1) THE PHYSICIAN TALE

a. Characters description:

i. Physician: He was an honourable knight who was also a caring

father. He had one daughter
ii. Virginia: was a virgin and had the perfect traits a man would want in a
girl. She was prudent, bountiful, and staid. Her beauty and her
kindliness would attract men
iii. Appius: The judge. He was obsessed with the idea of possessing
Virginia. He was deceitful and powerful
iv. Claudius: Virginia’s blackguard. He accepted to lie to help Appius

b. Main themes:
i. Law
ii. Power
iii. Deceit

2) THE COOK’S TALE

a. Characters description:

i. Perkyn: he is an apprentice who lived with his master and used to have
two vices: dancing and drinking
ii. Perkyn’s friend: A friend of the apprentice who is married a prostitute
iii. Prostitute: Perkyn’s friend’s wife

b. Main Themes:
i. Vices: drinking, dancing, gambling

3) THE MAN OF LAW’S TALE

a. Characters description:

i. Constance: Christian princess, daughter of a Roman Emperor

ii. King Alla: Constance’s husband. King of Northumberland
iii. Lady Donegild: King Alla’s mother. An evil woman who separates
Constance and Alla
iv. Mauritius: Son of Constance and King Alla.

b. Main Themes:

i. Religion: Christianity, faith

ii. Deceit
iii. Love
4) THE FRIAR’S TALE

a. Characters description:

i. The Friar: "limitour" [begs on the behalf of the poor]. His duties were
to live among the poor, to beg on their behalf and to give his earnings
to aid their struggle for livelihood.
ii. The Yeoman: reveals that he is actually a demon. Despite that fact, he
was kind
iii. The Widow: A woman who was being prosecuted by the Summoner

b. Main Themes:

i. Religion
ii. Faith
iii. Deceit

5) THE SUMMONER’S TALE

a. Characters description:

i. The Summoner: was a church official who was responsible for

summoning the sinners before the ecclesiastical courts. He was a
corrupt man
ii. Thomas and his wife: A couple who has just lost their child

b. Main Themes:

i. Religion
ii. Deceit

6) THE CLERK’S TALE

a. Characters description:

i. Walter: a serious student who had long ago devoted himself to the
study of logic. He is very thin, hollow and pale
ii. Griselde: Walter’s wife. A virtuous woman who is loved by everyone.
Patient

b. Main Themes:

i. Love
ii. Women’s role
7) THE MERCHANT’S TALE

a. Characters description:

i. January: An old blind knight. He is well dressed with fashionable

motley colored clothes
ii. May: January’s wife. A beautiful young woman
iii. Damien: The squire with whom May betrays January

b. Main Themes:

i. Sexuality
ii. Betrayal

8) THE SQUIRE’S TALE

a. Characters description:

i. Mysterious knight: Lover and lusty bachelor who composes melodies

and writes poetry
ii. King Cambyuskan: king of Tartary
iii. Canacee: King Cambyuskan’s daughter

b. Main Themes:

i. Honesty