Prologue to the Canterbury Tales
How many pilgrims were there?
"Some nine and twenty in a company" =29 not counting Chaucer and the Host (General Prologue, Line 25)
How were their lodgings?
"The rooms and stables of the inn were wide; They made us easy, all was of the best." (General Prologue, Lines 28-29)
How many tales were each Pilgrim supposed to tell?
2 on the way there and 2 on the way back
How many husbands did the Wife of Bath have?
5
What luxuries does the prioress possess?
A coral rosary and a gold brooch (Lines 162-164).
What is sergeant at law?
An expert lawyer
Describe the Miller's character.
Rich, dishonest (stealing), argumentative
Why does the Yeoman carry a St. Christopher's medal?
St. Christopher is the patron saint of traveler's - for protection.
What was the prize? Who was the judge?
Supper at the Tabard Inn. The Host is the judge.
Who was the Plowman's brother?
The Parson
Did he behave like a monk? Give examples of why or why not.
He does not behave like a monk because he'd rather hunt than study religion. Also, he likes to eat well and wear expensive clothing.
What is Chaucer describing in the opening lines?
He explains the reason why people make pilgrimages to Canterbury. (Lines 1-20, page 115)
How do we know the parson was a generous man?
He gives to the needy people in his parish.
What was wrong with the cook?
He had an ulcer on his knee.
Who is the host thought to be?
He is believed to be based on a man named Harry Bailly who actually lived in Southwark during Chaucer's time.
What were his plans for the Pilgrims?
He proposes the storytelling competition.
What was the Summoner's duties?
He was a church official who was responsible for summoning the sinners before the ecclesiastical courts.
Why does Chaucer say that the physician does not read the Bible very much?
He was more concerned with reading medical texts.
How was the Parson rich?
He was rich in holy thoughts and work (line 489).
What sport did the monk enjoy?
Hunting (line 170)
Is Chaucer part of the group? How do you know?
We know that Chaucer is part of the group on the pilgrimage because he is the narrator and says in line 32, "I soon was one of them in fellowship."
Does the knight appear to be chivalrous? How do you know?
We know the knight appears to be chivalrous because in lines 44-45 the text says, "Who from the day on which he first began to ride abroad had followed chivalry."
What was the Wife of Bath's skill?
Weaving
Where are they going?
Canterbury (General Prologue, Line 27)
What type of person was she?
Charming, lively, energetic
How does Chaucer's description of the monk's dress show his character?
Chaucer's description of the monk makes him seem corrupt.
Why did they go on pilgrimages instead of traveling alone?
For companionship and protection (Introduction, page 113)
What was his personality like?
Friendly, agreeable, sensible
What qualities did the plowman have?
Hard-working and helped his neighbors
Where does their pilgrimage begin?
In Southwark London at the Tabard Inn (General Prologue, Line 20)
What does the skipper do that Chaucer apparently disapproves of?
In lines 408-410 say that "The nicer rules of conscience he ignored."
Which Pilgrims did Chaucer see as good, honest people?
Knight, Clerk, Parson, Plowman, Host
How did the Plowman live?
LIne 543, "Living in peace and perfect charity..."
How do we know that the Miller is strong?
LInes 562-564, "A great stout big fellow big in brawn and bone. He did well out of them, for he could go and win the ram at any wrestling show." Line 566, "He could heave any door off hinge and post."
What did the Miller do while he played his bagpipes?
Leads the company of pilgrims out of town
What lines indicate that the merchant was boring and unsuccessful?
Line 290, "...none knew he was in debt, he was so stately in negotiation..."
Whom did the plowman love best?
Line 545, "Loving GOD best..."
What rewards did he expect from his work?
Line 551, "For love of Christ and never take a penny..."
How did the Manciple get rich?
Line 589, "He used to watch the market most precisely and go in first so he did quite nicely."
What is his handicap?
Line 592 - He is illiterate.
What kind of boss was the Reeve?
Line 623, " Feared like the plague he was..."
How did they decide who would tell the first tale?
Line 855, "The man who draws the shortest cut shall start."
Is the lawyer good at his profession? What evidence is there?
Lines 326-327 show the lawyer is good at his profession, "His fame and learning and his high position had won him many a robe and many a fee."
Describe the Summoner's intelligence.
Lines 662-663, "But had you tried to test his wits and grope fo more, you'd have found nothing in the bag." (He's dumb.)
Was the Pardoner a real pardoner? How do you know?
No. He only sold indulgences and religious relics to make money and cheat people. He was corrupt.
What was the Franklin's favorite pasttime?
The Franklin's favorite pasttime was socializing, eating and drinking.
What famous character does the Yeoman resemble?
The Yeoman seems to resemble the famous character Robin Hood.
For whom does the friar fix marriages?
The friar fixes marriages for young girls whom he has seduced. (lines 216-217)
What did the friar receive for forgiving sins?
The friar received "a gift" (line 225) for hearing confession. Probably a gift of money.
What was the friar's greatest talent?
The friar's greatest talent was singing.
What trades are represented by the guildsmen?
The guildsmen were the Haberdasher, Dyer, Carpenter, Weaver, and Carpet-Maker.
Who is the knight's son?
The knight's son is the squire (line 80).
Compare the parson to the friar.
The parson was generous and helped the needy while the friar was well-off and helped himself.
Was the physician a devoted healer? Why or why not?
The physician was a devoted healer because he knew every disease as well as the cause of it.
How does the squire's appearance differ from his father's?
The squire's appearance differs from his father's because he was dressed fancier than his more old-fashioned father. Line 76 says the knight was "not gaily dressed," while lines 91-92 say the squire was "embroidered like a meadow bright and full of freshest flowers, red and white..."
What is the squire's weakness?
The squire's weakness is romancing the ladies (lines 90, 99-100).
What is the student's main interest?
The student's main interest is the study of logic (lines 295-296)
What do the wives of the guildsmen want them to be and why?
Their wives wanted them to be aldermen so they could be called "Madam" and have their dresstails carried like queens.
How did the Pardoner and the Summoner work together?
They rode and sang together to try to swindle more money out of naive people.
Explain the line: "But was less busy than he seemed to be..."
This line he was busy, but not as busy as he pretended to be.
