Character guide

Chaucer

major

Also known as Geoffrey Chaucer

The narrator and author, appears as a pilgrim and tells his own tales.

Palamon

major

Also known as this Palamon, cousin Palamon, Palamon Licurgus, the gentle Palamon

A Theban knight imprisoned with Arcite, both love Emily.

Arcite

major

Also known as false Arcite, Dan Arcite, This Arcite

Palamon's cousin and rival for Emily's love in the Knight's Tale.

Emily

major

Also known as woful Emily

The beautiful sister of Hippolyta, beloved by Palamon and Arcite.

Theseus

major

Also known as Duke Theseus, this Theseus, This Duke

Duke of Athens, ruler and judge in the Knight's Tale.

Damian

supporting

Also known as Damian Becomen

A squire who seduces May in the Merchant's Tale.

Meliboeus

supporting

Also known as quoth Meliboeus

A wealthy man whose wife Prudence advises him after an attack.

Griseldis

major

Also known as this Griseldis, Griseld, Griselda

Patient wife of Marquis Walter, tested by extreme trials.

Aurelius

supporting

Also known as wretch'd Aurelius

A squire who loves Dorigen in the Franklin's Tale.

Dame Constance

major

Also known as Constance, the jolly Dame

A virtuous Christian princess who endures many trials.

Dame Prudence

supporting

Also known as Prudence, Dame

Wise wife of Meliboeus who counsels forgiveness.

Nicholas

major

Also known as Hendy Nicholas, quoth Nicholas, This Nicholas

A clever Oxford scholar who tricks John the carpenter.

Our Host

major

Also known as our Host, Sir Host, The Host

Harry Bailly, the innkeeper who organizes the tale-telling contest.

The Sompnour

supporting

Also known as this Sompnour, This Sompnour

A lecherous and corrupt church summoner among the pilgrims.

Sir Thopas

minor

Also known as Thopas

A knight in Chaucer's own tale, a parody of romance.

Chanticleer

major

A proud rooster who dreams of danger in the Nun's Priest's Tale.

Walter

supporting

Also known as Sir Walter Scott

The marquis who marries and tests Griseldis.

Absolon

supporting

Also known as this jolly Absolon, This Absolon, quoth Absolon

A vain parish clerk who pursues Alison in the Miller's Tale.

Alla

supporting

Also known as this Alla, King Alla

King of Northumberland who marries Constance.

Cecile

supporting

Also known as Cecilia, Saint Cecile, Cecilie, Saint Cecilie

A Christian martyr and saint in the Second Nun's Tale.

Virginius

minor

A Roman knight who kills his daughter to preserve her honor.

The Franklin

supporting

Also known as the Franklin, Franklin

A wealthy landowner and pilgrim who tells the Franklin's Tale.

Dorigen

supporting

A faithful wife who makes a rash promise in the Franklin's Tale.

January

supporting

Also known as oldë January, O January, Gan January

An old knight who marries young May in the Merchant's Tale.

Arviragus

minor

Also known as Arviragus of gentleness

Dorigen's husband in the Franklin's Tale.

The Reeve

supporting

Also known as the Reeve, The Reeve, Osëwold the Reeve, Reeve

A carpenter turned reeve who tells a tale of a miller.

The Squire

supporting

Also known as The Squire, Squire

The Knight's son, a young pilgrim who tells an unfinished tale.

The Yeoman

minor

Also known as the Yeoman

A forester and servant of the Knight among the pilgrims.

Alison

supporting

The young wife of John the carpenter in the Miller's Tale.

Friar

supporting

Also known as Friar John

A wanton friar among the pilgrims who tells a tale.

Simkin

minor

Also known as quoth Simkin, Disdainful Simkin

A proud miller in the Reeve's Tale.

Partelote

minor

Also known as Damosellë Partelote, Madamë Partelote

Chanticleer's favorite hen in the Nun's Priest's Tale.

Creon

minor

Also known as the oldë Creon, the tyrant Creon

The tyrant of Thebes in the Knight's Tale.

The Manciple

minor

Also known as the Manciple, Manciple

A shrewd purchaser for a law school who tells a tale.

Hippolyta

minor

Also known as anon Hippolyta

Queen of the Amazons, wife of Theseus in the Knight's Tale.

The Soudan

minor

Also known as this Soudan, The Soudan

The Sultan of Syria who marries Constance.

Sir Appius

minor

Also known as Appius

The corrupt judge in the Physician's Tale.

The Shipman

minor

Also known as Saidë the Shipman, the Shipman

A rough seafaring pilgrim who tells a tale of a merchant's wife.

The Pardoner

supporting

A corrupt church official who tells a moral tale about greed.

The Wife of Bath

major

A bold, experienced wife who tells a tale about female sovereignty.

The Knight

major

Also known as this knight, a knight

A noble and worthy pilgrim who tells the first tale.

The Miller

supporting

A brutish pilgrim who tells a bawdy tale about a carpenter.

The Clerk

supporting

A scholarly pilgrim from Oxford who tells the tale of Griseldis.

The Merchant

supporting

A wealthy but unhappy pilgrim who tells a tale of marriage.

The Man of Law

supporting

A learned lawyer who tells the tale of Constance.

The Prioress

supporting

Also known as Madame Eglentine

A refined nun who tells a miracle tale of a little boy.

The Monk

supporting

A worldly monk who tells a series of tragic falls of great men.

The Nun's Priest

supporting

Also known as this priest, the priest

A priest who tells the beast fable of Chanticleer.

The Second Nun

minor

A nun who tells the life of Saint Cecilia.

The Canon's Yeoman

minor

A servant of a canon who tells a tale of alchemy.

The Parson

supporting

A virtuous priest who tells a long prose sermon on penance.

John

minor

Also known as quoth John, Dan John

A jealous old carpenter in the Miller's Tale.

Alein

minor

Also known as This Alein

A poor Cambridge scholar in the Reeve's Tale.

Placebo

minor

Also known as callëd Placebo

A flattering friend in the Merchant's Tale.

Justinus

minor

A wise friend who warns January in the Merchant's Tale.

May

supporting

Also known as Maria, Marie

The young wife of January in the Merchant's Tale.

Janicola

minor

Also known as Janicol

Griseldis's poor father in the Clerk's Tale.

Dame Hermegild

minor

Also known as Hermegild

Constance's friend in Northumberland in the Man of Law's Tale.

The Soudaness

minor

Also known as oldë Soudaness

The Sultan's mother who plots against Constance.

Tiburce

minor

Also known as quoth Tiburce

Cecilia's brother-in-law who converts to Christianity.

Almachius

minor

The Roman prefect who martyrs Cecilia.

Saint Urban

minor

Also known as Urban

The pope who baptizes Tiburce in the Second Nun's Tale.

Canace

minor

Also known as Canacé

A princess with a magic ring in the Squire's Tale.

Algarsife

minor

Canace's brother in the Squire's Tale.

The Cook

minor

Also known as Roger, gentle Roger

A pilgrim cook who tells an unfinished tale.

Dame Ales

minor

Also known as Dame

The wife of the Shipman's tale, a merchant's wife.

Jenkin

minor

The Wife of Bath's fifth husband, a young clerk.

Gerveis

minor

A smith who lends Absolon a hot coulter in the Miller's Tale.

Malkin

minor

A miller's daughter in the Reeve's Tale.

Robin

minor

The Miller's son in the Reeve's Tale.

Claudius

minor

Also known as hightë Claudius

A false churl who accuses Virginia in the Physician's Tale.

Master Nicholay

minor

Also known as Nicholay

A clerk in the Miller's Tale, also called Nicholas.

Mabily

minor

A character mentioned in the Merchant's Tale.