The Merchant context

Question 1

What is fabilau?

Answer 1

Comically grotesque stories

Question 2

What courts did Chaucer spend time in?

Answer 2

Edward III and Richard II

Question 3

Why was chivalry especially valued during Chaucer’s time?

Answer 3

During Hundred Years War

Question 4

How long does may stay in her room after the marriage for and what does this symbolise?

Answer 4

4 days= 4 months between January and May

Question 5

Where does the name Damian come from?

Answer 5

Demon in bible

Means tame or subdued in French/ Greek

Question 6

Which biblical women does January praise?

Answer 6

Esther, Judith, Rebecca and Abigail

Question 7

What did Rebecca do in the bible?

Answer 7

Deceived her blind husband to further her sons interests

Question 8

How does Venus parallel may and January?

Answer 8

Venus betrayed her unattractive, crippled husband and took Mars as her lover

Question 9

What was Chaucer’s pear tree influenced by?

Answer 9

Bocaccio’s ‘Decameron’

Question 10

What was Chaucer’s garden influenced by?

Answer 10

Garden of Eden and the Roman de la rose

Question 11

Where else is the pear seen as sexual imagery?

Answer 11

Romeo and Juliet

Question 12

Who’s Pluto?

Answer 12

King of the underworld, takes possession of Proserpina as his wife

Question 13

January stock-character

Answer 13

senex amans

Question 14

May stock-character

Answer 14

Mal maries

Question 15

social order fixed by God

Answer 15

‘Great Chain of Being’

Question 16

Social mobility

Answer 16

increased in 14th century england after 1/3 population died in the black death. Chaucer benefitted by marrying Philippa Payne