Chaucer Study Guide
Name: _______________________________
1.
What do we learn about Chaucer’s writing by studying each character in the
Prologue?
2.
What is the premise under which Chaucer writing the story?
3.
Other than just telling a story, what is Chaucer taking an opportunity to do by
writing such vivid descriptions of the travelers?
4.
Other than just great poetry, why is reading Chaucer important?
5.
What was Chaucer’s social status? How did this hinder him in writing the
“Tales”?
6.
Who was St. Thomas a’ Beckett?
7.
What important position did Chaucer hold?
8.
What is the purpose of the Prologue?
9.
What happened the brought about the death of Beckett?
10.
What was the result of Beckett’s death?
11.
Describe the effects of the Black Death.
12.
Where were the Pilgrims going and why?
13.
Where was the journey to begin?
14.
What was the humorous trait of the Prioress?
15.
What was the memorable feature of the Cook?
16.
Which character “paid his tithes when due”? Tell more about him.
17.
How was the Black Plague spread and how did the conditions of the times aid in
its spread?
18.
Why was taking a trip like this pilgrimage dangerous?
19.
Describe the “gap-toothed” character in detail?
20.
When are they taking the pilgrimage?
21.
What truly distinguishes the Knight from many others of his class?
22.
The Prioress holds what position in the church?
23.
What is the Monk’s real passion in life?
2
24.
Describe the Merchant’s secret.
25.
What was a Guild at this time?
26.
Give reasons that one might not expect the Doctor to be participating in a
pilgrimage?
27.
What was a Franklin?
28.
What about the Franklin tells his character?
29.
In brief, give a profile of the Wife of Bath.
30.
How does the Parson compare to the rest of the clergy we meet in this story?
31.
How do we describe the Plowman and to whom is he related?
32.
What is the Miller’s “Golden Thumb”?
33.
How big a man is the Miller?
34.
Who and why does Chaucer describe as “a gelding or a mare”?
35.
What is the bet and what is the prize for the winner?
36.
Describe the Cleric.
37.
What do we learn about the seamanship of the Skipper?
3
38.
Why do the workers fear the Reeve?
39.
How does the Manciple make himself rich?
40.
What was the distinguishing feature of the Summoner and what did the people
believe was its cause?
41.
What did the Summoner do to make him seem more important?
42.
What would we call the Yeoman?
43.
What was the dubious talent of the Cook?
44.
Who “taught morals by being moral”?
45.
What about the Knight tells us he was not an arrogant man?
46.
What was the Summoner’s job?
47.
What is the sin the Pardoner admits he preaches against in order to earn his
living?
48.
Who was to be the judge of the bet?
49.
What was the worst fault of the Pardoner?
50.
Which character made his victims walk the plank?
4