Main Characters in Canterbury Tales

The knight was a fine example of chivalry. "Who from the moment That he first began to ride around the world loved, chivalry, Truth, honour, freedom, and all courtesy." He's been in battles everywhere and won them all, but he wears simple clothes anyway, "a tunic of simple cloth he possesed."

The Squire is a very lively, talented, strong, and humble young man. "Singing he was or whistling all the day." "He could make songs and words thereto indite, Joust and dance to, as well as sketch and write."

The Yeoman is a true forester, armed with bows and arrows, a sword, a dagger, and a buckler. "And he was clothed in coat and hood of green" probably to blend into the forests.

The Prioress is very refined and well-mannered nun "She was very pleasant, amiable - in short." If she saw something harmed "then pity ruled her tender heart."

The Monk is a prelate which is a church dignitary but he doesn't stay in a cloister like other monks. He loves to ride horses and hunt. "riding and hunting of the hare Were all his love, for no cost would he spare."

Hubert the Friar was a festive man, well liked by everyone and he wore a semi-cope like the pope. "He heard confession gently, it was said, Gently absolved too, leaving no dread."

The Merchant knows how to deal foreign currencies and trade so well even though he's in debt. "This worthy man kept all his wits well set; There was no person that knew he was in debt, So well he managed all his trade affairs With bargains and with borrowings and with shares."

The Clerk is a scholar more interested in philosophy and learning than religion or money. He has to borrow money from his friends to pay for his schooling. "Filled with moral virtue was his speech, And gladly would he learn and gladly teach."

The Seargeant of the Law is wise, dignified, and rich. "Because of his knowledge and high reputation, He took large fees, had robes more than one." He bought more land than anyone else.

The Franklin is an old vavasor (vassal ranking just below a baron) who is delightful, happy, and has feasts all the time. "No man had better cellers stocked with wine. His house was never short of food and pies."

The Cook is very skilled. He has an open sore on his shin. "he could roast and boil and broil and fry, and prepare a stew, and bake a tasty pie."

The Shipman is an experienced sailor. "Hardy and wise in all things undertaken, By many tempests had his beard been shaken."

The Physician is an expert doctor who made a lot of money because of the Bubonic plague. "In all the world there was none like him, to speak of medicine and surgery."

The Wife of Bath is an older lady who could make clothes well and had had five husbands and travelled all over Europe. "Upon a pacing horse easily she sat" meaning that she was used to traveling.

The Parson is a poor country priest who teaches through his own example. He is gentle to everyone and isn't into big ceremonies. "I think there never was a better priest. He had no thirst for pomp or ceremony, Nor spiced his conscience and morality, But Christ's own law, and His apostles' twelve He taught, but first he followed it himselve"

The Plowman is the parson's brother. He is religious ("He loved God most") and very determined since he plows the fields without thought of reward but for God's sake. "He paid his taxes, fully, when it was due."

The Miller is big and strong with a red beard and a big mouth. "He lifted each door from its hinges, that easy." He can also play the bagpipe and recite sinful poetry.

The Manciple is an expert at buying food. "Cash or credit, he knew all the rituals."

The Reeve is a smart guy who manages his lord's crops and livestock. Nobody messed around with him- "There was no agent, herd, or servant who'd cheat; He knew too well their cunning and deceit;" and he was never in "arrears" (debt).

The Summoner has a childish face full of pimples and knobs and he gets so drunk a lot and yells things out in Latin. People still feared him, however, because of his curses "In his own power had he, and at ease, Young people of the entire diocese, And knew their secrets, they did what he said."

The Pardoner is the summoner's friend. He sings church songs to make money and collected relics on the road to sell to parsons. "To gain some silver, preferably from the crowd;
Therefore he sang so merrily and so loud."