Canterbury Tales Review

What does the knight find on his quest?

An old woman to answer his question but he has to marry her.

What technique does Chaucer use to reveal his characters?

Direct characterization/description

What question does the old woman ask the knight after they are married?

Do you want me to be young and faithless or old and faithful?

What is the setting of the Wife of Bath's Tale?

England in the time of King Arthur

In "The Wife of Bath's Tale," what does the knight do after hearing the queen's question and leaving her presence?

He searches all over and asks every woman he finds for the answer.

In "The Pardoner's Tale" the three rioters are sure that they can destroy Death, and yet they fail to see that they are falling into his trap. This is an example of

Irony

What is the moral of "The Wife of Bath's Tale"?

It is best for husbands and wives when women rule the marriage.

The Canterbury Tales were first written in... (language)

Middle English

What is the irony in the Pardoner's preaching?

Pardoner often preaches how money is the root of all evil, but in-turn sells pardons (not practicing what he preaches).

Which two characters were most admired, what class were they from?

Parson from the clergy and Knight from the nobility.

What tone does Chaucer's use to characterize the prioress, the Monk, and others connected with the Church?

Satirical tone (irony/mocking)

How would you describe the narrator in the Prologue?

Stern and judgemental

Another name for the middle ages?

The Dark Ages / Medieval Period

What question does the queen ask the knight in "The Wife of Bath's Tale"?

What do all woman want more than anything?

What is a frame story?

a story within a story

Knight

genteel man who loved truth, freedom, chivalry and honor, a truly distinguished man battled Christians and non-Christians, (Crusades), his fighting spanned 40 years over three groups of people, over 15 battles, always victorious, plain and honest, going to thank the saints for preserving his life through his battles, MOST prominent and respected character of the tales.

Friar

jolly, merry, very festive but notoriously evil and cunning, married off girls after he had gotten them into trouble, he charged people to hear their confessions, the more you paid the more "repentant you were" white neck = loose or immoral person, He knew all the taverns, innkeepers and barmaids (not the sick and needy), He even begged off of poor widows who had next to nothing, dressed with expensive fabrics, overweight.

Monk

loved hunting, fine foods and had several good hunting dogs that he was very proud of dressed in fine clothes, some even trimmed in fur, rather fat, very jolly, and bald headed, favorite food was roasted swan, he tended to ignore the rules of the monastery, everything he does is a violation of his monastic vows.

Summoner

• a man paid to summon sinners to come to trial • red complexion, boils and lesions all over his face (nothing could cure them) • gets drunk and only speaks in Latin • children afraid of him • could be bribed very easily

What theme does Chaucer convey in the Prologue?

the infinite variety of human nature

Where are the pilgrims going and why?

Canterbury to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral.

Which character trait leads to the downfall of the three rioters in "The Pardoner's Tale"?

Greed

What is the moral of the Pardoner's Tale?

Greed is the root of all evil

Why is the knight condemned to die?

He attacked the maiden.

Cook

servant to the Haberdasher, Dyer, Carpenter, Weaver, and Carpet-maker, excellent cook, no one can cook like him, open sore on knee though, can that make his food unappetizing?

Pardoner

sold pardons and indulgences to those charged with sins, loud high-pitched voice, long flaxen hair, had, no beard (and would never have a beard), effeminate characteristics, knew how to sing and preach to people to frighten them to buy the relics, made a lot of money selling his fake relics.

Wife of Bath

somewhat deaf, gap-teeth, large hips hidden by her clothing, wanted front row in church and to be first at any offering, wore a heavy (10 lbs.) head dress, red stockings, and new shoes, no occupation, considered marriage her occupation, went on other famous pilgrimages - Jerusalem, Rome, Boulogne, Compostela, and Cologne, knew the remedy to "love's mischances".

Prioress

spoke French (but very poorly), eats in are fined manner, Swore constantly "By St. Loy!" a saint known for not swearing, very concerned with outward appearances, she had 3 dogs with her, seemed to care more for the animals around her than humans, physically - big forehead, sign of intelligence, coral trinket and rosary (coral trinket fight worldly temptations, Amor vincit omnia - "Love conquers all"