The Canterbury Tales Study Guide – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
In "The Prologue", what is Chaucer's main objective?
answer
To introduce the characters in the cast
question
Why are the pilgrims traveling to Canterbury?
answer
To visit the shrine of Thomas Becket
question
Why do pilgrims agree to tell tales during this journey?
answer
To entertain and so they'll have a chance to win a free meal.
question
How do you know that the Cook's dishes may not be quite as appetizing as might hoped?
answer
Cook had an ulcer on his knee
question
Who is The Wife of Bath
answer
The veteran of several marriages and pilgrimages
question
In The Wife of Bath's Tale what quest does the knight undertake?
answer
The quest is to figure out what women desire the most
question
In The Wife of Bath's Tale who gives the knight this task?
answer
The queen
question
In The Wife of Bath's Tale, according to the old woman, what do women want?
answer
Same power as the husbands, self-same soverignty, mastery over their husbands
question
In The Wife of Bath's Tale before the knight sees the old woman in the woods, whom does the knight see?
answer
24 dancing women
question
In The Wife of Bath's Tale, as a reward for giving him the answer that will save his life, what does the old woman demand?
answer
For the knight to marry her
question
How does the knight In The Wife of Bath's Tale, show that he has learned what women want most?
answer
When he told his wife to choose which road she wants to take, it'll be her decision.
question
What eloquent philosophical argument does the old woman make?
answer
She makes the knight choose between the two choices: for her to be young and beautiful but not loyal and invite guys over to the house OR be very old and very loyal
question
Who is the character in The Canterbury Tales who most resembles Chaucer himself?
answer
The narrater himself
question
What is a "Pardoner"?
answer
An official of the church
question
How does the Pardoner earn money?
answer
Preaches, begs, steals money from poor, sells pardons, etc...
question
Why do the rioters go looking for Death?
answer
To avenge the deaths of their friends
question
Who is the character who prevents a fight between the Pardoner and the Host?
answer
The Knight
question
How does the tale end?
answer
The Rioters kill each other, finding death
question
Why is it ironic that the Pardoner preaches against avarice?
answer
Because the Pardoner is greedy himself
question
The old man's comment to the three rioters that Death 'isn't one to hide for all your prating' is an example of what literary term
answer
verbal irony
question
In 'The Pardoner's Tale,' Death is portrayed as ...
answer
both the price of wickedness and an actual person
question
What character trait does the Pardoner's pious story reveal?
answer
Immorality
question
After telling his tale, what does the Pardoner offer to do for his fellow pilgrims?
answer
Sell them relics and pardons
question
What is ironic about the attitude that the old man has toward Death?
answer
Most people seek to avoid death, but the old man looks for it.
question
After the rioters abandon their search for Death, they murder one another. This act is an example of what?
answer
situational irony
question
Avarice
answer
too great a desire for wealth
question
adversary
answer
enemy
question
prudent
answer
careful; cautious
question
transcend
answer
exceed; surpass
