The Canterbury Tales · Character

Our Host

Harry Bailly, the Tabard Inn's brisk and bossy host, turns a chance company of pilgrims into a storytelling contest with himself as master of ceremonies.

major

Also known as our Host, Sir Host, The Host

First appearance: The Prologue

As a major figure in The Canterbury Tales, Our Host is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

The cheerful and authoritative innkeeper who proposes the tale-telling contest and serves as judge.

In the storyThe PrologueOpen this moment free

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In The Prologue: The cheerful and authoritative innkeeper who proposes the tale-telling contest and serves as judge. Later, in The Prologue: Laughs and praises the Knight's tale, then calls upon the Monk to tell next;…

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See Our Host in The Prologue

Character Web

45 connections

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Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Moral exemplars and advisors
Protagonist
Noble romance and corruption
Diverse pilgrims and tale characters

+40 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative 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…

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In the story

Our Host appears across 30 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Prologue
The cheerful and authoritative innkeeper who proposes the tale-telling contest and serves as judge.
The Prologue
Laughs and praises the Knight's tale, then calls upon the Monk to tell next; tries to restrain the drunken Miller.
The Prologue
Interrupts the Reeve's moralizing and commands him to tell his tale.
The Prologue
The Host grants the Cook permission to tell his tale, teasing him about his cooking practices.
The Prologue
Urges the pilgrims to continue the tale-telling contest, noting the passage of time.
The Prologue
The Host intervenes in the quarrel, urging the Friar to be courteous and telling the Summoner to be quiet, then asks the Friar to tell his tale.
The Friar's Tale
The Host interrupts the Friar and the Summoner's quarrel, urging the Friar to continue his tale.
The Sompnour's Tale
Intervenes to mediate the quarrel between the Friar and the Sompnour.
The Clerk's Prologue
The Host calls upon the Clerk and instructs him to tell a merry tale.
The Prologue
The Host addresses the Merchant, urging him to tell a part of his tale about marriage.
The Prologue
The Host reacts to the Merchant's tale, lamenting women's cunning and complaining about his own wife's faults.
The Prologue
Interrupts the Franklin to remind him of his duty to tell a tale.
The Prologue
The Host requests a tale from the Doctor of Physic.
The Pardoner's Tale
The Host reacts to the Pardoner's tale and his attempt to sell relics, engaging in a tense exchange.
The Prologue
The Host reacts emotionally to the Physician's tale, swearing and lamenting the maiden's death, then requests a tale from the Pardoner.
The Pardoner's Tale
Quarrels with the Pardoner after the tale, but is reconciled by the Knight.
The Prologue
Stands in his stirrups, calls for a tale from the Parson, and accuses the Parson of being a Lollard.
The Prologue
The Host proposes that the Prioress tell the next tale.
Chaucer's Tale of Sir Thopas
Interrupts Chaucer's tale, criticizing its poor quality.
The Prologue
The Host initiates the interaction, teasing Chaucer and demanding a tale of mirth.
The Tale of Sir Thopas
The Host is the audience for this tale, though not directly mentioned in the excerpt; he presides over the contest.
The Prologue
Interrupts Chaucer's rhyme, calling it 'drafty speech' and demanding a better tale.
The Prologue
The Host complains about his wife's impatience and lack of meekness, contrasting her with Dame Prudence.
The Prologue
Criticizes the Monk's tale for boring the company and calls upon the Nun's Priest to tell a merry tale.
The Nun's Priest's Tale
Praises the Nun's Priest for his merry tale.
The Canon's Yeoman's Prologue
Questions the Canon's shabby appearance and encourages the Yeoman to speak.
The Canon's Yeoman's Tale
Addressed directly by the Canon's Yeoman during the tale.
The Manciple's Tale
Host who calls upon the Manciple to tell his tale.
The Prologue
Awakens the Cook, jests, and later praises Bacchus for turning discord into accord.
The Prologue
The Host proposes that the Parson tell the final tale, urging him to be fruitful and hasten before sunset.

Chapter companion notes

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See Our Host in The Prologue