Review sheet for The Canterbury Tales
History:
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What is one of the most famous churches in England?
Who was Thomas á Becket?
Why is he considered a martyr?
What is a pilgrammage?
What interesting thing did Chaucer’s parents do when he was little?
What else—other than writing—did Chaucer do for a living?
Non-fiction:
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Who witnessed Thomas a Becket’s brutal murder?
What is an example of imagery from his murder?
Who killed (actually/physically) Thomas a Becket?
Who ordered that he be killed?
What is Becket’s status now with the church?
The Characters:
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What is the purpose for the prologue?
How many characters are there (total) in The Canterbury Tales?
What is the job of a Manciple?
What is the job of a Miller?
Analyze the symbolism Chaucer uses when describing the Wife of Bath. What does this say
about her?
17. Yes or no: are all of the characters similar in social class and rank?
The Tales:
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What was the challenge from host, Harry Bailey?
What was the prize for the contest?
How many stories were SUPPOSED to be in the book?
Why was the book never finished with all of the stories?
The Pardoner’s Tale
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What do the rioters plan to do when they leave the tavern?
Who do they encounter along the way?
What does the man tell them to do?
What do they find under the tree?
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What role does the youngest of the three play?
What does the youngest do while in town?
What do the other two rioters decide to do while the youngest is away?
What is the resolution (ending) of this story?
The Wife of Bath’s Tale
30. Why does the knight have to set out on a quest to save his life?
31. What is ironic about what the knight had done?
32. During what time period is this tale set? (You don’t have the know dates, but the main
character is a hint)
33. What must the knight do to save his life?
34. How long does the knight have to find an answer
35. Who does finally provide the knight with the answer? (The answer he gives the queen)
36. What promise did the knight make in order to get this answer?
37. Name one of the reasons why the knight objects the old woman. (He gives four reasons)
38. What choice does the knight make?
39. What is the outcome of the story?
The Miller’s Tale (REVIEW YOUR QUESTIONS FROM THIS STORY)
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Why did the carpenter keep such a close eye on his wife?
Why was Nicholas (student) living with the carpenter and his wife?
Why was the carpenter not really worried about Absalom (preacher)?
When the carpenter went to Nicholas’ room, when Nicholas did not come down to eat, what did
he discover that Nicholas was doing?
What disaster did Nicholas say was coming?
What was the carpenter to build to allow himself, his wife and Nicholas to escape the disaster?
For what natural event did Nicholas and Alison (carpenter’s wife) have to wait before they could
carry out their plan to be alone?
When Nicholas and Alison began to get intimate, where was the carpenter?
Who came to Alison’s bedroom window?
What did that person want?
What did Alison allow the person in the question above to kiss?
What did Absalom bring to Alison’s window when he came back for a second time?
Who does Absalom hurt?
What wakes up the carpenter?
What is the outcome/resolution of the story?
Literary Elements:
55. The majority of The Canterbury Tales are written in what poetic form?
56. Describe what iambic pentameter is.
57. What type of irony is found in The Wife of Bath’s Tale?