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The Canterbury Tales · Character

Sir Appius

The corrupt judge in the Physician's Tale.

minor

Also known as Appius

First appearance: The Doctor's Tale

Sir Appius shows up with force in The Doctor's Tale. The page is where that presence becomes real.

The corrupt judge who lusts after Virginia and conspires to possess her.
In the storyThe Doctor's TaleOpen this moment free

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In The Doctor's Tale: The corrupt judge who lusts after Virginia and conspires to possess her. Later, in The Physician's Tale: The corrupt judge who lusts after Virginia and conspires to claim her as a slave,…

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The fuller portrait of Sir Appius sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Sir Appius in The Doctor's Tale

Character Web

8 connections

A slice of how Sir Appius sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

VIVirginiusABAbsolonPAPalamonTCThe ClerkCLClaudiusSASir Appius

Relationship types

  • Other

Character groups

  • Tragic justice and corruption
  • Comic and authorial figures
  • Protagonist
  • Lower-class and bawdy characters

+3 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

SetupEscalationClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

This passage marks the story's dramatic climax because it shifts the focus from the external, ritualistic acts…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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In the story

Sir Appius appears across 2 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Sir Appius unlock in the free preview.

See Sir Appius in The Doctor's Tale