1. Canterbury Tales: The Prologue
Here bygynneth the Book of the tales of Caunterbury...

2. perfect gentle -knight- really ?
The Knight
Ironies
perfect 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.”
Characterization:
-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.”
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 !

3. Author’s view of the character
MONK
Ironies
As monk you are not suppose to hunt, but he does it a lot. “ He did not rate that text at a plucked hen which says that hunters are not holy men”.
Monks are suppose to be poor and follow a humble life, but he has novel habits. “He liked a fat swan best, and roasted whole. His palfrey was as brown as is a berry”.
Author’s view of the character
The author portrays the monk, as a really ironic person, and really strong in what he believes in. He shows how the monk ignores his responsibilities to the church and to the people, and how he basically does what ever he wants. ”Hunting a hare or riding at a fence was all his fun, he spared for no expense”.
Characterization:
He did not followed the normal ideas that a monk should follow. He was more independent to his own ideas. “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”. He also believed that he was not supposed to study all the time. “Was he to leave the world upon the self? Let Austin have his labor to himself”.
He was bald, fat, and tan. “His head was bald and shone like a looking glass” , “He was a fat and personable priest”.
He is the head of a group of monks. “Where my lord Monk was Prior of the cell”.
He is high ranked in the clergy. “He was a prelate fit for exhibition”.
Pictures citations:

4. The Friar CHARACTERIZATION
Job: A Priest, does confessions and marries couples
“For he was qualified to hear confessions, Or so he said, with more than priestly scope; He had a special license from the Pope” “He’d fixed up many a marriage”
Appearance: A white man who wore a tippet and a cope made of double-worsted
“His neck was whiter than a lily flower But strong enough to butt a bruiser down” “He kept his tippet stuffed with pins for curls, and pocket knives, to give to pretty girls.” “Of double-worsted was a semi cope Upon his shoulders, and the swelling fold.”
Thoughts and Feeling: How to get more money
“He was an easy man in penance-giving, where he could hope to make a decent leaving”
Irony: He was a religious man yet a “player” “He’d fixed up many a marriage, giving each of his young women what he could afford” Authors Attitude: He mocks the Friar “for he was qualified to hear confessions, or so he said “ “so pleasant was his holy how-d’ye-do”

5. Ironies Authors Attitude
The Skipper
Characterization
-Job Description: English sailor and pirate “As for his skill in reckoning his tides… he had such dispatch that none from Hull to Carthage was his match… The barge he owned was called The Maudelayne.”
-Appearance: Dark skin, wears a woolen gown, he wore a dagger around his neck, and had a beard. “…In a woolen gown that reached his knee. A dagger on a lanyard falling free hung from his neck… The summer heat had tanned his color brown… His beard in many the tempest had its shaking.”
-Thoughts and feelings: He committed unlawful acts without remorse, he knew he was the best sailor, and no one could prove him wrong. “The nicer rules of conscience he ignored. If, when he fought, the enemy vessel sank, he sent his prisoners home; they walked the plank… none from Hull to Carthage was his match. Hardy he was, prudent in undertaking…”
-Place in the world: He’s not of noble birth, and he is a thief. “He rode a farmers horse the best he could… Many a draft of vintage, red and yellow, he’d drawn at Bordeaux, while the trader snored.”
Ironies
The Skipper is a pirate, but he is going on a religious pilgrimage… He wears a knife as a necklace, makes his prisoners walk the plank, and has no mercy at all; still the author refers to him as “an excellent fellow”.
Authors Attitude
Chaucer describes the Skipper as the best sailor/pirate in all of Europe, yet he conveys his image as a commoner, a thief, and a liar that can not even ride a horse properly.

6. The Plowman
Irony:
The irony is that he does fit what is expected of a person going to a pilgrimage, being humble, generous, and religious while the other characters don’t.
“He was an honest worker, good and true, living in peace and perfect charity.”
Characterization: Appearance: Common dress style. “He wore a tabard smock and rode a mare.” Job: Farmer. “For steadily about his work he went to trash his corn, to dig or manure or make a ditch.” Thoughts and feelings: - Honest worker, good and true. “He was an honest worker, good and true, living in peace and perfect charity.” “He paid his tithes in full when they were due on what he owned, and on his earnings too.” - Devoted to God. “ And, as the gospel bade him, so did he, loving God best with all his heart and mind.” Place in world: Charity. “And he would help the poor for love of Christ and never take a penny.”
Author’s Attitude:
Chaucer is describing at least with one character how a humble person going to Canterbury should be. Describing his honesty, and generous ways of living that fits the description of a crusader.

7. The Parson
CHARACTERIZATION Holy minded man of good renownn, poor .Yet he was very religious and hard worker .He would truly know Chrit’s gospel and would preach it devoultly to parishioners, and teach it. A very patient person, who hated cursing.He liked giving to the poor, both from church oferrings and from his property. He never neglected his duty, ‘he would do everything he could for everyone he could.’. He was the type of person who did things first and then taught them. “ He was the true example that a priest should give, one of cleanness” , he would put others first. He stayed home and watched over his fold so that no wolf should make the sheep miscarry . Very virtuous, but never contemptuous of sinful men, never disdainful, never too proud or fine, also a good teacher. His goal was to set an example and draw men closer to heaven. “He shought no glory or money in his dealings”, he would always put other before him, “ there was no better priest”. IRONIES Poor and worthless? I think not! Parson, despite his poverty, is a holy man who has a good reputation amongst others. “A holy-minded man of good renown There was, and poor, the Parson to a town.” In contrast to the saying “poor and uneducated”, Parson is actually very educated in Christ’s Gospel. His teachings to various peoples prove it. “He was also a learned man, a clerk” Parson lived a life of cleanliness despite his great adversity. He was not too prideful/arrogant in his work. He also respected everyone, sinners and holy men. “Holy and virtuous he was, but then never contemptuous of sinful men” He did not desire any awards or compensation for his teachings. He was only set on enlightening others. “He sought no pomp or glory in his dealings, No scrupulosity had spiced feelings.” Author’s Attitude Chaucer is going against the sterotype that all poor people are uneducated and ony care for themselves. “He was also a learned man, a clerk..” Parson, despite his poor appearance/life, was a kind-hearted man to everyone. “Holy and virtuous he was, but then never contemptuous of sinful men” H acres more about enlightening men of their Savior and Heaven than of himself and his well being.” Who truly knew Christ’s Gospel and would preach it…”

8. Gabriel Monti & Nicholas Bissoon
The Miller
Ironies
Characterization
he works in a grain mill but he also steals grains. ‘’ his was a master-hand at stealing grain’’. he’s religious but he fights and steals. ‘’he could go and win the ram at any wrestling show.’ the miller caries with around with hum a sword even though he wont use it because he's miller working. “he had a sword and a buckler at his side.”
Job: a person who owns or works in a grain mill, also he is in charge of making grain for the people. ‘’ He had a store of tavern stories, filthy in the main’’. Appearance: Broad, knotty, and short-SHOULDERED. He had a red beard which was broad as well. Look old strong with his big mouth and body ‘’The miller was a chap of sixteen stone’’. ‘’nose displayed a wart on which there stood a tuft of hair’’. Nostrils were as black as they were wide. He also carried a sword and buckler at his side. Thoughts and feelings: Loud, jokes around, feels overpowered and confident, also dishonest. ‘’He could go and win the ram at any wrestling show’’. ‘’a wrangler and buffoon’’. ‘’ A thumb of gold, by god, to gauge an oat!’’ Place in the world: Ranking 3rd in power after the lord of the manor and the parish priest. Also a commoner. ‘’He felt it with his thumb and thus he knew its quality and took three times his due’’.
Author’s Attitude
He makes the miller look like he’s playful and not concentrated because he plays music up and down and also he’s fooling around with jokes and hes loud “ he liked to play his bagpipe up and down and that’s how he brought us out of the town.” “his might mouth was like a furnace door. wrangler and buffoon.”
Gabriel Monti & Nicholas Bissoon

9. Canterbury Tales: The Summoner
IRONIES
The Summoner is described as a good and noble person when in reality, he is corrupt since he takes bribes from the people that he summons so they can get out ot trouble. “He was a noble verlet and a kind one. You’d meet none better if you went to find one” “In such a case of Archdeacon’s curse for in his purse the punishment should be.”
Author’s Attitude
The Author’s attitude towards this character is describing him as a corrupt church official and as a liar. He doesn’t see the goodness in what he is supposed to be doing.
CHARACTERIZATION
Physical Appearance: Narrow eyes, hot and lecherous with black scabby brows and thin beard. “ His eyes were narrow, he was as hot and lecherous as a sparrow. Black scabby brows he had appeared.”
Job Description: His job is to summon sinners to church courts. “He would instruct him not to be afraid in such a case of the Archdeacon’s curse.”
Place in the World: He is a commoner in the church. “He was a noble verlet and a kind one.”
Thoughts and Feelings: He was very lustful. “He was as hot and lecherous as a sparrow.”

10. The Pardoner Characterization Irony Author’s Attitude
Job: -Pardoner of the church who raises money for the church by soliciting offerings and granting indulgences. “As to his trade, from Berwick down to Ware, there was no pardoner of equal grace.”
Appearance: -Long yellow hair: “… hair as yellow as wax, hanging down smoothly like a hank of flask.” Bulging eyeballs: “… He had bulging eyeballs like a hare.” Wore a cap with a relic: “He’d sewed a holy relic on his cap.”
Thoughts and feelings: -Superficial/flashy/flamboyant: “He aimed at riding in the latest mode.” Dishonest: “In his trunk he had a pillowcase which asserted was out Lady’s veil.” Greedy: “He’d have to preach and tune his honey-tongue and win silver from the crowd. That’s why he sang so merrily and loud.”
Place in the world: He is a noble clergyman. “In church he was a noble ecclesiast.”
Irony
He is supposed to make money for the church but he collects money for himself: “In one short day, in money down, he drew more than a parson in a month or two.”
Author’s Attitude
The author makes fun of the Pardoner. “He had bulging eyeballs like a hare.” “He had the same small voice that a goat has got.” “I judge he was a gelding, or a mare.”