Western Literature Semester II Final Exam Study Guide
Literary Terms:
direct characterization
dramatic irony
indirect characterization
Four types of comedy
monologue
Low comedy
soliloquy
Farce
aside
Comedy of Manners
dialogue
Comedy of Ideas
allusion
satire
metaphor
frame story
pun
chivalry
verbal irony
courtly love
situational irony
The Canterbury Tales: Background
Why is Chaucer so significant to the English language?
What major event led to the change from Old English to Middle English?
Who is Thomas Becket? Why is he a martyr?
The Canterbury Tales: “General Prologue”
Descriptions of the following characters:
Knight, squire, yeoman, nun (prioress), friar, lawyer, student, skipper, cook, the Wife of Bath, the Host (Harry
Bailly).
Describe Chaucer’s treatment of the clergy in The Canterbury Tales. Was it accurate? Why or Why not?
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Who did the narrator meet at the Tabbard Inn?
Why was everyone at the Tabbard?
What were they going to see?
He has been in many battles. He is gentle and true.
The son of the knight, in his twenties, agile, strong.
He is the servant of the squire. He reminds one of Robin Hood.
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She speaks French, is dainty and pleasant. She is a true medieval beauty.
He is bald and fat. He does not like hard work.
He takes bribes for penance. He prefers the bars and taverns more than the poor houses.
He is an Oxford student that doesn’t say much.
He is a master of his trade with an ulcer on his knee.
He is from Dartmouth. He’s a good navigator, but has a less than savory character.
She is large, some what deaf, and wears spurs.
His name is Harry Bailly. He is good-natured and happy.
What does the host propose to the pilgrims?
According to the prologue, how many tales will each pilgrim tell?
The Canterbury Tales: “The Knight’s Tale”
1. How did Arcita and Palamon become Theseus's prisoners?
2. What did Palamon and Arcite argue about as prisoners?
3. Why is Arcite released from prison?
4. What was the one condition of Arcite’s release?
5. How and why did Arcite return to Athens?
6. How did Palamon get out of prison?
7. Why did Theseus spare the lives of Arcite and Palamon when they were fighting in the woods?
8. What solution to the knight’s problem did Theseus have?
9. Who won the contest for Emily’s hand?
10. What happens to Arcite?
11. How did Palamon come to be married to Emily?
12. How does each character get what they prayed for in the end?
13. How are the ideals of courtly love and chivalry portrayed in “The Knight’s Tale?”
The Canterbury Tales: “The Wife of Bath’s Tale”
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What is the Wife of Bath’s complaint about husbands?
How many husbands has the Wife of Bath had?
The Wife of Bath talks about Solomon, Abraham, and other Old Testament figures. What is her point?
The Wife of Bath’s 5th husband beat her. Why did she stay with him?
What is the purpose of the Wife of Bath’s explanation of fairies at the beginning of the story?
What is the setting of “The Wife of Bath’s Tale?”
Why does the Wife of Bath tell the story about Midas?
What did the knight do to warrant the punishment of beheading?
What was the queen’s question?
What deal did the knight make on his way back to the queen a year later?
What was the answer to the queen’s question?
What did the old woman ask for in return for saving the knight’s life?
Why did the old woman promise the knight both fidelity and beauty?
What courtly love and chivalric values are present in the story?
What is the moral of the story?
Quotes to Know: Who said…
1. My lady and my love, my dearest wife,
I leave the matter to your wise decision.
You make the choice yourself.
2. “You are still in such a plight
Your very life has not security.
I grant your life, if you can answer me
This question: what is the thing that most of all
Women desire?”
3. “Though I am ugly, old, and poor,
I’ll have, for all the metal and the ore
That under earth is hidden or lies above,
Nothing, except to be your wife and love.”
4. “Alas, O Death! Alas, my Emily!
Alas the parting of our company!”
5. “Cousin, if you so judge my situation,
Truly, you show a vain imagination.
This prison did not cause my bitter cry.
But I was wounded just now through the eye
Down to my heart, yes, wounded fatally.”
6. “Goddess of maidens, well you know that I
Desire to be a maiden all my life,
And never to be a man’s love nor his wife.”