What social classes are represented in The Canterbury Tales?

Table of Contents

Nobility/Ruling Class – Knight and Squire.

Clergy – Monk, Friar, Prioress, Parson, Summoner, Pardoner.

Middle Class – Merchant, Doctor, Student, Wife of Bath.

Peasants – Miller, Plowman, Skipper.

Physical Characteristics, Clothing, and Accessories.

Words, Experiences, and Personality Traits.

What is the hierarchy in The Canterbury Tales?

The characters in The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer fall into one of the three estates, or social classes, used to categorize people in feudal and medieval England. These included members of the First Estate, or Church hierarchy, like The Prioress, Monk, Friar, Parson, and Pardoner.

Which character represent the highest social class of the group?

The wealthiest class with the most respect is royalty, which is followed by the noble. Both royalty and noble had a few things in common, one being clothes made from fine materials with bright colors and fancy food covered in seasonings that were devoured by the rich and served by the poor (The Middle Ages, 2018).

What social class is the cleric in Canterbury Tales?

Social Class He was a member of the Serf class, since he was a student and is a Middle Class student. He would prefer having 20 books in red and black of Aristotle’s philosophy rather than have expensive clothes and didn’t prefer going to church and even search for employment.

What social class is the Miller?

What is this? Throughout “Canterbury Tales,” each of the characters fits into a certain type or class of person; the Knight being a noble upperclassman, the Miller is a peasant/tradesman, the Wife of Bath representing the women/middle class, and the Pardoner portraying the Clergyman.

What social class is the skipper in Canterbury Tales?

working class man
The Skipper (or Shipman) in The Canterbury Tales stands out as a character because he is a straight-forward, working class man who lacks the hypocrisy of many other characters who have more wealth and status.

Who are the middle class characters in The Canterbury Tales?

And Chaucer’s interest in middle class characters, such as a cook, carpenter, miller, lawyer, merchant, clerk, physician reflects the rise of the middle class in the fourteenth century (Collin 1).

What social class is the Pardoner in Canterbury Tales?

middle class
The Pardoner’s Appearance Chaucer’s description of the Pardoner suggests he’s part of the Middle Age’s emerging middle class. He is well-dressed and groomed; Chaucer even describes him as a bit of a dandy, a man overly concerned with his appearance.

How is the monk described in The Canterbury Tales?

He’s bald and dresses in fur and gold, which tells us that he cares more about what he looks like on the outside than what he should be on the inside. His face is smooth and shiny, and his eyes roll in his head, and Chaucer describes them as hot and fiery.

Who is the Summoner in Canterbury Tales?

The Summoner is another supposedly devout religious figure who is actually a hypocrite. In medieval society, summoners brought people to the ecclesiastical court to confess their sins. He has a disgusting skin disease that makes his face pimpled and scaly.

What are the characteristics of the Friar?

The Friar was also known for being a wonderful singer and for playing various instruments, which made him a fun man to be around. He had a lovely temperament, and no one complained about his behavior. And his religious corruption didn’t bother anyone in the company.

How is the Squire described in Canterbury Tales?

The Squire is a young knight in training, a member of the noble class. While he is chivalrous and genteel, he is not quite as perfect as his father, the Knight, as he wears fine clothes and is vain about his appearance. The Squire is being trained in both the arts of battle and the arts of courtly love.