THE CANTERBURY TALES STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS Prologue In lines 1-18 (which are all one sentence), identify

the time and the authors main point. Why does the urge to go on pilgrimage hit people in the spring? Who is at the inn? Who arrives at the inn? What is the central idea? (Look in ll. 19-28).. In lines 19-28, identify the rhymes that preserved, even though pronunciation may differ today. What is the first traveler? What qualities does the Knight possess that are different from those you might expect in a veteran soldier who has been fighting for forty years? 6. When Chaucer states qualities of the Knight, what method of characterization is he using? (ll. 70-74) 7. In ll. 76-78, what method of characterization is being used? 8. What does the Knights soiled clothing reveal about him? 9. In ll. 80-95, what clues do you get for the meaning of the word squire? Compare a squire to the Knight. 10. Who accompanied the Knight and Squire? 11. Nuns were not supposed to keep pets because the money for their keep was supposed to go to the poor. Based on this information, what can you infer about the Prioress? 12. A high forehead was considered a sign of intelligence and good breeding; a nine-inch brow would be most unusual however; why does Chaucer exaggerate this feature? 13. In ll. 160, what effect is created by saying she is by no means undergrown rather than saying She is indeed overgrown? 14. In Chaucers time, coral was considered a defense against worldly temptation, as well as a love charm. Why does he picture the Prioress with a coral trinket on her arm? 15. Like a nun, a monk is a member of a religious order who has taken vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. How do the details of the Monks character suggest, without directly saying, that his Monk is not serious about his vocation? 16. Because peasants in the Middle Ages did not always have enough to eat, obesity was a sign of success and affluence. Why is it ironic that monk is fat?. 17. Unlike monks, who lived in monasteries, friars went into the world as beggars to preach, help the poor, and cure the sick. One of a friars duties was to hear peoples confessions and was to hear peoples confessions and to absolve or forgive them with a penance, or penalty of prayer, or doing good works. How does Chaucer characterize this Friar in lines 212-213? 18. What characteristics might a lily-white neck represent? 19. In line 256, Chaucer uses the word brethren, which is plural of brother. What does this term refer to here? 20. How does the Friar earn his living? What does his semi-cope reveal about his income? 21. Visualize the Merchant. Describe what you see. What secret does the merchant keep hidden? 22. How is the Oxford Cleric portrayed? What contemporary stereotype does Chaucer play on? 23. A Sarjeant at the Law was one of a select group of lawyers who served as the kings legal advisors. What attitude does the narrator have toward the Sarjeant? What evidence in the narrative supports your answer? 24. In ll. 351-360, is Chaucer using direct characterization, explaining who the Franklin is to the reader? Or is he using indirect characterization, using details to let the reader draw conclusions about the character? What inferences can you draw about the Franklin? 25. Guilds were organizations of tradespeople who taught their trade to apprentices, or trainees. The associations such as the Goldsmiths Guild or the Fishmongers Guild were a powerful economic force, controlling the quality and price of the goods they produced or sold. During this period, members of the guilds often wore a special uniform and were upwardly mobile. What do you think the poet thinks of this group and especially their wives? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

26. In ll. 392-396, note that Chaucer does not mention the Cooks open sore until after describing the Cooks delicious specialties. What is the effect? 27. In ll. 408-410, notice that the word nice has multiple meanings. Here, the word means subtle; requiring discernment. Why is the use of this meaning ironic, given the Skippers treatment of his prisoners of war? 28. In ll. 435-454, how does Chaucers characterization of the Doctor convey a negative attitude? 29. What is the Wife of Bath concerned about when she goes to church? What does this suggest about her? 30. Some critics think that the Wife of Bath is based on Chaucers paternal grandmother who had three husbands. Based on the description in the text (ll. 482-486), what words or phrases would you use to describe the Wife of Bath? 31. What sort of tale do you think the Wife of Bath will tell? 32. Chaucer describes the Parson as poor; from what you know of Chaucers values so far, do you think he will approve or disapprove of the Parson? Why? 33. What do you believe cursing to extort a fee refers to in ll.497? 34. What two metaphors are used to describe the Parson? Interpret these two metaphors. 35. What kind of priest is the Parson? 36. Name the allusion found in ll. 544-547 and tell what type it is. 37. Chaucer praises the Plowman, the Parson, and the Cleric. What qualities do these men share? In what ways do they differ? 38. In ll. 568-575, the Miller is compared to a sow or fox, a spade, a sows ear, and a furnace door. What do the comparisons suggest about the Millers character? 39. In ll. 578-581, explain what you think Chaucer means by the words An honest miller has a golden thumb. 40. How does the Reeve do his job? What does the information presented in the text tell you about the character of the Reeve? 41. In his portrayal of the Summoner (ll. 641-661), how does Chaucer appeal to the readers sense of sight? 42. How does the Summoner deal with people who keep a mistress? How does the phrase noble varlet convey Chaucers attitude towards the Summoner? 43. What do you think the Pardoner and the Summoner may have in common? 44. Long hair was a violation of the rule that men who worked for the Church should wear their hair tonsured (short, with a shaved spot at the top, as a symbol of humility)). What other details does Chaucer mention that suggest that the Pardoner is a less-than-savory character? 45. Are ll.730-734 an example of direct or indirect characterization? 46. In lines 735-36, has Chaucer told you all about the pilgrims shortly, in a clause? 47. In ll. 745-53, who is really the author of these tales? why does the narrator say he is merely recording what other people have said? 48. In ll. 781-800, what hypotheses can you offer for why the Host proposes his plan for the pilgrims entertainment? 49. In ll. 803-04, identify the rhyme, analyze the placement of the rhyming words, and explain the result. 50. Why might the pilgrims agree to do as the Host says even before they know what he will propose? (ll. 803-08) 51. In ll.814-816, is the Host correct in stating that morality and pleasure define a good story? Why or why not? What does make a good story? 52. In ll. 822-29, is the Hosts speech and example of direct or indirect characterization? What does it reveal about him? 53. Summarize the bargain that the pilgrims have made with the Host.