The Knight

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• Idealized
• Stained tunic
• Been to the crusades
• Loves chivalry and honor
• Modest, meek as a maiden

The Squire

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• Curled locks
• Gaily dress (flower patterned tunic)
• Can sing, draw, dance, joust, and play the flute
• Excellent horseman
• Lover

The Yeoman

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• Cropped hair, tanned complexion.
• Wears green.
• Has peacock feathered arrows; keeps them in great shape.
• Forester.
• Carries a bow, arrows, a baldric, and a horn.
• Has a St. Christopher's medal

The Nun

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• Eats very daintily.
• Sings through her nose.
• Loves her little dogs, which she feeds expensive food.
• Called Madame Eglantine.
• Prides herself on etiquette and good manners.
• Speaks poor French.
• Wears an amulet that reads "Love Conquers All"

The Monk

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• Hunter.
• Tanned, shiny bald head, shiny face.
• "Fat prelat."
• Despises traditional religion.
• Wears fur on his cuffs.
• Has greyhounds.
• Loves to eat plump, roasted swan.

The Friar

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• Brother Hubert
• Gay, merry, wanton man--seeker of pleasure.
• Supposed to beg for his living.
• Offers penance in exchange for money, goods, etc.
• Marries off women (whom he probably seduced).
• Carries trinkets to woo women.
• Sings ballads.
• Has a lily-white neck.
• Lisps to make his speech sound sweet.
• Does NOT wear a threadbare cloak. Instead, he wears a double-worsted cloak.

The Merchant

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• Forked beard.
• Talks about how much money he's making.
• Boasts about his knowledge of English economics.
• Never loses money in his bargains.
• Skilled at disguising his debt.
• The narrator does not know his name.

The Clerk

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• Very poor.
• Borrows money from friends, says prayers for their souls in exchange.
• Uses money to buy books instead of food.
• Wears a threadbare cloak.
• Would rather read Aristotle than anything in the world.
• Gladly would learn, and gladly teach.

The Lawyer

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• Well respected.
• Pretends to be busier than he actually is.
• Charges much for negotiating the sale of land.
• Writes legal documents that nobody can find fault with.
• Know all of the statutes and laws by heart.
• Considers himself more important than he actually is.

The Franklin

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• Beard white as a daisy.
• Sanguine personality.
• Occasionally serves in the Parliament.
• Epicurean - eat, drink, and be merry.
• His house is always full of delicious food and fine wine.
• His table is permanent.
• Very generous; known for his hospitality.

The Doctor

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• Skilled physician, top of his trade.
• Knows the cause of every illness.
• Practices astrology, treating his patients when he thinks the stars are best aligned.
• Well-read in medical texts, but not in the Bible.
• Values gold, which is the "best medicine."

The Wife of Bath

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• Skilled weaver, makes money.
• Thinks highly of herself.
• Wears red stockings and supple new shoes.
• Gap-toothed.
• Has been married five times.
• Has had many love affairs.
• Is very open about female sexuality.
• Knows the remedies to love.
• Is partly deaf (because her last husband used to throw a book at her.)
• Has large hips.
• Believes that women should have control over their own lives.

The Parson

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• An idealized character.
• Virtuous, devout, diligent, and patient.
• Educated, a clerk.
• Teaches his parishioners the tenets of Christianity.
• Generous, even though he doesn't make much money. He will give offerings to the poor and needy.
• Trusts God, and he bears his troubles patiently.
• He is not contemptuous of sinners.
• He is not arrogant.

• The Parson's brother.
• Industrious: a good and true laborer.
• Loves God and pays his tithes to the church without complaining.
• Follows Christ's commandments to love God and to love one's neighbor as one's self.
• Rides an inferior mare and is humbly dressed.

The Miller

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• The stereotype of a dishonest man.
• Rich villager, concerned only with his own profits.
• Broad shouldered, plump face, thick red beard.
• Fat nose with hairy wart on top.
• He is an expert in stealing grain.
• "An honest miller hath a golden thumb."
• Tells vulgar jokes.
• Likely to start a fight.
• Plays the bagpipes.

The Manciple

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• Buys provisions for lawyers and students at the temple near the Strand.
• Dishonest. He always makes a profit from his deals.
• He is able to trick his masters, some of the best lawyers in the country.

The Reeve

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• Named Oswald.
• One rank above a bailiff, but not very high-ranking.
• Slender, choleric.
• Close-shaved.
• Deceitful.
• Knows people's secrets and blackmails them.
• Richer than his lord; often lends him money.
• Rides a farm horse named Scot.

The Summoner

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• Responsible for summoning sinners before the ecclesiastical courts.
• Bright red face, covered with pimples that nothing can cure.
• Patchy skin and scabby eyebrows.
• Likes to eat garlic, onions, and leeks.
• Fond of wine.
• Frightens children.
• Allows a sinner to keep a mistress for a bottle of wine.
• He is illiterate and ignorant, misspeaking Latin phrases while drunk.
• Will forgo excommunication if someone pays him off, and threatens people with excommunication in order to get them to pay.

The Pardoner

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• Flaxen hair, like wax.
• No beard.
• Dressed fashionably.
• Has a voice like a goat.
• Sings and preaches well, and uses this to convince people to donate money to him.
• Questionable masculinity--he is impotent or perverted.
• He carries fake relics to sell.

Chaucer (the Narrator)

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• Narrator.
• Bumbling, not a very good writer.
• Passes judgement on the pilgrims.
• Thinly veiled modesty topos.

The Host

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• Named Harry Bailey.
• Not very complex.
• Generally warm, generous, interested in the pilgrims.

The Cook

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• Travels with the Guildsmen.
• Good at cooking, especially chicken pie.
• Has a nasty running ulcer on his leg.

The Shipman

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• A large man.
• Uncouth.
• Occasionally steals from his customers.
• Uncomfortable with horses.
• Knows all of the sea ports.

• Haberdasher, dyer, weaver, tapestry maker, and carpenter.
• Well-dressed in gold and blue.
• Their wives are glad to be called Madame.