Ironies: He believes or is believed to be a good guy when he is a turn a bad guy and

he threatens and steals from others. “Hardy he was, prudent in his undertaking” “And

certainly he was an excellent fellow” “The nicer rules of conscience he ignored”

• He ignores social graces and such and simply has no morals or a care in the world

for what he does.• Chaucer’s Take: Dislikes Skipper because

he steals, lies, plunders, and has no morals. Considered to be good, but again has no

morals. “The nicer rules of conscience he ignored.” “If when he fought, the enemy

vessel sank.” “He sent his prisoners home; they walked the plank.”

The Doctor Physical appearance: He is wearing a

mixture of blue and red clothes, he looks like a healthy and thick man “In his own

diet he observed some measure, there were no superfluities for pleasure. Only

digestives, nutritive, and such.”Job Description: His job as every doctor is to watch and identify their illness, then

sell them medicine to heal in exchange for gold “He had a special love for gold.”

Place in the world: Even though he posses an extent vocabulary in medicine and surgery “No one could talk as well as

he did on points of medicine and of surgery.” and a education, he is

considered a common man in society for the reason that just work for the

peasants and king.

Thoughts and Feelings: He is not Christian “He didn’t read the bible

very much”. He had an extent vocabulary in the fields of Astrology

and medicine.” Ironies: We can observe two ironies about the doctor. He says he doesn’t

read the bible “He did not read the bible very much.” when all doctors in

the medieval times read the bible. Also his intelligence in the roots of science make us think he is in love

with his job and patients, but in reality his only love is the gold “Yet he was rather close as to expenses

and kept the gold he won in pestilences. Gold stimulates the

heart, or so we’re told. He therefore had a special love for gold.”

Chaucer’s Take: The author doesn’t like the doctor because of his abuse of intelligence against the hopeless

people, and the fact that he is becoming rich off their gold.

Characterization

WOMAN (Wife of Bath)

~Physical Appearance: The woman has a gap between her teeth “She had gap-teeth,

set widely, truth to say.” She is also pretty large in size. “Large hips, her heels spurred sharply under that.” To go along with

this, she also dresses fairly expensively. “Her kerchiefs were of finely woven ground; I dared have sworn they weighed a good ten pound, The ones she wore on Sunday, on her head.” The woman also appeared to have a res, blushing face. “Bold was

her face, handsome, and red in hue.”

~Job Description:The woman was a great cloth maker and she was well-known for being one. “In making cloth she showed so great a bent

She bettered those of Ypres and of Ghent. In all the parish not a dame dared stir Towards the altar steps in front of her, And if

indeed they did, so wrath was she As to be quite put out of charity.”

~Thoughts & Feelings:The woman felt as if she was worthy and better than everyone

else. “Her hose were of the finest scarlet red And gartered tight; her shoes were soft and new. Bold was her face,

handsome, and red in hue. A worthy woman all her life, what's more She'd had five husbands, all at the church door, Apart from other company in youth; No need just now to speak of

that, forsooth.” Also, she was very happy and she seemed to enjoy life. “In company she liked to laugh and chat”

~Place in the World:The woman is the cloth maker and she is known to be worthy. Although this is the case, she isn’t respected due to the fact

that she’s been married 5 times. “A worthy woman all her life, what's more She'd had five husbands, all at the church door,

Apart from other company in youth; No need just now to speak of that, forsooth.”

Ironies~The Wife of Bath is in the medieval times, a time where woman aren’t predominantly business woman or successful. However, the Wife of Bath has a successful cloth making business and travels around the world. “In making cloth she showed so great a bent She bettered those of Ypres and of Ghent. In all the parish not a dame dared stir Towards the altar steps

in front of her, And if indeed they did, so wrath was she As to be quite put out of charity.”

~The Wife of Bath talks about how she knows everything there is about love and how she knows all the tricks and solutions yet she has been

married 5 times. “She'd had five husbands, all at the church door” “And knew the remedies for love's mischances, An art in which she knew the

oldest dances.”

Author’s Attitude

~The author views the Wife of Bath as a highly knowledgeable woman who is capable of doing things the typical woman of this time is not able to do. Though this may be the case, the author made it seem as if she could be a lot more credible than she is if she wasn’t married 5 times.

“She'd had five husbands, all at the church door, Apart from other company in youth; No need just now to speak of that, forsooth.”

-Brett Steinman

PlowmanCharacterization

Job: Farmer; an honest and charitable worker

“Many a load of dung one time or other he must have carted through the morning dew. He was an honest worker, good and

true,…”Appearance: Wore a tabard smock ( a loose, but heavy jacket) and rode on a

mare; seems to be on the older side, based on context

“He wore a tabard smock and rode a mare.”

Thoughts and Feelings: He seems to be content with where he ended up; He

believes in God and has a good heart; He feels happy when he helps others and

performs charity work; He enjoys doing things for others; It probably gives him a

sense of fulfillment.“…Living in peace and perfect charity…

loving God best with all his heart and mind….”

“…and he would help the poor for love of Christ and never take a penny…”

Place in The World: He definitely feels that he has a purpose. He enjoys helping

others and he tries to be as good of a person as possible. He’s probably happy

with his life, knowing that he’s a good person in a town full of vain people.

“He was an honest worker, good and true, living in peace and perfect charity…”

“…As prompt as any, he paid his tithes in full when they were due, on what he

owned, and on his earnings too.

Ironies

The Plowman is a kind-hearted and honest man… rare to find in a town full of royal and vain people. He represents the

goodness of society. He enjoys helping others, and expects nothing in return. He’s respectful, and he honors the lives of

others.

“He was an honest worker, good and true, living in peace and perfect charity…”

He is a religious man, and loves having something to believe in. He feels as if he was put on this earth for a reason. He believes in kindness, while other people in the town believe

in power and wealth.

“And, as the gospel bade him, so did he, loving God best with all his heart and mind…”

“...and he would help the poor for love of Christ and never take a penny if he could help it…”

He works hard and knows he must contribute to his society. He respects what he is told to do. He knows that he’s someone who is told what to do, other than the royals who hold the

power. But I feel like he’s okay with that.

“...as prompt as any, he paid his tithes in full when they were due on what he owned, and on his earnings too.

Authors Attitude

Geoffrey Chaucer mentioned the Plowman because he believes that the Plowman is important to the story. The

plowman is very kind and lived a nice, Christian life. Chaucer wanted to include a story about a good man, surrounded in a town full of obnoxiousness and self-absorption. He probably respects the Plowman, for what he does for his community. He paid his ties, completed his jobs, and lived for God. He was very religious, probably because having something to

believe in gave him a reason to go on every day. Chaucer felt that this character was very important to recognize, as he has a very different lifestyle and mindset than a lot of the

other major characters in the Canterbury Tales.-Ben Siegel

The ParsonCharacterization:

Job: Member of the clergy, preacher. “He also was a learned man, a clerk, who truly

knew Christ’s gospel and would preach it devoutly to parishioners, and teach it.”

Appearance: Plain and simple, not flashy.“He could in little find sufficiency. Wide was his parish, with houses far asunder, yet he neglected

not in rain or thunder.”Thoughts and feelings: Thinks most holy of men, priests, are corrupt. If the man we trust is foul, no wonder the common isn’t pure. “That if gold rusts, what then will iron do? for if a priest be foul in whom we trust, no wonder that

a common man should rust.” Place in the world: Educated commoner. “A holy-minded man of good renown there was,

and poor, the Parson to a town, yet he was rich in holy thought and work.”

Irony:Overly enthusiastic. One of the only people deserving

to actually go on the pilgrimage. Really holy and devoted.

“ I think there never was a better priest. He sought no pomp or glory in his dealings, no scrupulosity

had spiced his feelings. Christ and His Twelve Apostles and their lore He taught, but followed it

himself before.”

Author’s Attitude:The way Chaucer describes the Parson shows respect towards the character because the Parson is holy and

true to himself. He describes the parson as a man who does not give into sin and is deserving of the

pilgrimage.“ His business was to show a fair, behavior and

draw men thus to Heaven and their savior.”

Ricardo U & Jennifer J

The Miller

Characterization Physical Appearance

The Miller was a hefty fellow of grand proportions that was considered to be very strong. "The Miller was a chap of sixteen stone (224 pounds), A great stout fellow big in brawn and bone." He is also described as having

a very rugged and distorted appearance.”his nose displayed A wart on which there stood a tuft of hair Red as the Bristles in an old sow’s ear.”

Job Description

The Miller's job was to sell grains in his store where he would deceive his customers and rob them of their grains. "He had a store Of tavern

stories, filthy in the main. His was a master-hand at stealing grain."

Thoughts & Feelings

The Miller tends to enjoy peasant pastimes like wrestling for the ram in which there would most likely be a prize awarded to the winner. "For he

could go And win the ram at any wrestling show." He also composes song with his bagpipes of immoral topics that were not appreciated by the

town. "He liked to play his bagpipes up and down And that was how he brought us out of town."

Place in The World

The Miller is to be considered a low-class citizen of low morales and manners that engages in criminal acts and Neanderthal-like activities. He

is a true representation of the dystopian society in which he lives in.

IroniesThe most evident irony pertaining to the Miller is when

Chaucer states that he, the Miller, is quite an expert in stealing grain in that he charges thrice the amount even though he has a golden thumb. "He felt it with his thumb and thus knew Its quality and took three times his due." Chaucer when talking about the Miller refers to a proverb, "An honest miller has a golden thumb" to ironically infer that this Miller’s golden thumb only serves to increase his own profits. Another ironic inference about the Miller is that even though he is an immoral and dishonest man he still considers himself a man of God thus going on pilgrimages.

Author's Attitude The way Chaucer describes the Miller character, makes it

feasible to notice that there is a sense of detestation in his tone. He mentions that the Miller character has a grotesque appearance, and that he is a "Wrangler and a buffoon."

MANCIPLEAppearance

His appearance isn’t reflected physically in the story but you could infer that he is a very average looking person and of middle age by the way the author, Chaucer,

mentions him in the story.

JobWorks for the inn of court and is in charge of buying food “The Manciple came from the Inner

Temple; All caterers might follow his example In buying victuals”

Place in worldThe Manciple is a bit sneaky as he always come out on top “ he was never rash Whether he bought

on credit or paid cash” He is a commoner but is considered to be of great wisdom like that of educated men.

Thoughts & FeelingsThe Manciple tricks people even If they are above him “ The wisdom of a heap of learned men? His

masters-he had more than thirty then”

IronyThe Manciple always come ahead of others which is ironic because he is of a lowly class and uneducated. “Now isn't it a marvel of God’s grace That a illiterate fellow can outpace The wisdom of a head of learned

men

Author’s Attitude The author shows great appreciation towards this

character because he considers him a smart man and places him above others in level to his intelligence.

Reeve Characterization

Physical appearance:

The Reeve was an old man that looked, skinny, with no facial hair, and was very sick-looking.

“The Reeve was old and choleric and thin; his beard was shaven closely to the skin.”

Job Description:

He was an estate manager, in charge of his masters animals, seeds and grain (well trusted by his boss). Also, he was a

carpenter.

“He was a carpenter of first rate skill.” “ His master sheep, his animals, and hens, pigs, horses, dairies, stores and cattle-pens

were wholly trusted to his government.”

Thoughts & feelings:

The Reeve was an easily angered man (short tempered). He had a lot of love/respect toward his master.

“ The Reeve was old and choleric…”

“ He had grown rich and had a store of treasure well tucked away, yet it came out to pleasure his lord with subtle loans or gifts of goods, to earn his thanks and even coats and hoods.” 21

Place in the world:

The Reeve was well respected by his colleagues and those under him. His master held him in high stance.

“ Feared like the plague he was, by those beneath.”

“ No auditor could gain a point on him. And he could judge by watching drought and rain, the yield he might expect from seed and grain.”

“ No one had ever caught him in arrears”

Ironies:

The ironic part about the Reeve is that he has more money than his master (the person that he works for).

“A better hand at bargains that his lord, he had grown rich and had a store of treasure well tucked away…”

Author’s Attitude:

Chaucer, the author, feels the Reeve is grumpy, but he is confident and very skilled in what his job is. The Reeve is clever, and knows how to

manage those above and below him.

Alba KatoNicholas Gomez

P.6Thursday, September 24, 2015

The Summoner

Job: A layman with the job of bringing people accused of violating church law

to court.“for in his curse the punishment should

be.”“purse is the good archdeacons hell”

said he.

Appearance: He is an ugly, gross, dirty, and creepy looking. “His eyes were

narrow, he was as hot and lecherous as a sparrow. Black scabby brows he had,

and a thin beard.”

Thoughts and Feelings: He’s an eerie, angry and sarcastic man. “children were

afraid when he appeared.”

Place in the World: Low class. “he was a noble varlet and a kind one, you’d meet none better if you went to find

one.”

Ironies:Noble -Working for a church - really?

He was stupid, ugly, and thought he was in a higher class than what he actually was. It's

ironic because: Church is a place where people or where the honest and can for full fill their duty. " he had a cake, a round one, which it

was his joke to wield as if it were intended for a shield". Why would they want someone like

that working for a church?

Authors attitude: The author is sarcastic while describing the summoner, by thing he is noble when he is

clearly not. The author think very lowly of the summoner 

Physical Appearance: He has long blonde hair, likes to stay in the latest style and has a smooth hairless face. He doesn’t wear the cap pardoners

are supposed to wear. He Keeps it in his bag because he doesn’t like how it looks.

“This pardoner had hair as yellow as wax,…he wore no hood upon his head, for fun; He aimed at

riding in the latest mode.”Job: Travels about the country-side selling church

pardons. “A church official authorized to sell people pardons for their sins.”

Place in the world: He is common. His job determines his location in the hierarchy. ”a church official authorized to sell people pardons for their

sins”.Thoughts and feelings: He thinks of occupation as an outlet for his own personal gain rather than to serve to the church. "But best of all he sang an Offertory, for well he knew that when that song

was sung he'd have to preach and tune his honey-tongue and (well he could) Winn silver from the crowd, that's why he sang so merrily and loud"

`

 Irony: The irony of this character is that Chaucer ironically

describes him as a pardoner of no equal grace, which a pardoner should be, while the majority of his actions are not

of divine influence. He is dishonest, manipulative, and to some extent, showy. "There was no pardoner of equal grace", "And by his flatteries and prevarication made

monkeys of the congregation", "For in his trunk he had a pillow-case which he asserted was Our Lady's veil. He said

he had a goblet of the sail Saint Peter had the time when he made bold to walk the waves, till Jesus Christ took hold”.

Tone: The tone of the part of this piece with the pardoner is at first humorous in the way Chaucer describes him, and then quit sarcastic as he tells of the pardoner's actions, "He had the same small voice a goat has got", "I judge he was a

gelding, or a mare.", "There was no pardoner of equal grace"

Authors Attitude: The author's attitude toward the pardoner was not positive. He makes jokes of him

constantly and did not speak highly of his less than reputable actions. What Chaucer was really trying to say

about the character is that though he is a clergyman and a pardoner, he is dishonest and manipulative. "I

judge he was a gelding, or a mare.", "And by his flatteries and prevarication made monkeys of the

congregation", "For in his trunk he had a pillow-case which he asserted was Our Lady's veil. He said he had a

goblet of the sail Saint Peter had the time when he made bold to walk the waves, till Jesus Christ took hold",

"But best of all he sang an Offertory, for well he knew that when that song was sung he'd have to

preach and tune his honey-tongue and (well he could) Winn silver from the crowd, that's why he

sang so merrily and loud"

The Pardoner

Physical appearance: A man that stands out from the rest. He is very manly and slightly hefty. He has light eyes and a jokingly sense of humor “…fit to be a marshal in a hall… there was no

manly attribute he lacked…his eyes were bright, his girth a little wide.” “After our meal he jokingly

began to talk…”job: He tells stories for a living; he entertains the

people.“so let me then propose for your enjoyment, just

as I said a suitable employment”Place in the world: Common. Along with the

Pardoner last one in the hierarchy, “the innkeeper of the tabard”.

Thoughts and feelings: He is very enthusiastic about the group he is currently

hosting. “Truly, gentlemen, you are very welcome and I can’t think when –upon my word I'm telling you no lie- I’ve seen a gathering here that looked

so spry.”Author’s Attitude: The authors attitude towards the host is very positive. "Bold in his speech, yet wise and full of tact". He speaks very fond of him; one thing he said that was kind of a little too much but makes it a

better understanding how he feels about this character was, "There was no manly attribute he

lacked". The author says that he is a well respected man to his people, a "righteous" man

Irony: The host is suppose to be this "righteous" man that is for God and goes on journeys due to Gods

calling. Instead he is on his way to Canterbury to be entertained by judging the pilgrims on how they tell

their two stories. He basically wants to be entertained when he is suppose to be going there as a call from

God but he is making a game of this journey to Canterbury, the Host is offering insensitive to the

Pilgrims for the best stories, "and the man whose story is best told, that is to say who gives the fullest

measure". "He shall be given a supper, paid by all". Tone: The tone follows what the author sees because

the way he speaks about the host gives me a good vibe off the host. He joked around and talked sports

among his peers. "After our meal he jokingly began to talk of sports and among other things". He is a good

man, uplifting to anyone he is around. When he hosts a dinner, everyone enjoyed the love his presence

brought to everyone. "Our host gave us great welcome; everyone was given a place to and supper

was begun". That shows he treated his guest with high spirit and made sure they felt very comfortable. 

The Host