THE CANTERBURY TALES
STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS
Prologue
1. In lines 1-18 (which are all one sentence), identify the time
and the author’s main point. April; the main point is that
according to the poet, people long to go on a pilgrimage in
the Spring.
2. Why does the urge to go on pilgrimage hit people in the
spring? Winter is over; it’s time for renewal.
3. Who is at the inn? Who arrives at the inn? What is the
central idea? (Look in ll. 19-28). The narrator is at the inn;
twenty-nine pilgrims arrive; the central idea is that the 29
pilgrims arrive at the Tabard Inn where the narrator-poet is
staying.
4. In lines 19-28, identify the rhymes that preserved, even
though pronunciation may differ today. day/lay;
hostelry/company; fall/all
5. 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? The
Knight arrives first; He is modest, considerate, and wellmannered. He is the idea of chivalry.
6. When Chaucer states qualities of the Knight, what method
of characterization is he using? (ll. 70-74) He uses direct
characterization
7. In ll. 76-78, what method of characterization is being used?
Indirect characterization is used because clues reveal the
Knight’s character
8. What does the Knight’s soiled clothing reveal about him? It
reveals that the fustian is coarse and worn and suggests a
plain, honest, modest man who cares more about thanking
God for his blessings than he does about making an
impression on others. He might not have much money.
9. In ll. 80-95, what clues do you get for the meaning of the
word squire? Compare a squire to the Knight. A squire is a
knight’s attendant; the Squire is younger; his clothing is
flashier; his hair is well-coiffed; both he and his horse seem
more active, less sedate. The Squire might be less
knowledgeable or wise
10.
Who accompanied the Knight and Squire? a Yeoman
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?
She cares more about luxuries than she does about her
responsibilities to her order.
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? He might be exaggerating to gently mock the
Prioress for her pretensions to good breeding.
13.
In ll. 160, what effect is created by saying she is “by
no means undergrown” rather than saying “She is indeed
overgrown”? The understatement adds to the lightly
amusing satire of the Prioress. She must be a bit heavy or at
least tall.
14.
In Chaucer’s 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?
It shows she is interested in love, though as a nun, she
should not be. Or it could show that she is trying to ward
off worldly temptation. Since she does not seem to deny
herself worldly luxuries, such as a nice veil and cloak,
however, it seems possible she also does not deny herself
love.
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 Monk’s character suggest,
without directly saying, that his Monk is not serious about
his vocation? The monk rides a fine horse, hunts hares,
wears rich clothes and jewelry, and enjoys good food, such
as fat swans (traditionally cooked with their feathers on).
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? According to
his vow of poverty, a monk is meant to suffer for the
world’s sins, not enjoy the world’s temptations.
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 friar’s duties was to hear people’s
confessions and was to hear people’s 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? Chaucer’s Friar
gives light penances because people pay him. He is more
interested in making money than in saving people’s souls.
18.
What characteristics might a lily-white neck
represent? (see table of physical characteristics on p. 128?)
The comparison to the lily suggests that the Friar is
cowardly, as in the expression “lily-livered coward”;
perhaps it means he is loose or immoral.
19.
In line 256, Chaucer uses the word brethren, which is
plural of brother. What does this term refer to here? All the
members of the same society or profession.
20.
How does the Friar earn his living? What does his
semi-cope reveal about his income? Forgiving sins and
settling disputes for a fee.
21.
Visualize the Merchant. Describe what you see. What
secret does the merchant keep hidden? Someone sitting far
forward on his horse and very erect; someone dressed in
motley, which was brightly colored cloth; someone wearing
a beaver hat, the latest rage in hats; someone with a beard
split down the middle; someone with fancy boots; someone
trying to look prosperous. He is hiding the fact that he is in
debt.
22.
How is the Oxford Cleric portrayed? What
contemporary stereotype does Chaucer play on? Both rider
and horse are poor and gaunt. Chaucer plays on the
stereotype of the starving student.
23.
A Sarjeant at the Law was one of a select group of
lawyers who served as the king’s legal advisors. What
attitude does the narrator have toward the Sarjeant? What
evidence in the narrative supports your answer? The
narrator disapproves of him. Although the narrator calls
him “a man to reverence,” he finds nothing remarkable in
him. The Sarjeant narrow-mindedly and predictably
executes his job, and he gives the appearance of being far
busier and more knowledgeable than he really is.
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? Direct characterization. Franklin is a shallow,
self-indulgent man who cares too much about eating.
25.
Guilds were organizations of tradespeople who taught
their trade to apprentices, or trainees. The associations such
as the Goldsmith’s Guild or the Fishmonger’s 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? He makes fun of
their social climbing and social pretensions.
26.
In ll. 392-396, note that Chaucer does not mention the
Cook’s open sore until after describing the Cook’s
delicious specialties. What is the effect? To entertain
readers by horrifying them or by making them laugh to
spoil the reader’s appetite.
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 Skipper’s treatment of his prisoners of war? The
distinction between treating prisoners with respect and
killing them is not subtle.
28.
In ll. 435-454, how does Chaucer’s characterization of
the Doctor convey a negative attitude? Although he says
the doctor is a perfect practicing physician, the narrator
makes it clear that the Doctor profits from people’s
illnesses by prescribing drugs that don’t work and sharing
in the profits with the apothecaries, or pharmacists.
Consequently, the doctor is well-dressed and appears to
have plenty of money to spend on himself.
29.
What is the Wife of Bath concerned about when she
goes to church? What does this suggest about her? She is
concerned that she is the first to the altar and that she is
wearing the best clothes. People approached the altar
according to social rank, so her concern suggests she cares
more about status than spirituality.
30.
Some critics think that the Wife of Bath is based on
Chaucer’s 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? A life force; bold; assertive; imposing; earthy;
strong; intelligent; frank; stubborn
31.
What sort of tale do you think the Wife of Bath will
tell? A tale involving love and marriage, since she has been
married five times, or a story about wealth and beauty,
since these seem very important to her.
32.
Chaucer describes the Parson as poor; from what you
know of Chaucer’s values so far, do you think he will
approve or disapprove of the Parson? Why? He appears to
approve of poverty elsewhere in his characterizations and
disapprove of wealth and especially greed. He will approve
of the Parson because he is “rich in holy thought and
work.”
33.
What do you believe “cursing to extort a fee” refers to
in ll.497? Refers to the corrupt practice of threatening
people with excommunication and damnation unless they
paid a fee.
34.
What two metaphors are used to describe the Parson?
Interpret these two metaphors. One compares him to a
shepherd and his parishioners to sheep. The other asks a
hypothetical question comparing corruption in priests and
men to corroding gold and rusting iron. The Parson’s job is
to watch his “sheep,” or keep an eye on the spiritual health
of his “flock,” or the people in his care. The metaphor of
gold and iron warns that if gold, a refined metal, corrodes,
then iron, a coarse metal, cannot help but rust. This
suggests that if a priest sets a poor example, his parish
members will follow suit.
35.
What kind of priest is the Parson? He is a good one
because he stays with his parish instead of going to the city
to make money. He is also kind, soft-spoken, modest, and
fair and sets a good example for his flock.
36.
Name the allusion found in ll. 544-547 and tell what
type it is. Biblical allusion to Luke 10:27: “Thou shalt love
the Lord thy God with all thy heart . . . and thy neighbor as
thy self.
37.
Chaucer praises the Plowman, the Parson, and the
Cleric. What qualities do these men share? In what ways do
they differ? All are generous, spiritual, uninterested in
wealth, and full of energy for their work. They differ in
education and profession.
38.
In ll. 568-575, the Miller is compared to a sow or fox,
a spade, a sow’s ear, and a furnace door. What do the
comparisons suggest about the Miller’s character? They
suggest he is fough, uncouth, wild, belligerent, and as
ordinary as the most common animal or tool.
39.
In ll. 578-581, explain what you think Chaucer means
by the words “An honest miller has a golden thumb.” It
implies that most millers overcharge their customers by
putting their thumbs on the scale.
40.
How does the Reeve do his job? What does the
information presented in the text tell you about the
character of the Reeve? Chaucer starts out by saying the
Reeve does his job well but ends by implying that he is
mean to the serfs and has become rich by embezzling from
the master. He is dishonest and uses people.
41.
In his portrayal of the Summoner (ll. 641-661), how
does Chaucer appeal to the reader’s sense of sight? He
enables the reader to see a hideously ugly face, covered
with pus-filled pimples, boils, and sores. He lets the reader
call to mind other features as well, such as black, scabby
eyebrows
42.
How does the Summoner deal with people who keep a
mistress? How does the phrase “noble varlet” convey
Chaucer’s attitude towards the Summoner? The Summoner
ignores offenders if they pay him in money or in wine. A
varlet is a scoundrel. The word noble in conjunction with
varlet just means “big” or “complete” scoundrel.
43.
What do you think the Pardoner and the Summoner
may have in common? They may have the same attitudes
toward appearance, drinking, and their professions.
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?
His hair hangs like rat-tails; he puts on airs by trying to ride
in a fashionable style; he has a voice like a goat; he has
bulging eyeballs. All are unappealing.
45.
Are ll.730-734 an example of direct or indirect
characterization? They are an example of both. The author
directly tells the reader that the Pardoner reads a lesson,
tells a story, and sings an Offertory well. He implies that
the Pardoner is motivated by greed and sings to “sin silver
from the crowd.”
46.
In lines 735-36, has Chaucer told you all about the
pilgrims “shortly, in a clause”? Students should feel that
they have learned a lot about each pilgrim but that Chaucer
has not done so “in a clause”; in fact, he has gone on for
many pages, in great detail. Some will feel that the
Prologue is a fairly short summary, given that so many
complex individuals, representative of all walks of live,
have been drawn in so few pages.
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? Chaucer, of course, invented the
characters and their tales, but pretending that he is merely a
reporter relieves him of responsibility for the tales’ often
bawdy content. Also, writing secular poetry was still not a
respected profession, and Chaucer, an important
government servant and member of the middle class, had
his reputation to protect.
48.
In ll. 781-800, what hypotheses can you offer for why
the Host proposes his plan for the pilgrim’s entertainment?
He may be a playful man; he may do this all the time with
groups of pilgrims; he may be bored to death with his usual
company; he may have been planning to travel to
Canterbury anyway and wishes to be entertained along the
way.
49.
In ll. 803-04, identify the rhyme, analyze the
placement of the rhyming words, and explain the result.
Word rhymes with deferred, but the two words are not only
in separate sentences but in even separate sections: the
Host’s speech and the narrator’s commentary. the result is a
rhyme that sounds conversational and natural, not singsong.
50.
Why might the pilgrims agree to do as the Host says
even before they know what he will propose? (ll. 803-08)
They know the journey will be long. They trust the Host.
They know that he is the type of man who will think of
something entertaining.
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? Morality is not
necessary for a good story, which does not have to be told
to teach anything. Other criteria might include originality,
suspense, elements of surprise, action, richly drawn
characters, and realistic details.
52.
In ll. 822-29, is the Host’s speech and example of
direct or indirect characterization? What does it reveal
about him? It is an example of indirect characterization.
The host shows through his own words that he is a man
who enjoys people, traveling, and simple entertainment.
53.
Summarize the bargain that the pilgrims have made
with the Host. The Host has promised to be the judge of the
best tale and to give the winner a supper paid by all, in his
tavern, the Tabard Inn. the pilgrims also agree that he can
set the price of the supper, as well as standards of
judgment. Anyone who refuses to tell a tale must pay the
cost of the journey.