Test Questions Flashcards
Which ‘social classes’ are represented in the Canterbury Tales? Provide one example from the GP for each of them.
- Nobility (the Knight)
- Clergy (The Prioress)
- Middle class (The Wife of Bath)
- Working class (Ploughman)
How many voices are speaking in the Canterbury Tales?
24 voices
Which medieval literary genre influences the description of the pilgrims in the GP? Give an example on the Friar.
Estates Satire. This genre categorises society into different “estates” or social classes and satirises their characteristics and behaviours.
An example is the Friar, who, despite his religious role , is depicted as corrupt and materialistic, which is a satirical commentary on the clergy of that time.
Explain the difference between regular and secular clergy.
Regular clergy refers to members of religious orders who live in monasteries and follow a strict rule (St. Benedict vows). Both monks and friars maintained houses at universities, but friars more so.
Secular clergy had actual jobs in the church, such as popes, bishops, parishes and priests. They were allowed to go outside of church, went out to spread religion (live off charity = begging orders).
Which are the four bodily humours and the corresponding ‘complexions’. Give an example.
- Blood (Sanguine): cheerful, sociable
- Phlegm (Phlegmatic): calm, unemotional
- Yellow Bile (Choleric): energetic, irritable
- Black Bile (Melancholic): depressed, introverted
The description of the Wife of Bath as having a “gap-toothed” smile and a red face reflects Sanguine. This humour is associated with a lively and outgoing personality.
Why does the tale order differ in various manuscripts?
Chaucer’s work wasn’t published in a standardised form during his lifetime. Scribes and editors made their own decisions about the arrangement of the tales.
What is the difference between exemplum and allegory in medieval literature?
An exemplum is a short narrative used to illustrate a moral or religious lesson.
An allegory is a more extended narrative in which characters and events represent abstract qualities or ideas. Unlike exempla, allegories require more interrogation to uncover symbolic meanings.
What is meant by ‘Scholasticism’? In which tale are scholastic methods applied by the speaker and for what purpose?
Scholasticism was a medieval philosophical system to reconcile faith and reason. It helps understand religious and philosophical ideas.
The character of the Parson used scholastic methods in his teachings, applying this to religious teachers to guide his congregation.
Iambic pentameter
10 syllables
End-rhyme
One stressed, one not
Why does Chaucer address an apology to the reader in the General Prologue? And what are some examples?
Because he needs to tell things how they actually happened, despite that this might be unpleasant or inappropriate.
Examples of this are
1. Direct language and obscene scene
2. Untraditional representation of characters symbolising the estates
Explain linguistics ‘variation’ in Chaucer’s time
Refers to coexistence of different spellings in the London variant of Chaucer’s time. The London dialect was influenced by speech patterns, morphology and phonology from other dialects (because of massive immigration).
- Aperill and Aprill
- Wyf and wyfe
Which qualifies should courtly love show in literature?
- Disciplined
- Its power should elevate to worship
- Formative, educational for society
- From male perspective
Which 3 parts does the soul have according to Anglicus?
- Reason (rational)
- Sensible (sensible soul; react to things)
- Passion (vegetable soul; nutrition, growth, appetite)
Which words from England came from French?
- Pork
- Beef
- Venison
Yellow Bile (temperament; element; characterises, example)
Temperament: choleric
Element: fire (hot and dry)
Characteristics: lean, tall, good memory, nervous, easily angered, vindictive, lecherous.
Example: Absolon
- Lecherous
- Good memory
- Easily angered and vindictive
- Imitates people
