The Canterbury Tales: The Pilgrims

Question 1

What does Chaucer say about his cooking ability?

Answer 1

He had sharp flavoring-powder and a spice for savor. He could distinguish London ale by flavor and could roast and seethe and broil and fry

Question 2

What is the Cook’s most distinguish feature?

Answer 2

He has an ulcer on his knee

Question 3

What are four distinguishing physical features that Chaucer mentions about the Wife of Bath?

Answer 3

She’s somewhat death, she had gap-teeth, her face was bold, handsome, and red in bone, and she had large hips

Question 4

What is the Wife of Bath’s profession?

Answer 4

She makes cloth

Question 5

How is the Wife of Bath dressed?

Answer 5

Her hose were of the finest scarlet red and kerchiefs were of finely woven ground. She wore a piece of fabric on her head and her shoes were soft and new

Question 6

How many times has the Wife of Bath been married?

Answer 6

5

Question 7

What city has the Wife of Bath visited 3 times?

Answer 7

Jerusalem

Question 8

What does the Parson truly know?

Answer 8

Christ’s gospel

Question 9

What does the Parson dislike?

Answer 9

Cursing to extort a fee

Question 10

What does the Parson use most of his money for?

Answer 10

To give to poor parishioners

Question 11

What does the Parson neglect?

Answer 11

To pay a call on the remotest whether great or small

Question 12

What does Chaucer compare the Parson

Answer 12

A shepherd

Question 13

How does Chaucer feel about the Parson?

Answer 13

He respects him, he likes him, and you can trust this Parson. There was never a better priest but him

Question 14

What is the Parson and Plowman?

Answer 14

Brothers in Christ

Question 15

What 2 characters Chaucer respects the most?

Answer 15

Parson and Plowman

Question 16

What does Chaucer say about the Plowman in lines 542-543?

Answer 16

The gospel bade him and he loved God the best with all his heart and mind

Question 17

How does the Plowman exemplify the great commandments found in Luke 10:27

Answer 17

He helped the poor for the love of Christ

Question 18

When he helped the poor, what would the Plowman not do?

Answer 18

He never took a penny; he never charged them

Question 19

What did the Plowman pay when it was due?

Answer 19

His tithes on what he owned and on his earnings too

Question 20

How does Chaucer feel about the Plowman?

Answer 20

He was an honest worker, good, and true

Question 21

How much does the Miller weigh?

Answer 21

224 pounds; 16 stones

Question 22

What does the Miller look like?

Answer 22

His beard was like any sow or fox and it was red and broad. He had a red wart on his nose that had a tuft of hair.

Question 23

How strong is the Miller?

Answer 23

Very strong. He could heave any door off hinge and port. He is also a wrestler

Question 24

What is the Miller a master-hand at doing?

Answer 24

Stealing grain

Question 25

What is the Miller’s clothing like?

Answer 25

He wore a blue hood and a white coat

Question 26

What musical instrument does the Miller play?

Answer 26

The bagpipes

Question 27

Who led the group of Pilgrims from England to Canterbury to pipe them out?

Answer 27

The Miller

Question 28

What class is the Summoner part of?

Answer 28

Ecclesiastical class

Question 29

What is a Summoner?

Answer 29

a church official who delivers summonses for people to answer charges in a church court

Question 30

What two people does Chaucer use to severely criticize corruptions in the church?

Answer 30

The Summoner and Pardoner

Question 31

What does the Summoner look like?

Answer 31

He had carbuncles, his eyes were narrow. He had black scably brows and a thin beard. His face was on fire ( red)

Question 32

What language does the Summoner speak when he is drunk?

Answer 32

Latin

Question 33

How well according to Chaucer, does the Summoner speak this language?

Answer 33

Not very well. He only had 2 or 3 quotations memorized and Chaucer compares him to a jay

Question 34

What does the Summoner do that Chaucer criticizes him for?

Answer 34

He would bribe people to make their court summoners disappeared and he would bribe people who didn’t want charges appointed Ex: cheating

Question 35

What does Chaucer say about the Pardoner’s physical appearance?

Answer 35

His hair was yellow as wax, he had locks. His chin had no beard, he had bulging eyeballs, and his head was bare

Question 36

What does bulging eyeballs mean?

Answer 36

Lie, cheat, and steal

Question 37

What does the Pardoner have in his wallet?

Answer 37

Pardoners

Question 38

What three holy relics does the Pardoner claim to have?

Answer 38

Veil of Virgin Mary, gobbet of the sail of St.Peter, and a glass of a rubble pigs’ bones

Question 39

Why did the Pardoner sing in an offertory so well?

Answer 39

Because he will have to speak and tune his honey-tongue and win silver from the crowd

Question 40

How does Chaucer feel about the Pardoner?

Answer 40

He has no respect for him

Question 41

Who is the Host?

Answer 41

He is the owner of the Tabard Inn

Question 42

What does the Host look like?

Answer 42

His eyes were bright, his girth was a little wide. He was a very striking man and fit to be a marshall in a hall and he was a merry-hearted man. His speech was bold

Question 43

What compliment does the Host give to the pilgrims?

Answer 43

He’s never seen a gathering that looked so spry

Question 44

What does the Host propose the pilgrims do to entertain themselves on their trip?

Answer 44

To tell two stories

Question 45

Why does the Host go on the trip?

Answer 45

To serve as a guide and to be the judge on who told the best story