The Canterbury Tales
The General Prologue
STUDY GUIDE
What time of year is it?
1. Define: Zephyr
2. Define: palmers
3. Why do the pilgrims go to Canterbury?
4. What is the number of pilgrims traveling to Canterbury?
5. Identify Southwark
6. Identify: Tabard Inn
7. Who is the ‘holy blessed martyr’?
8. What kind of life did the Knight lead? Be specific.
9. How many mortal battles has the Knight participated?
10. Where has he participated in battles?
11. How old was the Squire?
12. Where did the Squire ride when he was with the cavalry?
13. What are some of the interests of the Squire?
14. What is the Yeoman’s role?
15. Why is it unusual that the Prioress swears “By Saint Loy!”?
16. How does the Prioress feel about little animals?
17. How does the Prioress feel about people? Why is this significant?
18. What does “Amor vincit Omnia” mean?
19. What is the name of the Prioress?
20. What was unusual about the Monk’s clothing?
21. Who is Austin?
22. Why is it significant that the Monk owned greyhounds?
23. What are some of the pastimes or hobbies of the Monk? What does this say
about his character?
24. What is a Limiter? Explain.
25. How did the Friar feel about lepers? What does this tell you about him?
26. Why is it significant that the Friar was well-like by franklins and worthy women of
the town?
27. How does the Friar treat widows?
28. Who is Hubert?
29. What secret does the Merchant have?
30. What does the Oxford Cleric own that is very important to him?
31. Why is the Oxford Cleric and his horse so thin?
32. What is a sergeant-at-law?
33. What kind of man is Chaucer’s Sergeant-at-Law?
34. What is the greatest source of pleasure for the Franklin? (What does he love
doing for people all the time?)
35. Name the guildsmen.
36. What is a guild?
37. Who hires the Cook and brings him on the pilgrimage?
38. What was the Cook’s specialty? Why was this disgusting?
39. What did the Skipper do to the prisoners he captured at sea?
40. What was the name of the Skipper’s ship?
41. How does the doctor feel about gold? What does this tell you about him?
42. How is the Wife of Bath different from the other pilgrims
regarding
pilgrimages?
43. Which pilgrim has been to Jerusalem three times?
44. How many husbands has the Wife of Bath had?
45. What is physically wrong with the Wife of Bath?
46. Describe the Parson. How is he different from the other ‘religious’ pilgrims?
47. Explain” “That, if gold rust, what shall poor iron do?”
48. What is a tithe?
49. Why doesn’t the Parson have much money?
50. What kind of man is the Plowman?
51. What did the Plowman think about tithing?
52. Who is a relative of the Plowman?
53. Describe the Miller’s physical appearance.
54. How does the Miller behave at work?
55. What type of stories does the Miller enjoy telling? What does this tell you about
his character?
56. What kind of instrument does the Miller play?
57. What is a Manciple?
58. How is the Manciple ‘street smart’?
59. What is significant about the position on line where the Reeve chooses to travel
with the other pilgrims?
60. What is the definition of a reeve?
61. How is Chaucer’s Reeve different?
62. Describe the relationship between Chaucer’s Miller and Reeve.
63. Who is Scot?
64. When was the only time the Summoner spoke Latin?
65. Describe the Summoner.
66. What was the role of a summoner in the Middle Ages?
67. Explain: “Questio quid juris”
68. Describe the Pardoner.
69. What does a pardoner do?
70. Who is the Pardoner’s friend?
71. What are three of the Pardoner’s relics?
72. When was the only time when the pardoner preached a sermon?
73. Why does the narrator ask for the reader’s forgiveness?
74. Describe the Host. What kind of person was he?
75. What does the Host propose to the pilgrims?
76. What will the winner receive? Be specific.
77. Who will judge the tales?
78. What is “Saint Thomas’ watering place?”
79. How do the pilgrims determine who will tell the first tale?
80. Which pilgrim is to tell the first tale?