The Canterbury Tales Study Guide
The Prologue:
1. What season is described in the opening passage of The Canterbury Tales?
2. Where especially do English people want to go? Why do they want to go there?
3. How many pilgrims does the narrator claim he meets at the Tabard Inn?
THE WIFE OF BATH
4. What physical disability does the Wife of Bath have?
5. What does the Wife of Bath wear on her head? How much does this weigh?
6. What color are her stockings?
7. How many husbands has she had?
8. What are two ways of interpreting that line about "not counting other company in youth"?
9. How many times had the Wife of Bath journeyed to Jerusalem? What other places has she traveled to?
10. What do these wide travels suggest about her as a character?
11. What are the Wife of Bath's teeth like?
12. When we hear that, "For of that art she'd learned the old, old dance," what is this old dance the speaker is
referring to, given the context of her knowledge in the previous lines?
THE MILLER (ROBIN)
13. What's the Miller like in terms of physical build?
14. The Miller has an unusual party-trick. What technique does he use to remove a door from its hinges?
15. What color is his hair or beard?
16. To what animals does the narrator compare this hair color?
17. What's unusual or disturbing about the Miller's nose?
18. We find out the Miller is good at jesting and "poetizing," but what's the only thing he writes/composes
poetry about?
19. What does it mean when the speaker says the Miller had a "gold thumb?"
20. What unusual musical instrument does the Miller play?
THE PARDONER
21. What is a pardoner?
22. What is a pardon or indulgence?
23. What is the Pardoner's hair like?
24. What documents are stuffed full into the Pardoner's wallet?
25. What does the Pardoner claim about the pillow-case he carries?
26. What does the Pardoner claim about his bottle filled with pig bones?
27. What other fake relics does the Pardoner carry to sell?
Name _________________________________________ Period _____________
The Pardoner’s Tale
1. What is the Pardoner’s purpose? What is he supposed to do?
2. What is ironic about how the Pardoner gets people to repent from the sin of avarice?
3. What bargain or agreement did the rioters make at the tavern?
4. They met an old man as they began their journey. What was the old man’s problem?
5. Where does the old man send the rioters?
6. What did they find where the old man sent them?
7. Why did they have to bring the treasure home at night?
8. Why was one youth sent to town?
9. What plan did the two other youths make to kill the one when he returned from town?
10. What plan did the one who went to town make to kill the two others when he got back?
11. Who died? How did it happen?
The Wife of Bath’s Tale
1. What did the knight do to warrant the punishment of beheading?
2. Who saved the knight, and under what condition was he let go?
3. What deal did he make on his way home after the year was almost ended?
4. What was the answer to the Queen’s question?
5. What was the purpose of the tale about King Midas?
6. What did the old woman ask of the knight in return for saving his life?
7. The knight kept his word, but he was miserable. What options did the old woman give him?
8. What did the knight choose?
9. Why did the old woman promise him both beauty and fidelity?
The Miller’s Tale
1. What is Nicholas’ plan in order to outsmart John the Carpenter?
2. What is Nicholas’ motive for tricking John?
3. Describe Absalom’s first attempt to share his affections with Alison:
3a. What was Alison’s reaction?
3b. What was Nicholas’ reaction?
3c. What cruel trick did Alison and Nicholas play on Absalom?
3d. How did he react?
4. Describe Absalom’s second attempt to share his affections with Alison:
4a. What was Alison’s reaction?
4b. What was Nicholas’ reaction?
4c. What cruel trick did Alison and Nicholas play on Absalom?
4d. How did he react?
5. What happens at the very end of the story?
6. Who becomes the “butt” of the joke?
7. What does this symbolize about John’s choice to believe in Nicholas’ prophecy?
8. Complete the Love Triangle below. Write the name of the character on the line provided. In the space
below, discuss the relationship that each character has to one another, as well as provide at least three adjectives
to describe that character.
_______________
Love Interest
_______________
Astrologer
_______________
Carpenter
_______________
Church Clerk