Canterbury Tales: Prologue & “Pardoner’s Tale” Quiz
1. Which of the following is NOT revealed in the Host’s speeches in the Prologue?
A. The Pilgrims are traveling on a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Thomas a’ Becket.
B. The Pilgrims are a homogenous lot from the same social class.
C. Two tales must be told by each pilgrim on the way to Canterbury and on the way back.
D. The best tale will be judged according to its moral character and general pleasure.
2. Which character in “The Prologue” does the narrator describe as the one who “Becomes our Governor in short, and be
Judge of our tales and general referee, And set the supper at a certain price”?
A. the Knight
B. the Host
C. the Parson
D. the Prioress
3. “Speaking of his equipment, he possessed
Fine horses, but he was not gaily dressed.
He wore a fustian tunic stained and dark
With smudges where his armor had left mark…”
From the above lines, one can infer that the Knight is:
A. a man who enjoys being noticed for his great deeds and wealth.
B. being criticized for his dress in a subtle manner by the author.
C. modest in his dress and has not changed clothes for the pilgrimage.
D. an effeminate man who is accustomed to excessive refinement.
4. Which of the following is true regarding the description of the Knight?
A. He has fought in many battles and is known the world round.
B. He would like to be honored in the feast at Canterbury.
C. He will pay homage to the gods who aided him in his quest.
D. He is generous to women, God, king, and country.
5. “He loved so hotly that til dawn grew pale/He slept as little as a nightingale.”
In the above lines about the Squire, Chaucer’s attitude can best be described as:
A. passionate
B. amused
C. angry
D. agitated
6. Which of the following qualities of the Squire does Chaucer admire?
A. He is an accomplished jouster and fighter in battles.
B. He can draw and write poetry.
C. He succeeds in battle for his lady’s grace.
D. A and C only
E. All of the above.
7. Choose the best interpretation for the following lines spoken by the Parson:
“If gold rust, what then will iron do?”
A. If leadership is sinful, what can be expected of the common man?
B. If gold tarnishes, wouldn’t other metals be more valuable?
C. If temptation corrupts the best man, isn’t it up to each man to do his best?
D. If the church is corrupt, where will people turn?
Meredith Dobbs ©2014
8. Which of the following is NOT true regarding Chaucer’s description of the Parson?
A. He compares the Parson to a shepherd over his sheep.
B. He admires his proper behavior.
C. He notes the way the Parson remains near his people to keep them from corruption.
D. He comments on how fine and elaborate he keeps his appearance.
9. “She certainly was very entertaining,
Pleasant and friendly in her ways, and straining
To counterfeit a courtly kind of grace,
A stately bearing fitting to her place,
And to seem dignified in all her dealings.”
Which word best identifies Chaucer’s attitude about the Nun Prioress in the lines above?
A. righteous
B. sarcastic
C. vain
D. regal
10. The following characteristics of the Prioress: "tricked in gaudies," "she spoke daintily in French," "Her cloak . . . had a
graceful charm," and "No morsel from her lips did she let fall" reveal Chaucer's assessment of her:
A. dedication to her vows.
B. frustration with the corrupt clergy.
C. high status in the nunnery.
D. obsession with appearances.
11. “It was not fitting with the dignity
Of his position, dealing with a scum
Of wretched lepers; nothing good can come
Of commerce with such slum-and-gutter dwellers.”
In the above lines, the reader can infer that Chaucer finds the Friar to be:
A. playful and merry.
B. cruel and hateful.
C. greedy and manipulative.
D. self-serving and snobby.
12. Chaucer disapproves of the Friar for all of the following traits EXCEPT:
A. The great deal of time he spends in taverns and with city dames.
B. His overindulgence in fine food.
C. His acceptance of silver instead of true repentance by his penitents.
D. His keeping company with only the rich.
E. His ability to keep balanced accounts for the church.
13. Unlike most of the other pilgrims we have studied, the Miller represents which class in Chaucer’s day?
A. ecclesiastical
B. urban
C. feudal
D. rural
14. Which of the following represents all of the Miller’s skills?
A. singing, playing the bagpipes, and dancing
B. wrestling, telling filthy stories, playing the bagpipes, and stealing
C. breaking a door with his head, lifting ironworks, and lying to his customers
D. swearing, flirting with women, and stealing
Meredith Dobbs ©2014
15. The Wife of Bath’s gap teeth, large hips, and scarlet hose all point to her:
A. poor physical appearance and lack of fashion sense.
B. treachery in business dealings.
C. overindulgence in food and clothing.
D. sexual promiscuity.
16. The Pardoner is contemptible for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:
A. He preaches for the sake of making money.
B. He possesses a lovely singing voice that enables him to convince people to give him money.
C. He shows compassion to sinners for the sake of profiting off of them.
D. He passes off fake relics as holy relics for financial gain.
17. The Pardoner’s hypocrisy is indicated in all of the following lines EXCEPT:
A. “His chin no beard had harbored, nor would harbor”
B. “For in his trunk he had a pillow-case/Which he asserted was Our Lady’s veil.”
C. “He said he had a gobbet of the sail/St. Peter had the time when he made bold/To walk the waves, till Jesu Christ
took hold.”
D. “For well he knew that when that song was sung/He’d have to preach and tune his honey-tongue.”
"The Pardoner's Tale"
18. The theme of "The Pardoner's Tale" is:
A. greed is the root of all evil.
B. be prepared for death.
C. greed brings greater happiness.
D. never trust an old man.
19. Which of the following is an example of dramatic irony?
A. The three rioters hear a funeral procession outside the tavern.
B. The three rioters curse Death while sitting in the tavern.
C. The youngest rioter draws the lot that sends him to town for bread and wine.
D. The two rioters drink the poisoned wine believing they have safely disposed
of the third rioter.
20. The old man tells the rioters that Death can be found under a tree. They find a pile of gold coins there. By the end of
the story, we realize the old man:
A. lied to them.
B. had a bad memory due to his age.
C. did not mislead them.
D. stole the coins.
Meredith Dobbs ©2014
Key
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
B
B
C
A
A
E
A
D
C
D
D
E
B
C
D
B
A
A
D
C
Meredith Dobbs ©2014