Chaucer Casting Call

Holly Rice / Anna Coke

Everyone wants to be Steven Spielberg, but do you
think you’re up to the task? Geoffrey Chaucer has
optioned his work, The Canterbury Tales for
production. This means that there will be a casting call
for actors who might fit the roles. The most important roles are those of the
pilgrims, so they have to be cast exactly. Using textual evidence, YOU will scour
Hollywood for the perfect actors to fit each pilgrim mentioned in the General
Prologue. I want you to come up with the best actors for the job and submit their
“head shots” along with a little evidence that they can play the role in which they
will be cast. You may use this handy “casting sheet” to submit your final report.

Pilgrim Actor/Actress Head Shot Textual Evidence

The Brad Pitt Line 70-71: And though so
Knight much distinguished, he was
wise and in his bearing modest
as a maid.

The Orlando Lines 83-86: With locks as curly

Squire Bloom as if they had been pressed. He
was some twenty years of age,
I guessed. In stature he was of
a moderate length, with
wonderful agility and strength.

Yeoman Gary Oldman Lines 111-112: His head was

like a nut, his face was brown.
He knew the whole of
woodcraft up and down.
Prioress Meryl Streep Lines (156-159): Her nose was
elegant, her eyes glass-gray;
Her mouth was very small, but
soft and red, Her forehead,
certainly, was fair of spread,
Almost a span across the
brows, I own;

Monk David Suchet Lines (202-205): His head was

bald and shone like looking-
glass; So did his face, as if it
had been greased. He was a fat
and personable priest; His
prominent eyeballs never
seemed to settle.

Pilgrim Actor/Actress Head Shot Textual Evidence

Friar James Franco Lines 237-240: He kept his
tippet stuffed with pins for
curls, and pocket-knives, to
give to pretty girls. And
certainly his voice was gay and
sturdy, For he sang well and
played the hurdy-gurdy.

Merchant Robert Line 280: There was a

Downey Jr. Merchant with a forking beard.
Clerk Seth Rogen Lines 295-298: An Oxford
Cleric, still a student though,
One who had taken logic long
ago, Was there; his horse was
thinner than a rake, And he
was not too fat, I undertake.

Franklin Robin Lines 342 and 343: White as a

Williams daisy-petal was his beard. A
sanguine man, high-colored
and benign.

The Matt Damon, Lines 371-374: A Haberdasher,

Guildsme Matthew a Dyer, a Carpenter, a Weaver,
n McConaughe and a Carpet-maker were
y, Jake among our ranks, all in livery
Gyllenhaal, of one impressive guild-
Josh fraternity.
Duhamel,
and Patrick
Dempsey
Pilgrim Actor/Actress Head Shot Textual Evidence
Cook Timothy Spall Lines 395-396: But what a pity-
so it seemed to me, that he
should have an ulcer on his
knee.

Shipman Viggo Lines 404-405: The summer

Mortensen heat had tanned his color
brown, and certainly he was an
excellent fellow.

Doctor Hugh Laurie Lines 445-446: In his own diet

he observed some measure;
There were no superfluities for
pleasure.
Wife of Kate Winslet Line 468: Bold was her face,
Bath handsome, and red in hue.

Parson Daniel Craig There was no evidence in the

text of how he looked that I
could find.

Pilgrim Actor/Actress Head Shot Textual Evidence

Miller Kevin James The Miller was a chap of
sixteen stone, a great stout
fellow big in brawn and bone.
Broad, knotty, and short
shouldered, he would boast he
could heave any door off hinge
and post. His beard, like any
sow or fox, was red and broad
as well, as though it were a
spade; and, at its very tip, his
nose displayed a wart on
which there stood a tuft of hair
red as the bristles in an old
sow’s ear. His nostrils were as
black as they were wide.
Reeve Michael The Reeve was old and
Gambon choleric and thin; his beard
was shaven closely to the skin,
his shorn hair came abruptly
to a stop above his ears, and
he was docked on top just like
 a priest in front; his legs were
lean, like sticks they were, no
calf was to be seen.

Summone Alan Rickman His face on fire, like a

r cherubium, for he had
carbuncles. His eyes were
narrow, he was as hot and
lecherous as a sparrow. Black
scabby brows he had, and a
thin beard. Children were
afraid when he appeared.

Pardoner Johnny Depp This Pardoner had hair as

yellow as wax, hanging down
smoothly like a hank of flax. In
driblets fell his locks behind
his head down to his shoulders
which they overspread; thinly
they fell, like rat-tails, one by
one.
And he had bulging eyes, like
a hare.
The Host Jude Law A very striking man our host
withal.
His eyes were bright, his girth
a little wide; there is no finer
burgess in Cheapside. Bold in
his speech, yet wise and full of
tact, there was no manly
attribute he lacked.