The Wife of Bath A vivid gaptoothed widow
The Wife of Bath • A vivid, gap-toothed widow who has enjoyed many pilgrimages and five marriages • Somewhat deaf • An expert in the art of love • “In company she liked to laugh and chat/And knew the remedies for love’s mischances/An art which she knew the oldest dances. ”
The Yeoman • Servant to the Knight and Squire • Dressed all in green • A hunter • Carries bows and arrows
The Nun (Prioress) • Worldly superior of a nunnery, accompanied by another nun and three priests • Is so delicate that she weeps when she sees a mouse in a trap • “At meat her manners were well taught withal, No morsel from her lips did she let fall. ”
The Miller • A wealthy, broad; and brawny tradesman; talkative and bawdy • Known for his dirty stories and ability to cheat his customers • Had a wart with hairs on his nose • “A wrangler and buffoon, he had a store/ Of tavern stories, filthy in the main. / He was a master-hand at stealing grain. ”
The Friar • A merry monk who is an accomplished beggar for his own gain • Well acquainted with the taverns and barmaids in every town. • Is consumed by greed
The Merchant • A pompous businessman who talks honestly while actually practicing illegal money lending • In debt • “…with a forking beard/And motley dress…To tell the truth I do not know his name. ”
The Sergeant at the Law • One of a select group of lawyers equal to the knight in social status • A braggart • Always tried to look busier than he really was.
The Skipper • An accomplished sailor and drinker • Stole wine while the traders slept • Seemed more like a pirate because he made his prisoners walk the plank
The Five Guildsmen (haberdasher, carpenter, weaver, dyer, tapestry maker) • Wealthy tradesmen; members of the same parish guild • Wives wanted to be seen, admired, and called “Madam” • “Their wisdom would have justified a plan/To make each one an alderman; / They had capital and revenue, /Besides their wives declared it was their due. ”
The Pardoner • The summoner’s companion who sells allegedly holy relics and pardons from Rome • “I judge he was a gelding or a mare. ” • “He had a cross of metal set with stones in a glass, a rubble of pig’s bones. ”
The Cook • Private cook for the parish guild members • Had an ulcer on his knee • Lecherous and drunkenness
The Squire • The knight’s son; a lusty youth • “He slept as little as a nightingale” • A ladies’ man • Loves to sing and dance • Dressed colorfully
The Doctor • A learned practitioner with a love for gold • Knowledgeable in astronomy • In cahoots with the apothecaries • Made a great deal of money from the plague • GREEDY
The Franklin • A wealthy landholder and civic leader fond of excellent food • Most interested in the pleasure of life • Sheriff who checked audits
The Parson • An exemplary pilgrim • a poor, diligent cleric who aids parishioners with his own funds • “He preferred…giving to poor parishioners…both from church offerings and his property. ” • He is the shepherd and his parishioners are his sheep
The Knight • An exemplary pilgrim • Accompanied by his son • Purpose for going is to give thanks for surviving many wars • “followed chivalry, truth, honor, generousness, and courtesy. ” • “He wore a fustian tunic stained and dark”
The Oxford Cleric (Student) • The threadbare scholar who prefers philosophy to riches • Very quiet • Buys books instead of food
The Plowman • The parson’s brother • an exemplary pilgrim • “He was an honest worker, good and true. ” • Helped the poor and never asked for a penny
The Manciple • A shrewd kitchen supervisor at a law school • “He was never rash whether he bought on credit or paid cash”
The Monk • A fat, bald, lover of hunting and luxury who rejects work or study • “He had a wrought-gold, cunningly fashioned pin; /Into a lover’s knot it seemed to pass” • “He liked a fat swan best and roasted whole. ”
The Reeve • The crafty manager of a lord’s property • “Feared like the plague he was, by those beneath. ” • Rode last in the cavalcade • “And he was under contract to present/the accounts, right from his master’s earliest years. /No one had ever caught him in arrears. ”
The Summoner • A lecherous cleric who permits parishioners’ licentious behavior-for a price • “Why he’d allow-just for a quart of wine-any good lad to keep a concubine. ” • The ugliest pilgrim • Blackmails parishioners
The Narrator (Chaucer) • The poet who accompanies the pilgrims and recounts the tales
Harry Bailey • Owns the Tabard Inn • Will judge the contest
Canterbury Cathedral • The cathedral where Thomas a Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was murdered in 1170
The Pilgrims
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