The Prologue Use exact lines from the text to answer. What is the most popular time of year for pilgrimages? Where do most pilgrims in England choose to go on pilgrimages? Where does the narrator meet the pilgrims? Why is the narrator there? How many people does he meet? What shall the narrator discuss before the journey begins?

The Knight Use exact lines from the text to answer. What qualities does the knight possess? Has he seen battle? What is the narrator’s opinion of him? Why are his “fine horses” important for a knight? Describe his physical appearance and equipment. Why is he going on the pilgrimage? Who rides with him?

The Squire Use exact lines from the text to answer. What does the squire have in common with most young men his age? Where has he served and with what “military” branch? What details about him show his vanity? What skills does he possess? What does the narrator think of the squire? How is the squire different than his father? Who rides with the knight and the squire?

The Yeoman What is the yeoman’s job? Describe his physical appearance. What about his physical appearance tells the narrator that the yeoman is a “proper forester”? Do you think the yeoman talked to the narrator? Why or why not?

The Nun What is a prioress? What are the qualities/images we usually associate with a nun? What qualities does the name “Madam Eglantyne” suggest? What is the demeanor of the nun? What does the nun “counterfeit” or pretend she has? How does she feel about animals? Describe her physical appearance. What does her pin say? Why does this seem unusual for a nun? Does the narrator like her? Why or why not? Who travels with her?

The Monk What are the qualities we usually associate with a monk? What does this monk enjoy most in life? What does the narrator say about the monk’s horse? Why would this be unusual for a monk? How do the monk’s beliefs about the monastic life differ with the Church’s beliefs? Describe his appearance.

The Friar What extra work does he perform? *A friar differs from a monk by going out and helping the needy, not staying cloistered within a monastery. *This friar is a “Limiter” (213), a beggar who collects money for the Church in a certain area, and he’s apparently “the finest beggar of his batch” (256). What extra work does he perform? How does he “make a decent living” (228)? With what types of people does the friar like to spend his time? What is his attitude toward the poor?

Merchant Describe the merchant’s physical appearance and clothing. He acts as if rich, but in fact, how is he financially? *The narrator doesn’t know his name perhaps because the merchant is hiding his identity so that his creditors can’t find him.

Oxford Cleric Describe his and his horse’s appearance. *A cleric is someone who is part of the Church. This one is a student, at Oxford, studying to enter the Church. Describe his and his horse’s appearance. Where does all his money go? How does he repay his friends?

The Lawyer What type of man does he appear to be? *A sergeant at the law was a high-ranking judge who had practiced the law with distinction for at least sixteen years. What type of man does he appear to be? How well does he know the law? *According to E.T. Donaldson about the Middle Ages, “land was the safest and most profitable of all investments, but its transfer from one owner to another often involved the most tortuous legal complexities.” *Key line: “Though there was nowhere one so busy as he, / He was less busy than he seemed to be” (331-32).

Franklin Describe his appearance. *A franklin is a country landowner. Describe his appearance. What type of life does the franklin like to live? *Epicurus was a Greek philosopher who believed life’s goal was to be happy.

The Guildsmen *The guildsmen include a “Haberdasher, a Dyer, a Carpenter, / A Weaver, and a Carpet-maker” (371-72). *Guilds were organizations of craftsmen and tradesmen who taught their skills to apprentices. Why does the narrator point out that “their gear would pass / For new” (375-76)? What do their wives want? *Tradesmen were new to the middle/merchant class of the Middle Ages.

The Cook What is the cook’s reputation? What about his description is so in contrast with the image of a cook?

The Skipper Describe his appearance. *He rides a horse “as best he could” (400) because he’s used to sailing. Describe his appearance. How has he treated wine merchants? Key lines: “The nicer rules of conscience he ignored. / If, when he fought, the enemy vessel sank, / He sent his prisoners home; they walked the plank” (408-10).

The Doctor How does he gain money? What does he especially love? *The doctor bases his treatments from astrology and the four humors, which was common in the Middle Ages. *“Pestilences” (452) refers to the bubonic plague, or The Black Death. How does he gain money? What does he especially love?

The Wife of Bath Describe her appearance. *She is a weaver who lives in Bath, a town in southern England. *She’s somewhat deaf. Describe her appearance. What is her personality like? How many times has she been married?

The Parson What qualities of the parson does the narrator point out? *He is a village priest. *Key line: “Yet he was rich in holy thought and work” (489). What qualities of the parson does the narrator point out? How does the narrator feel about him? *Another key line: “That if gold rust, what then will iron do? / For if a priest be foul in whom we trust / No wonder that a common man should rust” (510-12). *Be sure to compare the parson to the monk and friar.

The Plowman What are some of his qualities? *He is the brother of the parson. What are some of his qualities? What does he spend his time doing? What does the narrator think of him? *Note that the narrator doesn’t say much of the plowman’s appearance, as if the outside is of little importance, but instead the man’s personality and inner self are what make him outstanding.

The Miller Describe his appearance. How strong is he? What’s his secret to making money off grain? *Note how the descriptions of the miller are physical, unlike the plowman; think of the differences in spirituality because of this.

The Manciple Why is his success suspicious? *A manciple is a purchasing agent; this particular one buys food for the Inns of Court, a law school. Why is his success suspicious?

The Reeve Describe his appearance. *A reeve is a manager of an estate. Describe his appearance. What line shows the reeve is financially cheating his lord? What does he further do to his lord?

The Summoner Describe his appearance. What does he enjoy eating? *A summoner delivers summonses that call people to appear in church courts. Describe his appearance. What does he enjoy eating? Why does he only know a little Latin? He ignores the legal issue of adultery if given what?

The Pardoner *A pardoner pardoned the sins of those who were truly sorry; this particular one sells his pardons as well as fake religious relics. What is significant about the pardoner traveling with the summoner? Describe his appearance and traits. What do some of them imply? Why is the pardoner successful in selling his “relics?” *This pardoner carries—as “relics”—a pillowcase that he claims is Mary’s veil, a piece of cloth he says came from St. Peter’s boat’s sail, a metal cross, and pigs’ bones that he says are the bones of Jesus and saints. *Compare the pardoner with the monk and friar; contrast him with the parson and plowman.

The Host Describe the host’s appearance. What does the host propose they can do on the way there and back? What is the reward for the story with the “fullest measure / Of good morality and general pleasure” (817-18)? Who will judge which story is best? If someone refuses, what is the consequence? How do the pilgrims decide who will start? *The character of the host sets The Canterbury Tales as a frame story, a literary device that binds together several different narratives; a story within a story.