The Canterbury Tales/ Chaucer

Question 1

When did Chaucer die?

Answer 1

1400

Question 2

We know Chaucer as a poet, astronomer, philosopher, etc, but in what role did Chaucer generally earn money and live?

Answer 2

Comptroller of Customs/Royal Pensions

Question 3

What was the name of the Wife of Bath?

Answer 3

Alice

Question 4

Name the two knights in The Knight’s Tale.

Answer 4

Arcite and Palamon

Question 5

Of the above knights, who wins the tourney and who marries Emily?

Answer 5

Arcite wins the tourney, Palamon marries Emily due to Arcite’s death caused by the wounds he sustained in the tourney.

Question 6

What chases Chanticleer? How does he get away?

Answer 6

A fox. He tricks the fox into boasting; as a result, the fox lets him loose from his mouth and Chanticleer flies up into a tree.

Question 7

What does the knight learn that women most desire?

Answer 7

Complete control over their lives and husbands

Question 8

What is the nature of the rivalry between the Friar and the Summoner?

Answer 8

Due to their occupations, they are both competing for the money of people– utilizing religious insecurities to be successful in doing so.

Question 9

How do Nicholas and Alison trick her husband?

Answer 9

By telling him a second great flood will occur soon and they need to hide in tubs hanging from the ceiling.

Question 10

How many pilgrims are there, total, in the party, and where are they going?

Answer 10

Including Chaucer, there are 30 pilgrims. They are going to the shrine of St. Thomas Beckett in Canterbury.

Question 11

What is a fabilau?

Answer 11

A story that is obscene and scatological

Question 12

What is an allegorical/literary confession?

Answer 12

Exemplify sin, confession

Question 13

Ex. of misogyny (sexism) in one of the stories.

Answer 13

The Wife of Bath’s whole story: says that what women “really want” is complete control– basically making women seem like tyrants.

Question 14

Is the Wife of Bath a feminist character? Yes or no? Why or why not?

Answer 14

Yes: stands up for women’s freedoms. No: she is made by the author to be a tyrannical example of feminists.

Question 15

9 steps of courtly love:

Answer 15

1. Attraction via the eyes/glance
2. Worship from afar
3. Declaration of passionate devotion
4. Virtuous rejection
5. Renewed wooing
6. Lovesickness unto death
7. Heroic deeds to win the lady’s heart
8. Consummation of secret love
9. Endless adventures to avoid detection