Characterization in The Canterbury Tales

The pardon-seller's hair was yellow as wax, And sleekly hanging, like a hank of flax. In meagre clusters hung what hair he had; Over his shoulders a few strands were spread, But they lay thin, in rat's tails, one by one. As for a hood, for comfort he wore none, For it was stowed away in his knapsack. Which statement best describes how the pardon-seller is characterized in this excerpt?

He is characterized as a man who has long, thinning hair.

Take a look at this list of Middle English words. Aprille Engelond Trouthe hadde naciouns Take a look at the same words in modern English. April England truth had nations Which statement best compares the Middle English words to the modern English words?

Many of the Middle English words are similar to the modern English words, even though the spellings differ.

Read the excerpt from the General Prolgue to the Canterbury Tales. To any kind of man; he was indeed The very pattern of a noble knight. But as for his appearance and outfit, He had good horses, yet was far from smart. Which is the correct translation of the excerpt into Middle English?

NOT In listes thryes, and ay slayn his foo. This ilke worthy knight had been also Somtyme with the lord of Palatye, Ageyn another hethen in Turkye:

Read the same excerpt from the Middle English version of the General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales. Whan that Aprille with his shoures sote The droghte of Marche hath perced to the rote, And bathed every veyne in swich licour, Of which vertu engendred is the flour; Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breeth Inspired hath in every holt and heeth The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne Hath in the Ram his halfe cours y-ronne Which statement best describes the relationship between the Middle English text and the modern English text?

NOT The English language has changed very little since the time of Chaucer. Consequently, the Middle English version of the text mostly contains words that are used in the modern version as well. NOT The Middle English version contains many words that are no longer in use. It also contains words that are similar, but they are not similar enough to allow modern readers to understand their meanings.

Read the excerpt from the General Prolgue to the Canterbury Tales. Also I beg you to forgive it me If I overlooked all standing and degree As regards the order in which people come Here in this tally, as I set them down: My wits are none too bright, as you can see. Which detail in the excerpt suggests that the narrator may be unreliable?

NOT The narrator suggests that he is exaggerating.

Read the excerpt from the General Prolgue to the Canterbury Tales. In church he made a splendid ecclesiastic. He'd read a lesson, or saint's history, But best of all he sang the offertory: For, knowing well that when that hymn was sung, He'd have to preach and polish smooth his tongue To raise—as only he knew how—the wind, The louder and the merrier he would sing. How does the author characterize the pardon-seller in this excerpt?

NOT by describing what he thinks and feels

Read the excerpt from the General Prolgue to the Canterbury Tales. She had been respectable all her life, And five times married, that's to say in church, Not counting other loves she'd had in youth, Of whom, just now, there is no need to speak. In this excerpt, the narrator may be unreliable because

NOT he is grossly exaggerating.

Read the excerpt from the General Prolgue to the Canterbury Tales. There was also a nun, a prioress, Whose smile was unaffected and demure; Her greatest oath was just, "By St. Eloi!" And she was known as Madame Eglantine. She sang the divine service prettily, And through the nose, becomingly intoned; And she spoke French well and elegantly As she'd been taught it at Stratford-at-Bow, For French of Paris was to her unknown. Good table manners she had learnt as well: She never let a crumb from her mouth fall; She never soiled her fingers, dipping deep Into the sauce; when lifting to her lips Some morsel, she was careful not to spill So much as one small drop upon her breast. Her greatest pleasure was in etiquette. Based on this description of the nun, what conclusion can be drawn about the narrator?

The narrator has great admiration for the nun.

Which factors indicate that a narrator is unreliable? Check all that apply.

The narrator is purposely misleading the audience. The narrator is prone to exaggerating or bragging. The narrator is naive or inexperienced.

Read the excerpt from the General Prolgue to the Canterbury Tales. But with these relics, when he came upon Some poor up-country priest or backwoods parson, In just one day he'd pick up far more money Than any parish priest was like to see In two whole months. With double-talk and tricks He made the people and the priest his dupes. But to speak truth and do the fellow justice, In church he made a splendid ecclesiastic. Which underlined word best characterizes the pardon-seller as a swindler?

double-talk

She had been respectable all her life, And five times married, that's to say in church, Not counting other loves she'd had in youth, Of whom, just now, there is no need to speak. In this excerpt, the narrator may be unreliable because

he is contradicting himself.

Read the excerpt from the General Prolgue to the Canterbury Tales. In the king's service he'd fought valiantly, And travelled far; no man as far as he In Christian and in heathen lands as well, And ever honoured for his ability. In this excerpt, the narrator may be unreliable because

he is exaggerating the truth.

Read the phrase written in Middle English. The holy blisful martir for to seke Which modern English translation of the phrase is accurate?

the holy blessed martyr there to seek

A narrator who makes contradictory statements or voices doubts about his or her ability to retell a story well can be considered .

unreliable

Take a look at this modern English word. villain Which is the correct translation of the modern English word villain into Middle English?

vileinye