The Novice Warrior And Enthusiastic Lover The Squire is a dutiful young knight, with an avid interest in woman. While he should be focused on his knightly training many of his pursuits, even in the cavalry, seem to be all to impress his ladies.

PHYSICAL TRAITS

INTERNAL TRAITS Traits Dutiful Talented Promiscuous Quotations “He’d seen some service with the cavalry/ In Flanders and Artois and Picardy” (81-82) He respects his duty to his job as squire by serving in the cavalry. “Courteous he was, lowly and serviceable/ And carved to serve his father at the table.” (95-96) He is loyal to his father and does everything that is expected of him, like carving his fathers meat at the table. “He could make songs and poems and recite/ Knew how to joust and dance, to draw and write.” (91-92) “Singing he was, or fluting all the day.” (87) He has many worldly talents in writing, dancing and playing musical instruments, which is expected of both a great knight and a great lover. “a lad of fire” (76) Describing his passion. “He loved so hotly that till dawn grew pale/ He slept little as a nightingale” (93-94) He spends his nights pleasing his ladies and because of this he gets no sleep. “…done [his military service] valiantly in little space of time/ in hope to win his lady’s grace.” (83-84) This is CW’s way of mocking him for only doing his military service to gain the interest of a lady.

The Impoverished Student The Oxford Cleric is a devoted student of philosophy who cares more for knowledge than worldly possessions. Due to his desire to learn, he lacks the drive to find real employment.

PHYSICAL TRAITS

INTERNAL TRAITS Traits Studious Well-spoken Broke Quotations “By his bed/ [he had] twenty books in red/ and black of Aristotle’s philosophy” ( ) He always has to be surrounded by books. “His only care was study” (307) “And gladly would he learn, and gladly teach.” (312) “He never spoke 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” ( ) CP is very taken with the Oxford Cleric’s oratory skills, which shows that his reverence for learning has, in fact, paid off. “The thread upon his overcoat was bare.” (294) “He had found no preferment in the church/ And was too unworldly to make search/ For secular employment.” ( ) “Though a philosopher, as I have told/ He had not found the stone for making gold.” (301, 302) This is CW’s way of poking fun at how the Oxford Cleric is very knowledgeable, but this has not yet brought him his fortune. The philosopher’s stone represents the field of philosophy as a whole in this case. “Whatever money from his friends he took/ He spent it on another book” (303, 304) Even though he is broke to the point that he has to take money from his friends (that he cannot repay), he doesn’t spend the money on bettering his quality of life, but rather on furthering his studies.