Canterbury Tales: Prologue & The Four Humors

• The Canterbury Tales Prologue introduces pilgrims traveling to Canterbury to visit Saint Thomas Becket's shrine.
• Geoffrey Chaucer, the narrator, meets these pilgrims at the Tabard Inn in Southwark.
• Harry Bailey, the inn's host, proposes a storytelling competition where each pilgrim tells two tales to and from Canterbury.
• The winner, judged by Harry Bailey, gets a free meal paid for by the other pilgrims upon their return.

The Four Humors

• Sanguine/Blood: Ruddy, fair, agreeable, cheerful, courageous, lusty, riotous, and impractical.
• Choler/Yellow Bile: Lean and yellowish in complexion, prone to anger, rashness, and pride.
• Phlegm: Pale complexion, fat, sluggish, and dull.
• Melancholy/Black Bile: Lean, dark-skinned, gloomy, and introspective.
• Planets and stars influenced the humors, as did periods of life, seasons, social position, nationality, diet, days of the week, and the time of day.

The Knight

• Sanguine in humor.
• Dedicated to chivalry, truth, honor, generosity, and courtesy.
• Fought in military campaigns across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
• Well-respected for graces and martial prowess.
• Wise, modest, and never boorish, a true, perfect gentle-knight.
• Wears a fustian tunic stained with armor marks, indicating humility.
• Possesses fine horses
• Accompanied by his son, a young Squire, to render thanks after returning from service.

The Squire

• Sanguine in humor.
• About 20 years old, a lover and cadet, described as "a lad of fire."
• Served in cavalry in Flanders, Artois, and Picardy, hoping to win his lady's grace.
• Skilled in singing, fluting, poetry, jousting, dancing, drawing, and writing.
• Romantic, passionate, courteous, humble, and serviceable, like a nightingale.
• Energetic, youthful, compared to the freshness of May.
• Prone to long-winded storytelling and lacking narrative control.
• Of moderate height with curly locks, agile, and strong.
• Elaborately dressed, "embroidered like a meadow bright”.
• Wore a short gown with long wide sleeves.
• Accompanies his father, the Knight, most likely accompanying him.

The Yeoman

• Melancholy in humor.
• Serves as the Knight's only servant on the pilgrimage.
• Skilled in woodcraft and archery, a “proper forester”.
• Carries peacock-feathered arrows, bright, keen, and well-maintained.
• Practical and resourceful, reflecting his role as a forester and protector.
• Likely loyal and dependable as the Knight's chosen attendant.
• Wears a green coat and hood, has a brown face.
• Carries a mighty bow, shield, sword, and sharp dirk (dagger).
• Wears a silver medal of St. Christopher, the patron saint of travelers.
• Equipped with a hunting horn slung from a bright green baldrick (belt).
• Accompanies the Knight and the Squire out of duty.

The Prioress (Madame Eglantine)

• Sanguine in humor.
• Known as Madame Eglantyne, head nun (Prioress) of her convent.
• Speaks French in the Stratford-atte-Bowe style, not Parisian French.
• Sings church services well, with a nasal intonation.
• Strives to counterfeit courtly manners and grace, and appears dignified and stately.
• Simple and coy, extremely courteous, well-mannered while eating.
• Sentimental and tender-hearted,weeping at the sight of a trapped mouse.
• Fond of small dogs, feeding them fine food.
• Wears a well-arranged veil, elegant nose and glass-grey eyes, small, soft, red mouth, fair and broad forehead.
• Graceful cloak with beads, a golden brooch engraved with a crowned “A” and "Love conquers all".
• Accompanied by another nun and three priests.

Another Nun

• Chaplain to the Prioress.
• Serves as the secretary to the Prioress.
• Accompanies the Prioress.
• Travels with the three Priests

Three Priests

• Travel with the Prioress and Another Nun.

The Monk

• Sanguine in humor.
• One of the finest monks who rode the country and hunting was his favorite sport
• Considered manly enough to be an Abbot.
• Prior of his monastery cell.
• Ignores strict rules of St. Benedict and St. Maur.
• Embraces a more modern, worldly lifestyle.
• Rejects the idea that hunters cannot be holy men and a great horseman and hunter.
• Rebellious against traditional monastic life.
• Prefers outdoor activities to studying and prayer.
• Enjoys luxury and worldly pleasures.
• Spares no expense for his hobbies and austere or scholarly pursuits.
• Bald head, fat and personable with a shiny face and glittering eyeballs.
• Wears fine gray fur on his sleeves, has a gold lover's knot pin on his hood, and supple boots.
• Owns many horses and greyhounds, rides a palfrey, and most likely is on the pilgrimage for pleasure rather than piety.

The Friar (Hubert)

• Sanguine in humor.
• A "Limiter" licensed to beg in a specific area.
• Skilled at arranging marriages for young women.
• Has a special license from the Pope to hear confessions.
• Excellent at begging; Pays rent for his begging district to avoid competition.
• Acts as an arbitrator in disputes for a fee.
• Glib with a "gallant phrase and well-turned speech".
• Easy-going in giving penance, especially for gifts.
• Prefers associating with the wealthy and innkeepers over the poor and sick.
• Courteous and lowly of service when profit might accrue.
• Lisps "a little out of wantonness" to make his English sound sweet.
• Wears a semi-cope of double-worsted cloth.
• Wears a white neck "whiter than a lily-flower" but strong enough to "butt a bruiser down."
• Eyes twinkle, keeps his tippet stuffed with pins and pocket-knives to give to pretty girls.
• Sings well and plays the hurdy gurdy.
• Champion of sing-songs, knows taverns, innkeepers, and barmaids well.
• Skilled at hearing confessions and giving absolution for a price.

The Merchant

• Choleric in humor.
• Expert at dabbling in exchanges, skilled in loans, bargains, and negotiations.
• Advocates for sea-police to protect trade routes between Harwich and Holland. Appears successful and wealthy, but is secretly in debt.
• Speaks in solemn tones, focuses on increasing capital, stately in administration, an excellent fellow despite his flaws.
• Has a forking (forked) beard, wears motley dress, sits high on his horse, wears a flemish beaver hat, and has daintily buckled boots.

The Clerk (Oxford Student)

• Melancholic in humor.
• Oxford student of logic and philosophy, devoted to learning, not seeking advancement in the church or secular employment.
• Inwardly spends all his money on books and learning; prays for his supporters.
• Serious and sober, speaks little but formally and respectfully, eager to learn and teach, thin and hollow-looking.
• Wears a threadbare overcoat, rides a horse thinner than a rake, prefers books of Aristotle's philosophy above costly possessions.
• Pursues intellectual or spiritual reasons for the pilgrimage.

The Sergeant of the Law (Lawyer)

• Melancholic in humor.
• Highly skilled and renowned lawyer often appointed as Justice of Assize by royal decree.
• Excellent conveyancer with unquestionable legal documents, knowledgeable of every judgement, case, and crime since William the Conqueror's time.
• Can dictate defenses and draft deeds flawlessly and knows every statue by heart.
• Wary, wise, discreet, worthy of reverence, appears very busy, successful and wealthy.
• Wears a homely parti-colored coat, girt with a silken belt of pin-stripe stuff.
• Accompanied by a Franklin.

The Franklin

• Wealthy landowner and member of the gentry
• Well-known as an excellent, generous, and hospitable host.
• Served as Justice at Sessions and Member for the Shire, worked as Sheriff, checking audits.
• Sanguine temperament, high-colored, benign appearance, living for pleasure and sensual delight.
• Keeps his table ready for guests.
• White beard, wears a dagger and small white silk purse, keeps a well-stocked house with abundance of food.
• Changes dishes according to the seasons and demands hot and sharp sauces from his cook.
• Accompanied by the sergeant of the law

The Haberdasher

• Member of an impressive guild-fraternity, considered a worthy burgess.
• Deemed wise enough to potentially become an alderman.
• Proud of his social status, wealthy, and likely ambitious.
• Wears the livery of his guild, is trim and fresh, carries a knife with pure silver, and has a silver-decorated girdle and pouch.
• Travels with four other guildsmen and accompanied by a cook.

The Carpenter

• Member of an impressive guild-fraternity, considered a worthy burgess.
• Deemed wise enough to potentially become an alderman.
• Skilled craftsman in woodworking, likely proud of his social status and ambitious.
• Wears the livery of his guild, with a trim and fresh appearance, carries a knife with pure silver, and has a silver-decorated girdle and pouch.
• Travels with the Haberdasher, Dyer, Weaver, Carpet-maker, and cook.

The Weaver

• Member of an impressive guild-fraternity, considered a worthy burgess.
• Deemed wise enough to potentially become an alderman.
• Skilled craftsman in cloth production, likely proud of his social status.
• Wears the livery of his guild, is trim and fresh, carries a knife with pure silver, and has a silver-decorated girdle and pouch.
• Travels with the Haberdasher, Dyer, Carpenter, Carpet-maker, and cook.

The Dyer

• Member of an impressive guild-fraternity, considered a worthy burgess.
• Deemed wise enough to potentially become an alderman.
• Skilled craftsman in dyeing fabrics and materials; likely proud of his social status.
• Wears the livery of his guild, is trim and fresh, carries a knife with pure silver, and has a silver-decorated girdle and pouch.
• Travels with the Haberdasher, Carpenter, Weaver, Carpet-maker, and cook.

The Carpet-Maker

• Member of an impressive guild-fraternity, considered a worthy burgess.
• Deemed wise enough to potentially become an alderman.
• Skilled craftsman in carpet-making.
• Wears the livery of his guild, is trim and fresh, carries a knife with pure silver, and has a silver-decorated girdle and pouch.
• Travels with the Haberdasher, Dyer, Carpenter, Weaver, and cook.

The Cook (Roger)

• Excellent at boiling chicken with marrow-bone, skilled in using flavoring-powders and spices.
• Can distinguish London ale by flavor and is proficient in various cooking techniques.
• Makes good thick soup and bakes good pies, known for making excellent blancmange.
• Skilled in his craft and proud of his culinary abilities.
• Has an ulcer on his knee.
• Accompanies the Haberdasher, Dyer, Carpenter, Weaver, and Carpet-maker.

The Skipper

• Hails from Dartmouth.
• Rides a farmer's horse not very well.
• Wears a woollen gown that reaches his knee, a dagger on a lanyard, and is tanned brown by the summer heat.
• Knowledge of tides, currents, harbors, and pilots.
• Unmatched in skill from Hull to Carthages, knows the heavens from Gotland to Cape Finisterre, and is familiar with every creek in Brittany and Spain.
• "Excellent fellow", hardly prudent, ignores the "nicer rules of conscience", and sends prisoners home by making them walk the plank.
• Has drawn many draughts of wine in Bordeaux and owns a barge called "The Maudelayne".

The Doctor

• Unrivaled knowledge of medicine and surgery, grounded in astronomy and uses horoscopes.
• Diagnoses medically based on humors.
• Works with apothecaries who give him drugs, versed in ancient medical teachings.
• Moderate in diet, avoids superfluities.
• Wears blood-red garments slashed with bluish-gray and lined with taffeta.
• Rather close to expenses, keeps gold won in pestilences, has a special love of gold.

The Wife of Bath (Alisoun)

• Somewhat deaf, with a bold face, handsome, red hue, gap-teeth, and large hips.
• Rides an ambling horse easily.
• Wears kerchiefs weighing ten pounds and fine scarlet red hose, a hat as broad as a shield.
• Skilled in making cloth, had five husbands all at the church door, and traveled extensively.
• Respected and feared in her parish, wrathful if not respected, liked to laugh and chat.
• Appears to enjoy attention and social prominence, experienced and knowledgeable about love and relationships.

The Parson

• Choleric in humor.
• A learned and devout cleric who preaches Christ's gospel, serving rich and poor parishioners.
• Gives generously and hates extorting fees.
• Benign, patient, holy, virtuous, compassionate, discreet, and humble.
• Show men Heaven emphasizing his role as guide rebukes the obstinate but never condemns sinners.
• Poorly dressed, travels on foot with a staff.

The Plowman

• Melancholic in humor.
• Honest, hard-working laborer who carts dung, thrashes corn, digs ditches, and manures fields.
• Good, true, peaceful, charitable, devout, loving God and neighbor.
• Does not complain or slack off, helps the poor for Christ's sake without payment.
• Wears a tabard smock, rides a mare, brother of the Parson.

The Miller

• Choleric in humor.
• A stout, brawny wrestler who wins prizes, breaks doors with his head, and steals grain.
• A wrangle and buffoon who tells filthy tavern stories.
• Sixteen stones in weight, broad, knotty shoulders, red beard, wart with red hair, carries a sword and buckler.
• Wears a blue hood and a white coat, part of the pilgrimage group.

The Manciple

• Choleric in humor.
• Astute buyer of victuals for the Inner Temple.
• An illiterate fellow who cleverly outpaces learned men in financial matters.
• Observant and precise manages finances efficiently.
• Financially savvy, skilled at managing, serves masters from the inner temple.

The Reeve

• Choleric in humor.
• Manages his lord’s estate with exceptional skill, meticulous accounts, and outsources his lord.
• Expert in judging crop yields based on weather patterns, a skilled carpenter from his youth.
• Secretly grows rich through shrewd dealings surpasses his lord in wealth.
• Old, choleric (irritable), and thin shrew, cunning is feared.
• Beard shaven closely, hair docked like a priest, lean legs with no calf muscles, wears an overcoat, carries a rusty blade.
• Rides Scot keeps a watchful eye

The Summoner

• Brings people to ecclesiastical court exploiting the position.
• Red face, known for lecherous, garlic.
• Allow men to keep concubines
• Fakes in Latin with corrupted view.

The Pardoner

• Sells the fake pieces, in turn for money.
• Exploit gullible.
• Greedy and evil and deceitful person
• Hairs yellow with wax.
• Carries wallet from Rome.

The Host (Harry Bailey)

• Welcoming and comfortable environment.
• Pilgrimage entertaining
• Fair is guaranteed.
• All pilgrimage is lead to Canterbury