Canterbury Tales, “The General Prologue”

Canterbury Tales, “The General Prologue” (35 points)

You will find below all the pilgrims mentioned in “The General Prologue.” Be able to answer the following:

1. How does Chaucer characterize each one?  Offer two details with line numbers to support this (include figures of speech or Cicero’s aspects of characterization).
2. Describe Chaucer’s attitude toward each pilgrim.
3. Rank this person in the chart at the end of this handout.

Pilgrim	Chaucer’s Characterization	Two Details	Chaucer’s Attitude
The Knight	He had fine horses, but only wore the tunic that he wore under his armor. The tunic was stained from his armor, this suggests that he has just come from battle.	1.He had just finished fighting in Turkey. (67 - 69) 2.He has fought in many countries; Prussia, Lithuania, Russia, North Africa, Granada, Anatolia, along the Mediterranean coast, and most recently Turkey.(53-67)	a very noble and distinguished man.
Squire	The squire has blonde hair with curls, he rides on a nice horse like his fathers (the knight). He was around 20 years old, average height, great strength and agility.	1.He has been in combat with the cavalry in Flanders, Artois, and Picardy.(87-89) 2.He was talented at createing songs and poems as well as reciting them. He also knew how to joust, dance, draw, and write.(97-98)	Chaucer views him as a boy who finds his looks very important and that the main reason he embarks on the pilgramig is to win the favor of a woman. He also acted feminine “He was embrordered like a meadow bright and full of freshest flowers, red and white. Singing he was, or fluting all the day.” (91-93)
Yeoman	He is the knight’s servant. He had a coat, green hood, peacock feather arrows, a brown face, a bow, shield, sword,dagger, a silver medal of St. Christopher, and a hunting horn.	1.He is the only servant that the knight brings with him on his pilgrimage.(103 - 104) 2.by the way he manages his equipment he seems well organized and neat.(109)	Chaucer views him as a forester because of his apparel and weapons, and a good forester at that.
Prioress	She was known as Madam Eglantyne and she spoke a non conventional french. she is described as dainty and very careful with her food as not to drop anything.	1.She has a soft spot for animals and even if a mouse were to die she would cry.(148-149) 2.She owned little dogs, but contrary to the previous statement she had no problem feeding them flesh.(150-151)	He views her as entertaining, pleasant, friendly, and well mannered.
Monk	He is fat, bald, greasy, and personable. He was also very fond of hunting	1.He didn’t follow the rules a monk is supposed to follow. (177-178) 2.He has greyhounds that are very fast and that he spent a lot of money on.(194-196)	The monk is a very enjoyable person and is good at  hunting but is not good at following the rules of a monk, which is his profession.
Friar	The friar is not righteous and is quite greedy. He seems more interested in wealth than god.	1.He begs for money and he is good at it.(256) 2. He knows all the taverns and innkeepers better than anybody else.(244-246)	Chaucer looks down on him for all his misdeeds even though he is a friar and is supposed to be devoted to god.
Merchant	He looks and acts like he is well off as a merchant but few people know that he is really in debt.	1.He thought that there should be sea police.(286) 2.He is very good at hiding that he is in debt.(289-290)	He knows that the merchant is in debt but still thinks that he is smart and good at his job. he also doesn’t know his name.
Clerk	He is skinny and under fed. He has been a student at oxford for many years but doesn’t have a job because he spends all his time reading.	1.Any money that he got from his friends he put towards new books.(309-310) 2.He would happily teach people.(318)	He thinks that the clerk is lazy and thats why he doesn’t have a job.
Sergeant-at-Law	He is a well known judge who is very well versed and studied in law.	1.He talked in a way that made him seem smart.(322-323) 2.He knows every statute by memory.(337)	He respects him and views him as very knowledgeable.
Franklin	He is a wealthy land owner, who lives for wealth and nobility.	1.He lives for pleasure.(345-346) 2.He is a representative for his county.(366)	He thinks that he is only respected for his wealth and that he spends too much money on pleasures.
Haberdasher, Carpenter, Weaver, Dyer, Tapestry Maker	All well off men who had succeeded in life and married. They were average good doers.	1.they were well dressed but not flashy.(375-378) 2.many think that they should be on the town council.(381-384)	He admires these men who are normal everyday people who have made a living and are prosperous. These traits are the ones that he admires most in a man.
Cook	A very good cook but it is implied that he is a bit disgusting in appearance.	1.He has an ulcer on his knee.(396) 2.He is good at cooking with spices.(391)	He likes the Cook but he does not admire or respect him very much. He views him as a little bit disgusting, but talented at what he does.
Shipman	He’s from the west, he owned a ship called the Modeleuyne and uses it to steal wine. He is money oriented but is also a good seaman and captain.	1.He wasn’t very good at riding a horse.(400) 2.He is a thief.(407-408)	He does respect this man. He views him, even though he does pirate and ignore the law, as a hard working person and an overall good man.
Doctor of Medicine	The doctor was a good doctor. However, he did much of his work by following the stars. He also sold prescriptions to people and made a good profit off it. He is good at making money even if it isn’t in the most honest way.	1.He knew about horoscopes.(426) 2.He wasn’t very religious.(448)	He acknowledges that this man is a somewhat good doctor, however, he does think down on him because of his morals and for not indulging very much.
Wife of Bath	She was a little deaf, very religious, has been married five times, and has been on many pilgrimages.	1.She has been to Jerusalem three times.(473) 2.She wasn’t very attractive.(478)	He admires this ladies cleverness and money. As well as her status in life as a well off woman.
Parson	He is a loyal member of the church, a poor man, and a good person.	1. 2.	He likes this man for his hard work and dedication. However, chaucer does not like the poor very much.
Plowman	The brother of the parson, he was an honest worker and a loyal man of god. He was a good man.	1.The is religious.(545) 2.He didn’t steal and always paid his debts.(551-553)	He also likes this character. he is a hard worker and a good man. He’s not to poor which chaucer admires.
Miller	A massive miller who is dishonest and hot headed. He is motivated by money and greed.	1.He had a hairy wart on his nose.(470) 2.He is a loud and argumentative person.(575-576)	Chaucer does not like this man. He views the miller as rash, tempered, and as not a hard worker because he steals.
Manciple	A man not of noble birth or high stature but a cunning and genius man.	1.He can out smart people higher rank than he.(591-493) 2.well taught in law.(595)	He admires this man for his ability to make money and outsmart any noble or man of higher class than he.
Reeve	Old thin man who oversees his lords lands, he is a carpenter and a very cunning man. He is rich and becomes so by lightly stealing from his lord here and there. However, he cannot be caught because he is so smart.	1. 2.	thinks that this man is very cunning in his ways, however, again he does not like a thief.
Summoner		1. 2.
Pardoner		1. 2.
Host		1. 2.

Best Pilgrims	Worst Pilgrims
1.Knight	1.Friar
2.Parson	2.Miller
3.Plowman	3.Summoner
4.Sergeant-at-law	4.Pardoner
5.Squire	5.Wife of bath
6.Haberdasher, Carpenter, Weaver, Dyer, and Tapestry Maker	6.Reeve