Geoffrey Chaucer
Chaucer himself often appears as a character in his poetry, usually as a narrator. However, this persona does not necessarily exactly align with Chaucer as an author. For example, in The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey is a member of the company. He tells a romance story so boring and conventional that the host interrupts him and orders him to tell something else. Here, Chaucer is making a version of himself the butt of the joke. Yet the diversity of the tales themselves also showcases that the real Chaucer is a far more competent storyteller than the version of himself who appears in the poem.
Rosamond
Chaucer writes Rosamond a ballad under her own name in which the narrator praises her for her beauty and softness. She's a beautiful woman with rosy cheeks and a cheerful attitude. To the narrator, just loving Rosamond is sufficient, which is convenient because she does not return his advances. She's a frustrating object for his affections because she will not so much as acknowledge his affection, but she does remain courteous and infectiously happy.
Summer
In "The Parlement of Fowls," Summer is hailed as the harbinger of joy. Summer is the final conquerer of Winter's cold cruelty. With sunshine and growth, Summer inspires all of nature to grow and make merry. Summer is the sweet, soft, long-awaited relief from the harshness of Winter.
Saint Valentine
Saint Valentine appears with the emergence of Summer in "The Parlement of Fowls." He is the saint of romantic love and marriage, so his presence indicates the resurgence of romance, even among the birds who are inspired by him to sing praises to the return of Summer.
The Man of Great Authority
At the end of the dream vision The House of Fame, the narrator encounters a “man of great authority” who seems to be the person who will finally make sense of the poem’s disorienting dream world. Yet the poem ends as soon as he appears, without him offering any explanation. Abrupt endings are typical of Chaucer’s poetry, often leaving critics unsure of whether the endings were intentional or not.
The Black Knight
One of the many enigmatic figures in The Book of the Duchess. The narrator encounters him while he dreams, and learns of his grief after having lost Lady White, his beloved.
The Good Women
The Legend of Good Women re-tells classical myths from the perspective of wronged female characters. Many of the women end up killing themselves when they are abandoned by their male lovers. Others like Lucrece and Philomela are victims of sexual violence. For more detailed descriptions of these characters, see The Legend of Good Women guide.
The Host
The Canterbury Tales begins when a company of pilgrims is invited by their host to participate in a storytelling competition. The host decides who speaks when, resolves conflicts, and even cuts off a particularly boring story to keep the conversation moving.
Tale Tellers
The Canterbury Tales features a broad cast of characters, all members of a diverse party traveling together on a pilgrimage. Some of the most famous include the garrulous and charismatic Wife of Bath, the noble Knight, and the unscrupulous Pardoner. For more detailed descriptions of these characters, see the Canterbury Tales guide.
