The character sketch of the Knight, The Prioress and The Monk in Chaucer's 'The General Prologue'

 The character sketch of the Knight: 

The Knight is the first of the pilgrims to be introduced in Chaucer's 'The General Prologue.'  The Knight is a virtuous character and stands at the top of the social hierarchy.

The Knight was a worthy or brave man.  He was a great warrior.  He participated in many military campaigns and had travelled far and wide in order to fight.  He had always been honoured for his bravery.  Many times he had sat at the head of the table as the most distinguished person among those of various nations.  He had fought at Alexandria, in Lithuania, in Russia, in Grenada and at several other places.  Many of the battles in which he had participated were fought in defence of the Christian faith.  Several times he had fought in single combat, and had killed his adversary every time.

The Knight was not only brave, but wise.  He had loved chivalry, truth, honour and courtesy from an early time in his career.  He greatly valued the quality of generosity.  In spite of such grand virtues in his character, he was as modest as a maiden.  He had never uttered any foul words in all his life.  

The Knight had fine horses, though he did not wear a gaudy apparel.  He wore a doublet of coarse cloth, which was all soiled by his coat of mail, because he had recently returned from a voyage of adventure.  In this way, Chaucer gives an idealised portrait in the case of the Knight.

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 The character sketch of The Prioress:   

The Prioress is one of the ecclesiastical characters portrayed in 'The General Prologue' by Geoffery Chaucer.  She is depicted as possessing a number of secular and worldly accomplishment.

The Prioress (Nun) was simple and sweet in her smiling and her greatest oath was merely "By Saint Loy."  Her name was Madam Eglantine.  She sang the divine service fully well, and it was intoned in er nose in an excellent manner.  She spoke French fluently and elegantly.  She was fully instructed in the manners to be observed at meal - time.  She never let a morsel of food fall from her mouth.  Nor did she dip her fingers deep into her sauce.  She took a particular interest in observing the table manners of a lady of fashion.  She wiped her upper lip so clean that no trace of grease could be seen her cup when she had drunk the liquid from it.  She picked up her food in a well -bred manner.

The Prioress was very cheerful, pleasant and amiable in her disposition.  She was dignified in her manner and behaved in such a way as to be held worthy of great respect.  She was so charitable and full of pity that she would weep if she saw a mouse caught in a trap.  He was all feeling and tender - heartedness.  Her mouth was very small and it was soft and red.  She had a fair forehead.  Her cloak was very neat.  About her arm, she carried a small coral rosary, which had large dividing gold on which there was first written a crowned "A" and then the words " Love conquers all."

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 The character sketch of The Monk:  

Chaucer had depicted the character of the Monk ironically.  The Monk is also one of the ecclesiastical characters in "The General Prologue."

The Monk was a dominating kind of man.  He was an outrider, who lived hunting.  His duty was to supervise the monastery's estates.  The Monk had manly qualities, and was competent to be the head of an abbey.  He had quite a large number of valuable horses in his stable.  When he rode, people could hear his bridle jingling in a whistling wind as clearly and also as loudly as they could hear the ringing of the chapel bell.

The Monk disregarded the old things as the rules of monastic discipline established by St. Maurus and St. Benedict because in his opinion these rules were out of date and somewhat strict.  He followed the practices introduced by the new order of things.  He did not give a plucked hen for that text which tells us that hunters are not holy men, nor did he care for the text according to which a monk, who disobeyed the rules of the cloister, was like a fish without water.

The Monk's costume and equipment were most lavish. He had a large number of valuable horses in his stable.  When he rode, the jingling of the bridle of his horse could be heard at a distance.  His sleeves were lined with gray fur of the finest quality.  In order to fasten his hood under his chin, he had an intricate pin of wrought gold, with a love-knot at one end.  He wore supple boots.  He was fat and in very good shape.  All his pleasure lay in tracking and hunting the hare and to enjoy this pleasure he spared no cost.