Capps 1

Canterbury Tales Study Guide

CHARACTER LIST

  1. Knight12. Cook
  2. Squire13. Skipper
  3. Yeoman14. Doctor
  4. Nun15. Wife of Bath
  5. Monk16. Parson
  6. Friar17. Plowman
  7. Merchant18. Miller
  8. Oxford Cleric19. Manciple
  9. Sergeant at the Law20. Reeve
  10. Franklin21. Summoner
  11. Haberdasher, Dyer, Carpenter22. Pardoner

Weaver, Carpet-maker23. Host

KNIGHT

  • What qualities does the knight possess?DISTINGUISHED, WISE, MODEST, PERFECT GENTLE-KNIGHT, TRUE, COURTEOUS…
  • Describe his physical appearance.FINE HORSES, FUSTIAN TUNIC, STAINED DARK
  • Why is he going on the pilgrimage?TO RENDER THANKS (TO SOMEONE WHO SAVED HIS LIFE IN BATTLE?)

SQUIRE

  • What details about him show his vanity?CURLY LOCKS, PRESSED EMBROIDERED TUNIC, SHORT GOWN, FRESH AS MAY
  • What skills does he possess?STRONG, AGILE, DANCING, WRITING, DRAWING, JOUSTING, SINGING, FLUTING, LOVING
  • What does it mean to be a “lover and a cadet”?PASSIONATE SOLDIER (LOVER AND FIGHTER)
  • How is the squire different than his father?NOT AS EXPERIENCED, CONCERNED WITH APPEARANCE, VAIN
  • Who rides with the knight and the squire?YEOMAN

YEOMAN

  • What is the yeoman’s job?SERVANT TO KNIGHT
  • Describe his physical appearance?GREEN COAT/HOOD, PEACOCK ARROWS, NUT HEAD, BROWN HEAD, STYLISH ARM GUARD AND DAGGER, ST CHRISTOPHER MEDAL
  • What about his physical appearance tells the narrator that the Yeoman is a “proper forester?”ONLY HIS GEAR, NOT HIS SKILLS

NUN

  • What is a prioress?RANKS BELOW THE HEAD OF NUNS
  • What language does she speak (besides English)? FRENCH Does she speak it well?NO
  • What is the demeanor of the nun?TRIES TO BE DIGNIFIED
  • What does the nun “counterfeit” or pretend she has?MANNERS AND GRACE
  • How does she feel about animals?TENDER-HEARTED
  • Describe her physical appearance.NOT SMALL, GREY EYES, ELEGANT NOSE, SMALL MOUTH, LARGE FOREHEAD, GOLDEN BROOCH, CORAL TRINKET, BEADS

MONK

  • What are the qualities/images we usually associate with a monk?HOLINESS, NOT MATERIALISTIC, SILENT, WORSHIPS LORD, PRAYERFUL, QUIET
  • What does the monk enjoy most in life?HUNTING (KILLING)
  • What does the narrator say about the monk’s horse?JINGLING BRIDLE, DAINTY Why would this be unusual for a monk?LUXURIOUS BRIDLE
  • How do the monk’s beliefs about the monastic life differ with the church’s beliefs?THINKS HUNTERS CAN BE HOLY, IGNORES RULES OF MONKS’ BEHAVIOR
  • The narrator says he “agreed” with the monk’s views about the monastic life, and he says they “were sound.” Whatevidence is there that he probably doesn’t really agree? So why did he say he agreed with the monk as he was speaking with him?NARRATOR IS BEING IRONIC WHEN HE SAYS THE MONK LET GO THE THINGS OF YESTERDAY.
  • Describe his physical appearance.MANLY, FAT, GREASY, TANNED, SADDLED HORSE, FINE GREY FUR, GLITTERY EYES, PROMINENT EYES

FRIAR

  • How does a Friar’s life differ from a monk’s?MORE PUBLIC, CON MAN
  • The Friar is called a “Limiter.” What is his job?BEGGING DONATIONS IN LIMITED AREAS
  • What extra duties does he perform? How good is he? What is his goal?CONFESSIONS, MARRIAGES, ARBITRATING DISPUTES, MATCHMAKER; VERY GOOD; GOAL TO GET PAID
  • How does he “make a decent living”?BEGGING, PENANCE, DONATIONS
  • With what types of people does the friar like to spend his time?RICH
  • What is his attitude toward the poor?DISLIKES THEM
  • Describe his physical appearance.WHITE NECK, PALE FACE, TWINKLING EYES
  • Describe his personality.MERRY, SPEAKS WELL, FESTIVE
  • Why is he trying to fix up marriages for “his young women”?GETS PAID

OXFORD CLERIC

  • What is a cleric?STUDENT PREPARING FOR PRIESTHOOD
  • Describe his appearance and that of his horse.BOTH THIN AND HOLLOW
  • What is suggested by the details of his clothes and by the description of his horse?POOR
  • What does he study?PHILOSOPHY
  • Where does all his money go?BOOKS AND STUDY
  • How does he repay the friends who have given him money?PRAYER
  • How does he compare with the monk and the friar?WANTS TO LEARN (NOT CORRUPT)
  • What does the last line of his section reveal about him?HE WOULD GLADLY LEARN AND TEACH

SERGEANT AT THE LAW

  • What is a Sergeant at the Law?A LAWYER APPOINTED TO SERVE AS A JUDGE
  • Describe the sergeant’s appearance. WEARS A HOMELY MULTI-COLORED COAT, SILK PIN-STRIPED BELT
  • To what extent does the Sergeant at the Law seem to be “all talk and no action”?TALKS A FINE GAME OF LAW BUT NEVER SEEMS TO HAVE DONE ANYTHING ABOVE AVERAGE (LAZY)
  • Explain how “though there was nowhere one so busy as he, he was less busy than he seemed to be.”APPEARS TO BE BUSY BUT REALLY IS QUITE LAZY (NOT PRACTICING LAW BUSY)

FRANKLIN

  • What is a franklin?WEALTHY LANDOWNER
  • Describethe franklin’s appearance.HIGH COLORED, WHITE BEARD, DAGGER, SILK PURSE
  • Who was Epicurus?HE PURSUED PLEASURE LIKE THE FRANKLIN
  • What type of life doesthe franklin like to live?PLEASURABLE – FOOD, DRINK, HOSPITALITY

HABERDASHER, DYER, CARPENTER, WEAVER, CARPET-MAKER

  • Why does Chaucer group these five characters together?THEY ARE SO SIMILAR THAT THERE IS NO NEED TO DISTINGUISH AMONG THEM
  • Describe them physically.TRIM, FRESH, KNIVES WROUGHT WITH SILVER

COOK

  • What is the cook’s reputation?ONE OF THE BEST
  • What about his description is so in contrast with the image of a cook?ULCER ON HIS KNEE
  • Why is the reference to his blancmange so gross?THE THICK CHICKEN STEW WITH ALMONDS IS MENTIONED IN THE LINE FOLLOWING THE MENTION OF THE ULCER ON HIS KNEE (PUS)

SKIPPER

  • What kind of a horseman is the skipper? Why?NOT GOOD – HE RIDES “AS BEST HE COULD”
  • Describe his physical appearance.TAN, BEARD, WOOLEN KNEE-LENGTH GOWN, DAGGER HANGING FROM NECK
  • How has he treated wine merchants?STEALS THEIR WINE
  • How has he treated prisoners?MAKES THEM WALK THE PLANK
  • How good is he as a sailor?GOOD – HE’S BEEN EVERYWHERE

DOCTOR

  • How does the Doctor differ from contemporary doctors today?RELIES ON ASTRONOMY, HOROSCOPES, PLANETS
  • What does the narrator seem to think of this doctor?HE’S NOT RELIGIOUS, EDUCATED, BUT CORRUPT AND OVERLY CONCERNED WITH MAKING MONEY (GOLD)
  • Describe the doctor.RED CLOTHES WITH BLUE AND GREY SLASHES, LINED WITH TAFFETA

WIFE OF BATH

  1. “Prologue”
  • Describe her physical appearance.DEAF; RED DRESS, FACE, AND HOSE; GAP TEETH, WIDE HIPS
  • What do her gap teeth symbolize?PROMISCUITY, LUST (GAP BETWEEN LEGS)
  • What do the red stockings and the red hue of her skin suggest about the wife of Bath?PASSION
  • What does it mean when it says she is “skilled in wandering by the way”?SKILLED IN LOVING DIFFERENT MEN
  1. “Wife of Bath’s Prologue”
  • What is the subject of her tale?MARRIAGE AND ITS DIFFICULTIES
  • What personal opinions and experiences does she also reveal?HER SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE WITH MARRIAGE (MARRIED MORE THAN 10 TIMES)
  • What understanding of women does the Pardoner hope to gain from the Wife of Bath?SOME PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT MARRIAGE BASED ON HER EXPERIENCE (HE’S NEVER BEEN MARRIED)
  1. “Wife of Bath’s Tale”
  • Identify at least two instances where the Wife gets off task in telling her story. TALE ABOUT THE FRIAR AND TALE ABOUT MIDAS
  • Who gives the knight the answer to the queen’s riddle?THE OLD UGLY WOMAN
  • What is the knight’s answer to the queen’s riddle?WOMEN WANT POWER OVER THEIR HUSBANDS/LOVERS. MEN MUSN’T RULE OVER WOMEN.
  • What must the knight do in return for the person who gave him the correct answer?MARRY THE OLD WOMAN
  • Does the knight follow through with his promise? YES, BEGRUDGINGLY
  • What complaints does the knight present to show his disdain for his wife?SHE’S OLD, PLAIN, POOR, LOW-BRED, FOUL
  • What characteristic does the old woman claim cannot be truly passed down through the generations?GENTILITY OR GENTLENESS (BEING A GENTLEMAN, IN OTHER WORDS)
  • What quality does the old woman claim is a kind of wealth?POVERTY
  • The old woman claims that her age is a positive attribute for her husband. What are her grounds for her argument? SHE CAN SATISFY HIM SEXUALLY AND IS OLD ENOUGH NOT TO WANDER AND BE FAITHFUL
  • What two options does the old woman offer the knight?TO HAVE HER OLD, UGLY, AND LOYAL; OR TO HAVE SOMEONE ELSE YOUNG, PRETTY, AND UNFAITHFUL
  • How does the knight respond to his wife’s options?HE LETS HER CHOOSE; THEREFORE, LETTING A WOMAN HAVE POWER OVER HER HUSBAND

PARSON

  • What is his job?CLERK, SCHOLAR, PRIEST
  • What qualities of the parson does the narrator point out?PATIENT, HUMBLE, BENIGN, DILIGENT, HOLY, VIRTUOUS…
  • Who are “his sheep”?PARISHIONERS (SINNERS)
  • Explain: “...if gold rust, what then will iron do?”WE’RE ALL SINNERS
  • The parson’s entire life is devoted to what?SHARING THE GOSPEL
  • How does the parson compare with the friar and the monk?HE’S NOT CORRUPT LIKE THEY ARE – HE’S HOLY, SET OUT TO SAVE SINNERS

PLOWMAN

  • The narrator says the plowman is the brother of the parson. Although he may be his actual brother, how is he alsohis brother figuratively?IN CHRIST
  • What are some of his qualities?HARD WORKER, HONEST, LOVES GOD, PEACEFUL, CHARITABLE, GOOD, TRUE
  • What does the plowman spend his time doing?WORKING, FARMING
  • What does the narrator think of him? Explain.ADMIRATION
  • Describe his physical appearance.TABARD SMOCK, RIDES MARE
  • What is the significance of the narrator telling so little about the plowman’s physical appearance? IT’S UNIMPORTANT (HIS INNER QUALITIES ARE MORE IMPORTANT)
  • What is the significance of the plowman riding a mare?(FEMALE HORSE) PUTS OTHERS BEFORE HIMSELF

MILLER

  • What is a miller’s job?MILLING/FARMING – WHEAT, GRAIN
  • How well does he do his job? Explain.STRONG BUT HE’S A THIEF
  • What instrument does he play?BAG PIPES
  • What kind of stories does the Miller tell?TAVERN
  • What does it mean when it says his “mouth was like a furnace door”?HE TELLS FILTHY STORIES
  • Unlike the plowman, the description of the miller is almost completely a physical one. What is the significanceof this?HE HAS POOR CHARACTER (IS SELFISH)

MANCIPLE

  • What is a Manciple?A SERVANT IN CHARGE OF PURCHASING FOOD
  • What words best describe the Manciple’s character?CAUTIOUS, CLEVER, FRUGAL
  • Which lines state the narrator’s opinion of the Manciple most clearly?IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT AN ILLITERATE GUY COULD OUTSMART EDUCATED MEN

REEVE

  • What traits and habits have helped the Reeve grow rich?HE’S A CRAFTY AND CAPABLE MANAGER; HE’S BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF HIS MASTER’S LIVESTOCK; STAYS ON TOP OF COLLECTIONS; KNOWS GOOD BARGAINS; MANAGES HIS MONEY; IS A FINE CARPENTER
  • Does the narrator seem to have any reservations about this character?YES. HE’S TEMPERMENTAL AND IS “FEARED LIKE THE PLAGUE,” NOT COMPASSIONATE OR KIND, IS A BULLY
  • Describe the Reeve’s physical appearance.BLUE ROBE TUCKED UNDER HIS BELT, OLD, THIN, CLOSELY SHAVEN, LEAN LEGS, HAIR ABOVE EARS

SUMMONER

  • What is the Summoner’s occupation?CHURCH OFFICIAL WHO SUMMONS SINNERS TO CHUCH
  • Describe his physical appearance.NARROW EYES, ACNE, THIN BEARD, SCABBY EYEBROWS
  • What does his appearance suggest about his character?POOR, UGLY CHARACTER
  • What does he enjoy eating and drinking?WINE, ONIONS, GARLIC, LEEKS
  • What does he know a little of and where did he learn it?LATIN BECAUSE HE HEARD IT EVERYDAY
  • He will ignore sins on what condition?IF HE’S GIVEN A QUART OF WINE
  • What does it mean when it says, “his face [was] on fire”?PIMPLES

PARDONER

  1. “Prologue”
  • What is a pardoner’s job?CHURCH OFFICIAL WHO SELLS PARDONS FOR SINS
  • What is the significance of the Summoner riding with the Pardoner?THEY BOTH ARE CHURCH OFFICIALS WITH CORRUPT MORALS
  • Describe his physical appearance.YELLOW, LONG RAT-TAIL HAIR; BULGING EYES; BEARDLESS
  • The narrator characterizes the pardoner as being effeminate. What details does he give that develop that characterization?HIGH VOICE, BEARDLESS, GELDING (CASTRATED HORSE)
  • What kinds of “relics” does he carry?FAKE ONES (OUR LADY’S VEIL, GOBLET OF SAIL, ETC.)
  • Why is the pardoner so successful in selling his “relics”?WITH FLATTERY AND LIES
  • How does he behave in church?SINGS MERRILY AND LOUDLY, PREACHES WITH A HONEY TONGUE
  • Why does he try to sing so well?TO FOOL PEOPLE
  • What does the narrator mean when he says, “I judge he was a gelding or a mare”?HE IS UNMANLY, FEMININE
  1. “The Pardoner’s Prologue”
  • In the first stanza, what is the focus of the Pardoner’s “haughty kind of speech”?GREED
  • What is his goal in frightening the peasants with these speeches?BY RECITING MORAL STORIES,

HE CONVINCES THEM TO BUY CERTIFICATES OF FORGIVENESS

  • What is the irony in the phrase Radix malorum est cupiditas?HE IS TRYING TO MAKE MONEY BY TELLING STORIES OF GREED – LOVE OF MONEY IS ROOT OF ALL EVIL
  • The Pardoner admits he preaches “against the very vice [he makes his] living out of.” What is his vice?AVARICE (GREED – LOVE OF MONEY)
  • What can you predict about the characters and events of the tale he will tell based on his prologue?CHARACTERS WILL COMMIT SOME ERROR/CRIME RELATED TO GREED AND MEET WITH A SUITABLE ENDING
  • Why does the Pardoner admit his own corruption?HE WANTS THE OTHER PILGRIMS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE IS IMMORAL, HE CAN STILL TELL A MORAL TALE (ENTERTAINING, MORAL TALE – STORYTELLING CONTEST)
  • Why does the Pardoner tell his moral stories? How is his motive ironic, or different from what you might have expected?NOT TO HELP SINNERS BUT TO HELP HIMSELF EARN DONATIONS FOR HIS RELICS AND TO WIN THE CONTEST; HE’S GREEDY AND WISHES TO SCARE PEOPLE INTO BUYING HIS INDULGENCES AND RELICS/AND TELL THE BEST TALE BECAUSE HE WANTS TO WIN THE FREE DINNER
  1. “The Pardoner’s Tale”
  • What is always the theme of the Pardoner’s sermons?AVARICE/GREED
  • Who has killed the dead man at the beginning of the tale?DEATH/BUBONIC PLAGUE
  • Where does the old man tell the rioters to look for Death?IN THE GROVE, UNDER THE TREE
  • What do the rioters find?A PILE OF GOLDEN FLORINS (COINS) – 8 BUSHELS
  • When does the wickedest rioter say they should transport their find?AT NIGHT SO THEY WON’T GET CAUGHT - NO ONE WILL THINK THEY ARE STEALING THE MONEY
  • How does the wickedest rioter propose to kill the youngest?STAB HIM IN THE BACK (WRESTLE HIM, BOTH STAB HIM)
  • How does the youngest rioter propose to kill the others?POISON (IN THEIR WINE)
  • Did the rioters find Death under the oak tree?ULTIMATELY, YES. THEIR GREED LED TO THEIR DEATHS.
  • What is an example of situational irony from the story?SIT IRONY: CHARACTER EXPECTS ONE THING TO HAPPER BUT SOMETHING ELSE ACTUALLY HAPPENS (THE 2 RIOTERS EXPECT TO STAB THE YOUNGEST RIOTER TO DEATH, BUT THE YOUNGEST RIOTER POISONS THEM; THE YOUNGEST RIOTER EXPECTS TO POISON THE 2 RIOTERS, BUT THE 2 STAB THE YOUNGEST TO DEATH. THEY ALL DIE.)
  • What is an example of dramatic irony from the story?DRAMATIC IRONY: READER KNOWS SOMETHING A CHARACTER DOES NOT KNOW. (READERS KNOW THAT ALL 3 RIOTERS ARE PLANNING TO MURDER EACH OTHER.)
  • What is an example of verbal irony from the story? VERBAL IRONY: CHARACTER SAYS ONE THING BUT MEANS ANOTHER. (EVILEST RIOTER SAYS, “I WON’T BETRAY YOU, I’LL BE TRUE, YOU CAN TRUST ME.” THEN HE STABS THE YOUNGEST RIOTER IN THE BACK.

HOST

  • Describe the host.MANLY, STRIKING, BRIGHT EYES, WIDE WAIST, MERRY, TACTFUL
  • What does the narrator think of the host?HE’S INVENTIVE, FUN-LOVING, AND MAKES ALL FEEL WELCOME
  • What does the host propose?ALL TELL 2 STORIES TO AND 2 BACK FROM CANTERBURY. THE BEST TALE WINS A PRIZE.
  • How does the host’s proposal help set up the narrator’s plan for the Canterbury Tales?THE CHARACTERS NARRATE THE TALES
  • What is the storytelling plan he suggests?THE HOST JUDGES THE CONTEST, THE PARTICIPANTS PAY
  • What will the winner receive?A SUPPER
  • Who will judge the contest?THE HOST
  • How do the pilgrims decide who will begin the storytelling?WHOMEVER DRAWS THE SHORTEST STRAW