Characterization in The Canterbury Tales

Read the excerpt from the General Prolgue to the Canterbury Tales. Her headkerchiefs were of the finest weave, Ten pounds and more they weighed, I do believe, Those that she wore on Sundays on her head. Her stockings were of the finest scarlet red, Very tightly laced; shoes pliable and new. Bold was her face, and handsome; florid too. Which details suggest that the narrator may be unreliable?

"Ten pounds and more they weighed, I do believe"

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 statement best describes the narrator in this excerpt?

The narrator is hindered in his ability to accurately retell the stories as they are shared with him. He is an unreliable narrator.

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

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

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?

by describing what he says and does

Read the excerpt from the General Prolgue to 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.

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

In al his lyf, un-to no maner wight. He was a verray parfit gentil knight. But for to tellen yow of his array, His hors were gode, but he was nat gay.

Read the excerpt from the General Prolgue to the Canterbury Tales. When the sweet showers of April have pierced The drought of March, and pierced it to the root, And every vein is bathed in that moisture Whose quickening force will engender the flower; And when the west wind too with its sweet breath Has given life in every wood and field To tender shoots, and when the stripling sun Has run his half-course in Aries, the Ram 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?

Though the Middle English version contains many words that are no longer in use, it also contains words that are the same or similar enough to allow a modern reader to understand their meaning.

Read the excerpt from the General Prolgue to the Canterbury Tales. She was so full of charity and pity That if she saw a mouse caught in a trap, And it was dead or bleeding, she would weep. She kept some little dogs, and these she fed On roast meat, or on milk and fine white bread. But how she'd weep if one of them were dead, Or if somebody took a stick to it! She was all sensitivity and tender heart. Her veil was pleated most becomingly; Her nose well-shaped; eyes blue-grey, of great beauty; And her mouth tender, very small, and red. And there's no doubt she had a fine forehead, Almost a span in breadth, I'd swear it was, For certainly she was not undersized. How is the nun characterized in this excerpt?

as charitable and beautiful

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