MERCHANT, FRIAR, CLERK, FIVE GUILDSMEN, COOK, SAILOR, & DOCTOR The Canterbury Tales

The Merchant Lines The Merchant Wears latest fashions Hides secret of being in debt

The Friar Lines The Friar Unlike monks, friars went into the world as beggars to preach, help the poor, cure the sick. One duty was to hear confessions and absolve/forgive with a penance. This friar gives light penance b/c people pay him; he’s more interested in making $ than saving souls Seems like a lady’s man “neck whiter than a lily-flower” suggests he is cowardly OR loose/immoral Goes to bars, stays away from sick & poor, goes where there’s a profit. Lines imply he sleeps w/widows Clothes are rich (ironic) Note: the poet/narrator seems to disapprove of this corruption in Church

The Clerk Lines An Oxford Cleric Starving student image Both cleric and his horse are poor and gaunt Spends his $ on expensive books

The Five Guildsmen Lines The Haberdasher, Dyer, Carpenter, Weaver & Carpet-Maker All belong to a guild-fraternity Guilds were organizations of trades-people who taught their trade to apprentices Powerful economic force, with controlling quality & price of goods they sold Upwardly mobile Narrator seems to make fun of their social climbing & social pretensions

The Pilgrims Lines The Cook Excellent cook, but has an open sore on his knee (humor & disgust in this)

The Pilgrims Lines The Skipper (Shipman/Sailor) = Pirate Very tan from all the years of sailing He has seen every bay and river in England He is a bit of a rascal Known for stealing wine from the ship’s captain Wore a thick, rough cough and a dagger about his waist.

The Pilgrims Lines The Doctor Dr.s during this time believed the 12 signs of the zodiac affected different parts of the body & the body contained 4 kinds of humors which dictated a person’s temperament and physical make up. He profits from people’s illnesses by prescribing drugs that don’t work & sharing profits w/ the apothecaries (pharmacists), thus he’s well-dressed & has plenty of $