The Use of Physiognomy in Chaucer

Chaucer's Canterbury Tales is rich with literary devices that allow a reader to draw conclusions about its pilgrims and their characters. Physical descriptions were very important to the portrayal of a character which can be seen in Chaucer's extensive use of the science of physiognomy. Physiognomy was a kind of science that allowed the reader to judge moral character and temperament of a person based upon his outward appearance or anatomy. Chaucer uses physiognomy most frequently in the General Prologue to his Canterbury Tales when introducing the pilgrims in the group. The most exaggerated descriptions are those of the peasant's or lower class pilgrims, namely the Miller. Although the Chaucer uses physiognomy most prevalently with the Miller, this science is found in nearly every description of every character. The Miller's portrait is relatively short but the majority of it is devoted to describing his physical features. An excellent example of Chaucer's use of physiognomy begins at line 554 of the General Prologue. His beerd as any sowe or fox was reed, And therto brood, as though it were a spade; Upon the cop right of his nose he hade