Ms. Hampson & Mrs. Haggerty
World Lit II
The Canterbury Tales Prologue
Study Guide
For each of the following characters, answer the given questions. Be specific!
Knight
What was his job?
Did he scam anyone? If so, who did he scam and how?
Is he legit? How do we know?
Who did he travel with?
What does he look like? Personality?
Does his profession match his appearance?
Why is he traveling to Canterbury?
How is he traveling there and does this match his profession?
Squire
What was his job?
Did he scam anyone? If so, who did he scam and how?
Is he legit? How do we know?
Who did he travel with?
What does he look like? Personality?
Does his profession match his appearance?
What does he like to do?
Yeoman
What was his job?
Did he scam anyone? If so, who did he scam and how?
Is he legit? How do we know?
Who did he travel with?
What does he look like? Personality?
Does his profession match his appearance?
Nun/Prioress
What was her job?
Did she scam anyone? If so, who did she scam and how?
Is she legit? How do we know?
Who did she travel with?
What does she look like? Personality?
Does her profession match her appearance?
Why is she traveling to Canterbury?
Monk
What was his job?
Did he scam anyone? If so, who did he scam and how?
Is he legit? How do we know?
Who did he travel with?
What does he look like? Personality?
Does his profession match his appearance?
What does he like to do?
Friar
What was his job?
Did he scam anyone? If so, who did he scam and how?
Is he legit? How do we know?
Who did he travel with?
What does he look like? Personality?
Does his profession match his appearance?
What does he like to do?
Merchant
What was his job?
Did he scam anyone? If so, who did he scam and how?
Is he legit? How do we know?
Who did he travel with?
What does he look like? Personality?
Does his profession match his appearance?
Why does he feel there should be “sea police”?
Oxford Cleric
What was his job?
Did he scam anyone? If so, who did he scam and how?
Is he legit? How do we know?
Who did he travel with?
What does he look like? Personality?
Does his profession match his appearance?
How is he traveling to Canterbury and does this match his profession?
Serjeant at the Law
What was his job?
Did he scam anyone? If so, who did he scam and how?
Is he legit? How do we know?
Who did he travel with?
What does he look like? Personality?
Does his profession match his appearance?
Franklin
What was his job?
Did he scam anyone? If so, who did he scam and how?
Is he legit? How do we know?
Who did he travel with?
What does he look like? Personality?
Does his profession match his appearance?
What does he like to do?
The Guildsmen
How many were there? Who were they?
Did they scam anyone? If so, describe who each of them scammed and how?
Are any of them legit? How do we know?
Who did they travel with?
What do they look like? Personality?
Does their profession match their appearance?
Why are their wives along for the pilgrimage?
Cook
What was his job?
Did he scam anyone? If so, who did he scam and how?
Is he legit? How do we know?
Who did he travel with?
What does he look like? Personality?
Does his profession match his appearance?
What is his “specialty” and how (do we think) is it made?
Skipper
What was his job? What is the name of his ship?
Did he scam anyone? If so, who did he scam and how?
Is he legit? How do we know?
Who did he travel with?
What does he look like? Personality?
Does his profession match his appearance?
What does he like to do?
Doctor
What was his job?
Did he scam anyone? If so, who did he scam and how?
Is he legit? How do we know?
Who did he travel with?
What does he look like? Personality?
Does his profession match his appearance?
What does he like to do?
Woman of Bath
Who was she?
Did she scam anyone? If so, who did she scam and how?
Is she legit? How do we know?
Who did she travel with?
What is physiognomy?
What does she look like?
How does this describe her personality?
Parson
What was his job?
Did he scam anyone? If so, who did he scam and how?
Is he legit? How do we know?
Who did he travel with?
What does he look like? Personality?
Does his profession match his appearance?
What does he mean when he says, “If gold rust(s), what then will iron do?”
Plowman
What was his job?
Did he scam anyone? If so, who did he scam and how?
Is he legit? How do we know?
Who did he travel with?
What does he look like? Personality?
Does his profession match his appearance?
What does he like to do?
Miller
What was his job?
Did he scam anyone? If so, who did he scam and how?
Is he legit? How do we know?
Who did he travel with?
What does he look like? Personality?
Does his profession match his appearance?
What does he like to do?
Manciple
What was his job?
Did he scam anyone? If so, who did he scam and how?
Is he legit? How do we know?
Who did he travel with?
What does he look like? Personality?
Does his profession match his appearance?
Reeve
What was his job?
Did he scam anyone? If so, who did he scam and how?
Is he legit? How do we know?
Who did he travel with?
What does he look like? Personality?
Does his profession match his appearance?
Where within the group is he traveling? Why?
Summoner
What was his job?
Did he scam anyone? If so, who did he scam and how?
Is he legit? How do we know?
Who did he travel with?
What does he look like? Personality?
Does his profession match his appearance?
What does he like to do?
Pardoner
What was his job?
Did he scam anyone? If so, who did he scam and how?
Is he legit? How do we know?
Who did he travel with?
What does he look like? Personality?
Does his profession match his appearance?
How is he traveling to Canterbury? Why is this important?
Host
What does he do? What is the name of the inn?
What kind of man is he?
What kind of contest does he suggest?
What are the rules of the contest?
What does the winner get as a prize?
How do they determine who goes first? Who goes first?
Which religious figures on the pilgrimage are true?