The Canterbury Tales · Character
The Clerk
A threadbare Oxford scholar who would rather own twenty books of Aristotle than rich robes or a merry fiddle, and tells a tale of unshakeable patience.
supporting
First appearance: The Prologue
As a supporting figure in The Canterbury Tales, The Clerk is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
A scholarly pilgrim, urged by the Host to set aside his shyness and draw a cut.
The Clerk rides last among the pilgrims, lean and hollow-cheeked, spending what little he earns on books and praying for his friends' souls. He speaks little but weighs every word, and when the Host calls on him he delivers a tale of Griselda, a wife tested past all endurance. His quiet learning and moral seriousness stand as a rebuke to the flashier, greedier figures around him.
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Character Web
31 connectionsA slice of how The Clerk sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Other
Character groups
- Lower-class and bawdy characters
- Protagonist
- Diverse pilgrims and tale characters
- Tragic justice and corruption
+26 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- 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.
Follow the arc while readingIn the story
The Clerk appears across 4 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for The Clerk unlock in the free preview.
See The Clerk in The Prologue