Canterbury Tales

Question 1

What qualities does the knight posses?

Answer 1

truth, honor, generousness, courtesy, sovereign, modest, wise

Question 2

In what places has the knight fought

Answer 2

Prussia, Lithuania, Russia, Granada, Algeciras, North Africa, Benamarin, Antolia, Ayas

Question 3

What is Chaucer’s opinion of the knight?

Answer 3

He thinks he’s true to his word and very noble. Gentle and a great knight

Question 4

Chaucer says the knight has “fine horses.” why are fine horses important for a knight?

Answer 4

Appearance-to make enemies afraid. Have to have a good horse to go into battle.

Question 5

Describe the Knight’s physical appearance

Answer 5

Not dress in nice shiny armor, modest, tunic was stained dark with smudges

Question 6

Why is the knight going on the pilgrimage

Answer 6

to render thanks

Question 7

Who rides with the knight

Answer 7

his son, the squire

Question 8

Is the knight a yes or no?

Answer 8

yes

Question 9

A stone is an English measurement equal to 14 pounds. Describe the millers physical appearance

Answer 9

He’s heavy-224 pounds, broad, short shouldered, wart on his nose, hunchback, beard

Question 10

what is a miller’s job

Answer 10

a person who owns or works in a grain mill

Question 11

How well does the miller do his job? explain.

Answer 11

not good, he does not do what he’s supposed to do. He steals grain

Question 12

What instrument does the miller play

Answer 12

bagpipes

Question 13

Where does the miller ride in the procession to Canterbury?

Answer 13

the front

Question 14

What is the significance that the miller’s description is mostly physical?

Answer 14

His appearance probably stood out to Chaucer

Question 15

Is the miller a yes or no?

Answer 15

no

Question 16

What is a reeve’s job

Answer 16

serf who was the steward of a manor. A reeve saw that the estate’s work was done and that everything was accounted for

Question 17

Describe the reeve’s physical appearance

Answer 17

old, choleric, thin, nicely shaven, coat tucked under belt, short

Question 18

how good is the reeve at his job

Answer 18

he’s pretty good, he knows how to keep things up, he is never behind schedule

Question 19

what is the reeves financial status

Answer 19

not in debt so he has quite a bit of money

Question 20

what is the reeves special skill

Answer 20

carpenter

Question 21

describe the reeves horse

Answer 21

stocky male, slow trot, dapple-gray, named Scot

Question 22

where does the reeve live

Answer 22

Norfolk, near Baldswell

Question 23

where does the reeve travel in the procession?

Answer 23

last

Question 24

is the reeve a yes or a no

Answer 24

yes

Question 25

Describe the wife of baths physical appearance

Answer 25

somewhat deaf, nice, red shoes, gap between her teeth (sign of sexual experience)

Question 26

what is the wife of baths job and where is her home

Answer 26

weaver near Bath

Question 27

what is the wife of bath's personality like

Answer 27

she is strict but she can be funny. she’s had 5 husbands.

Question 28

what doe the red stockings and the red hue of the wife of baths skin suggest about her

Answer 28

she’s very angry and a worry-wart

Question 29

who else among the pilgrims has traveled as much as the wife of bath

Answer 29

Knight

Question 30

why is it appropriate that the wife of bath is riding an ambling horse/

Answer 30

she doesn’t need to be first

Question 31

is the wife of bath a yes or no

Answer 31

Maybe. Yes b/c she's a good weaver but no b/c she's flirty

Question 32

What is the parsons job

Answer 32

priest

Question 33

what qualities of the parson does Chaucer point out

Answer 33

poor but he is rich in his mind, patient, holy, and kind

Question 34

who are the parsons sheep

Answer 34

his congregation

Question 35

explain from the parson "if gold rust, what then will iron do?"

Answer 35

The gold is representing the Priest and the iron is his people. This means if the Priest fails, or if he does not set a good example, what will his people do?

Question 36

the parsons entire life is devoted to what

Answer 36

guarding and teaching his people

Question 37

what is chaucers opinion of the parson

Answer 37

He doesn’t think that there is a better priest than him

Question 38

how does the parson compare with the friar and the monk

Answer 38

He is actually true to himself. He’s not caught up in money and he loves his people

Question 39

is the parson a yes or a no

Answer 39

yes

Question 40

what is the pardoner's job

Answer 40

minor member of the Church who bought and sold pardons for sinners

Question 41

what is the significance of the summoner riding with the pardoner

Answer 41

they are both corrupt and bad people

Question 42

describe the pardoners physical appearance

Answer 42

yellow hair, glaring eyes, no beard, carried his bag, high pitched voice, feminine

Question 43

chaucer characterizes the pardoner as being effeminate. what details does he give to develop this

Answer 43

neutered and close-cut beard

Question 44

what kinds of relics does the pardoner carry

Answer 44

Veil of Our Lady, he has a piece of the sail from the ship of St. Peter, metal cross, and he also has pig bones

Question 45

What is prevarication

Answer 45

lying

Question 46

why is the pardoner so successful in selling his relics

Answer 46

flattering people and tricks

Question 47

how goes the pardoner behave in church

Answer 47

really good

Question 48

why does the pardoner try to sing so well

Answer 48

he knows if he sings good he can get more people to buy his stuff

Question 49

compare the pardoner to the monk and friar

Answer 49

they are all 3 interested in money

Question 50

is the pardoner a yes or no

Answer 50

No

Question 51

What is a prioress

Answer 51

head of a convent of nuns

Question 52

what are the qualities/images we usually associate with a nun

Answer 52

conservative, plain, keep to religion, wear black and white

Question 53

authors often use names to help develop a character. chaucer calls the nun "madam eglantyne" what quality does the name suggest?

Answer 53

It suggests that she got around a lot with the men

Question 54

what is the demeanor of the nun

Answer 54

spoke dainty in French, good manners, pleasant and friendly

Question 55

what does the nun counterfeit or pretend she has

Answer 55

counterfeits her grace to be noticed by men to court her

Question 56

how does the nun feel about animals

Answer 56

she loved them, she would cry if they got hurt or died

Question 57

describe the nuns physical appearance

Answer 57

small and soft and red mouth, eyes are grey, nose was elegant

Question 58

what does the nuns pin say? why does this seem unusual for a nun?

Answer 58

“Love conquers all” it’s odd because nuns didn’t wear jewelry or embellishments

Question 59

does chaucer like the nun or not

Answer 59

Yes, he describes her appearance greatly. He paid a lot more attention to her appearance.

Question 60

who travels with the nun

Answer 60

monk

Question 61

is the nun a yes or a no

Answer 61

no

Question 62

What are the qualities/images we usually associate with a monk

Answer 62

bald, meditation, barefoot, religious

Question 63

what does the monk enjoy most in life

Answer 63

hunting

Question 64

what does chaucer say about the monk's horse? why would this be unusual for a monk

Answer 64

He had many dainty horses-it’s odd for them to have possessions

Question 65

how do the monk's beliefs about the monastic life differ with the church's beliefs

Answer 65

He took the modern way and monks are supposed to follow traditional rules of the church and not be modern. Monks are supposed to be secluded from the outside world but he is not.

Question 66

chaucer says he agreed with the monks views about the monastic life and he says they were sound. What evidence is there that he probably doesn't really agree? So why did he say he agreed with the monk ass he was speaking with him?

Answer 66

He says it was out of his cloister, but he agrees just to not make him mad because he’s traveling with him.

Question 67

Describe the monk's physical appearance

Answer 67

He is manly, sleeves garnished in fur, he had a bald head that shone like a looking-glass, fat, prominent eyeballs

Question 68

what is a palfrey

Answer 68

horse

Question 69

what type of personality do you think the monk might exhibit?

Answer 69

I think he would probably be snobby and cocky. Since he doesn’t follow the monk-ways he might think he is too good for it.

Question 70

is the monk a yes or an no

Answer 70

no

Question 71

How does the friar's life differ from a monk's

Answer 71

He loves the women and sex

Question 72

the friar is called a limiter. what is his job

Answer 72

He begs and preaches in an assigned district

Question 73

what extra duties does the friar perform. how good is he. what is his goal

Answer 73

He hears confessions if people pay him for it. His goal is to earn money

Question 74

how does the friar make a decent living

Answer 74

He gets money for penance and people like him

Question 75

with what types of people does the friar like to spend his time

Answer 75

rich people who will give him money

Question 76

what is the friars attitude toward the poor

Answer 76

He won’t associate with the poor because he can’t get money from them

Question 77

describe the friars physical appearance

Answer 77

really pale and strong

Question 78

describe the friars personality

Answer 78

pleasant, jolly, sly

Question 79

what is the friars name

Answer 79

Hubert

Question 80

through his description of the monk and the friar, what is chaucer trying to do

Answer 80

He’s trying to show the difference between the two characters and maybe set them off as FOILs?

Question 81

is the friar a yes or an no

Answer 81

no