The Canterbury Tales The Prioress, the Second Nun, and the Monk
by Geoffrey Chaucer

The Prioress is a delicate, sentimental woman who cries over the death of mice caught in traps or if anyone speaks roughly to her lapdogs, which she spoils. She affects a higher status than she actually possesses: for instance, she speaks French after the style of an English school, but does not know actual Parisian French. She has excellent table manners.

The Second Nun is the Prioress’s chaplain. She is not well-described.

The Monk loves riding and hunting, and he owns many fine horses. He wears fine clothing, including expensive furs, a gold brooch, and fine leather boots. He knows that St. Augustine preaches that monks should live a simple life inside their abbeys, but he doesn’t much care.