English 12 (Module 2)
As we discussed, many mystery plays could be read as "irreverent." Do you think the added conflict between Noah and his wife in this play crosses the line? Or does it simply add humor and interest to the story? Explain.
I do not think the added conflict between Noah and his wife crosses the line. Although I would not feel comfortable telling the story like this myself, I do believe it simply adds a layer of humor and interest to the story. It doesn't teach anything heretical about God, and it intrigued the listeners of their day to pay attention to the story. For that reason, I believe that it was appropriate for the play to be done in such a way.
An anachronism is something (a phrase or action, for example) from the "wrong" time period. A character in a Revolutionary War film saying "Hey, what's up?" to the other characters is speaking anachrostically. A woman casually wearing men's clothing in the same movie would be another anachronism. If anachronisms are intentional, they can be a funny or meaningful part of an artistic work! Or, they can stick out like a sore thumb. Name at least one anachronism in Noah's Flood. In other words, is there something a character says or does that fits the medieval time period but would have been completely out of place in biblical times? Briefly explain why your example is anachronistic.
One anachronism in Noah's Flood is that Noah's wife stubbornly refuses to get in the ark for some time. While it may have been somewhat common for wives to nag at their husbands during the Middle Ages, in Noah's time, that was not a common behavior that you see in wives toward their husbands.
What does the The Canterbury Tales' "General Prologue" reveal about social class differences and dynamics in medieval England? Provide examples from the text. Your response must be 4-6 sentences.
The "General Prologue" reveals that there are certain people, or positions, that are known to be in higher social classes than others, revealing the feudal system of the time. Given the way that they are dressed and even how they speak, it is obvious that there are people who are richer than others, such as the Nun, the Monk, and the Squire. However, certain dynamics are also revealed, especially among religious positions. The Nun, the Monk, and the Pardoner are just a few examples of the hypocrisy that seemed to be incredibly common among religious leaders in medieval England. They are seen to be greedy, and the Nun and the Monk especially clearly have more money than many of the other members of the pilgrimage.
Le Morte d'Arthur is French for ___________.
The Death of Arthur
In Le Morte d'Arthur, why does Arthur attempt to pull the sword from the stone? a. He was sent to find a sword for Sir Kay, who lost his. b. He wants to make the other knights jealous. c. He wants to become King of England. d. He doesn't attempt it.
a. He was sent to find a sword for Sir Kay, who lost his.
Regarding the Knight, which of the following characteristics is not addressed in the prologue of The Canterbury Tales? a. His relationship with Christ b. His following the code of chivalry c. His service to the church d. His clothing
a. His relationship with Christ
What is the Messenger's warning at the beginning of Everyman? a. Our reckonings are nearer than we think. b. Our children are watching us. c. Life is longer than we think. d. We should do more good deeds on earth.
a. Our reckonings are nearer than we think.
In Everyman, what is God's perception of mankind? a. People are sinful and ungrateful to Him. b. People are basically good. c. People need more time to correct their ways. d. People are trying their best but fall prey to Satan.
a. People are sinful and ungrateful to Him.
Which of the following literary devices is used in reference to death in "The Pardoner's Tale"? a. Personification b. Irony c. Flashback d. Onomatopoeia
a. Personification
In "The Pardoner's Tale," what does the rioter who purchases the food and wine also purchase? a. Poison b. Cheese c. Baskets for the gold d. A knife
a. Poison
Which of the following are examples of the corruption of the Roman Catholic Church during the High Middle Ages? Select all that apply. a. Sale of pardons and indulgences b. Dismissal of the New Testament c. Lack of hierarchy and structure d. Fraudulent holy relics e. Literary elitism f. Acceptable violence
a. Sale of pardons and indulgences d. Fraudulent holy relics e. Literary elitism f. Acceptable violence
In Noah's Flood, why does Noah's wife refuse to enter the boat when the rain starts? a. She does not want to leave her friends behind. b. She has decided to leave Noah and follow a new man and a new god. c. She does not want to be trapped with all the animals. d. She does not refuse.
a. She does not want to leave her friends behind.
Choose the best summary of these lines: "Ye think sin in the beginning full sweet, / Which in the end causeth thy soul to weep ..." a. Sin seems pleasant at first, but it will eventually cause your spirit pain. b. The fruit eaten by Adam and Eve was sweet, but it damned your soul forever. c. The first moments of sin are sweet, but it always ends in physical tears. d. You are tempted by sweet foods that will be salted by your tears in the end.
a. Sin seems pleasant at first, but it will eventually cause your spirit pain.
In "The Pardoner's Tale," how do the rioters decide who will go to town to get food and wine? a. They cast lots. b. They force the youngest to go. c. They wrestle for it. d. One of them volunteers to go.
a. They cast lots.
In The Canterbury Tales, according to the Wife of Bath and her tale, what is it that women want? a. To be in control b. To be equals c. To be happy d. To be right
a. To be in control
Allegories were an extremely popular genre in the Middle Ages. a. True b. False
a. True
The Knight is described in the prologue of The Canterbury Tales as genuinely upstanding. a. True b. False
a. True
To which medieval work does the following passage belong? Silence was commanded to every person,And that the knight should tell in open courtWhat thing (it is) that worldly women love best.This knight stood not silent as does a beast,But to his question straightway answeredWith manly voice, so that all the court heard it:"My liege lady, without exception," he said,"Women desire to have sovereigntyAs well over her husband as her love,And to be in mastery above him." a. Everyman b. "The Wife of Bath's Tale" c. "General Prologue," The Canterbury Tales d. Le Morte d'Arthur e. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight f. Noah's Flood g. "The Pardoner's Tale"
b. "The Wife of Bath's Tale"
According to "Lesson: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Le Morte d'Arthur," what supernatural act happens to King Arthur's sword when it is returned to its original resting place? a. The rock the sword is put into melts with the sword. b. A hand comes out of the lake to grab the sword. c. The fire it is thrown into turns blue. d. Merlin vanishes.
b. A hand comes out of the lake to grab the sword.
Certain towns had collections of mystery plays that they performed annually. What were these collections called? a. Rounds b. Cycles c. Acts d. Sets
b. Cycles
In "The Pardoner's Tale," who are the rioters trying to find? a. The old man b. Death c. Love d. Their friend
b. Death
According to "Lesson: Medieval Drama, Mystery Plays, and Noah's Flood," English drama flourished during the Early Middle Ages, or Dark Ages. a. True b. False
b. False
According to "Lesson: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Le Morte d'Arthur," Le Morte d'Arthur recounts how Arthur is mortally wounded because he listened to Sir Gawain's advice in a dream. a. True b. False
b. False
According to the lesson, morality plays are faithful reenactments of Bible stories. a. True b. False
b. False
According to "Lesson: Medieval Drama, Mystery Plays, and Noah's Flood," which local group sponsored mystery plays? a. Parishes b. Guilds c. Castles d. Farms
b. Guilds
In "The Wife of Bath's Tale" in The Canterbury Tales, why is the knight condemned to die? a. He was a coward. b. He assaulted a woman. c. He betrayed his country. d. He murdered a woman.
b. He assaulted a woman.
According to Knowledge, how does Christ feel about the priests who take advantage of people and swindle them out of money? a. He loves them because they are priests. b. He has cursed them. c. He will forgive them. d. He will instantly kill any hypocritical priests.
b. He has cursed them.
In the prologue of The Canterbury Tales, how does the Clerk repay the people who have contributed financially to his education? a. He pays them back with interest. b. He prays for them. c. He says he will pay them back when he finally finds gainful employment in the church. d. He remains in silence and does not acknowledge their help.
b. He prays for them.
In "The Pardoner's Tale," where does the young rioter hide the poison? a. In a cup b. In the wine c. On his hands d. In the food
b. In the wine
In "The Pardoner's Tale," in response to the rioters, why does the old man say he has not died? a. Death cannot find him. b. No one wants to trade his age for their youth. c. He is actually a ghost. d. He was given immortality by God.
b. No one wants to trade his age for their youth.
Which of the following characters in Noah's Flood are in direct communication with God? Select all that apply. a. Japhet b. Noah c. Noah's wife d. Ham's wife e. Shem
b. Noah
In "The Wife of Bath's Tale" in The Canterbury Tales, the queen sends the knight on a quest—one of the key elements of medieval romance. How long does the knight have to complete this quest? a. Twelve months b. One year and one day c. Twelve weeks d. Five years and one day
b. One year and one day
In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the Green Knight allows Gawain to replace King Arthur, but he insists that Gawain must receive the return blow. How long does Gawain have before he receives this? a. One month and one week b. One year and one day c. One year d. Twelve days
b. One year and one day
What are miracle plays? a. Reenactments of the miracles of Elijah b. Reenactments of the miracles of the saints c. Reenactments of the miracles of Jesus d. Monks claiming to perform "miracles"
b. Reenactments of the miracles of the saints
Under what condition does the Pardoner "forgive" the sins of his listeners? a. That they offer their lives to the Church. b. That they offer their money, jewelry, or belongings. c. That they read their Bibles. d. That they pray every day.
b. That they offer their money, jewelry, or belongings.
Which of the following was NOT something that began or occurred during Late Middle Ages and laid the foundation for the modern era? a. The Italian Renaissance b. The Age of Enlightenment c. The Age of Discovery d. Gutenberg's printing press
b. The Age of Enlightenment
In response to the knight's accusation that she is ugly and old, his wife says which of the following? a. Older women are more desirable than younger women. b. The fact that she is old means he won't have to worry about other men approaching her. c. He should respect his elder and treat her well. d. She may not be pretty, but she's actually quite young.
b. The fact that she is old means he won't have to worry about other men approaching her.
In "The Wife of Bath's Tale" in The Canterbury Tales, who does the Wife of Bath say is responsible for there not being any more fairies in England? a. King Arthur b. The holy friars c. King Henry II d. The knights
b. The holy friars
In the prologue of The Canterbury Tales, at the end, how do the pilgrims decide who will tell the first story? a. They pick the poorest person. b. They draw lots. c. They wrestle. d. They pick the wealthiest person.
b. They draw lots.
How does the knight's wife respond to the knight's accusation that she is "from such low born lineage"? Select all that apply. a. She actually is a wealthy noblewoman with much land and many titles to her name. b. True nobility comes with living virtuously. c. There is no such thing as "nobility"; everyone is equally sinful and common. d. A high-born person is famous because of their ancestor's deeds, not their own. e. True nobility comes from God.
b. True nobility comes with living virtuously. d. A high-born person is famous because of their ancestor's deeds, not their own. e. True nobility comes from God.
In "The Wife of Bath's Tale" in The Canterbury Tales, what must the knight do for the old hag in return for the answer to the question? a. Pay her thirty gold pieces b. Whatever she next asks of him c. Promise never to marry d. Marry the old hag's daughter
b. Whatever she next asks of him
In "The Pardoner's Tale," what does the Pardoner say has been his lifelong "theme" in the Pardoner's prologue? a. "The grass is always greener on the other side." b. "I shall not want." c. "Greed is the root of all evil." d. "Seek first His kingdom, and all these things will be added to you."
c. "Greed is the root of all evil."
In the prologue of The Canterbury Tales, which of the following does the Miller most resemble? a. A circus clown b. A pig farmer c. A WrestleMania wrestler d. A bread baker
c. A WrestleMania wrestler
In Everyman, what does Knowledge give Everyman to wear before God? a. A robe of salvation b. A girdle of righteousness c. A garment of sorrow d. A sword of truth
c. A garment of sorrow
In the prologue of The Canterbury Tales, what does it take to bribe the Summoner to allow a person to continue in his or her sin? a. A concubine b. Thirty pieces of silver c. A quart of wine d. Nothing
c. A quart of wine
In Noah's Flood, what does Noah send out before he sends a dove to search for land? a. A shark b. A sparrow c. A raven d. An eagle
c. A raven
In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, when does Gawain leave to go on his quest? a. Lent b. New Year's Eve c. All Saints Eve d. Christmas Day
c. All Saints Eve
In "The Wife of Bath's Tale" in The Canterbury Tales, who offers to help the knight answer the question of what women most desire? a. The queen herself b. The maiden he violated c. An old hag d. A group of fairies
c. An old hag
In The Canterbury Tales, why should readers take the Pardoner's tale with a grain of salt? a. Chaucer describes him as too kind and forgiving for his own good. b. Chaucer describes him as a murderous villain. c. Chaucer describes him as a manipulative sweet-talker. d. Chaucer describes him in the prologue as a bad storyteller.
c. Chaucer describes him as a manipulative sweet-talker.
To which medieval work does the following passage belong? O Death, thou comest when I had thee least in mind;In thy power it lieth me to save,Yet of my good will I give thee, if ye will be kind,Yea, a thousand pound shalt thou have,And defer this matter till another day. a. "General Prologue," The Canterbury Tales b. Le Morte d'Arthur c. Everyman d. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight e. "The Wife of Bath's Tale" f. Noah's Flood g. "The Pardoner's Tale"
c. Everyman
In Le Morte d'Arthur, what is the name of King Arthur's sword? a. Merlin b. Hrunting c. Excalibur d. Henry
c. Excalibur
In the prologue of The Canterbury Tales, which of the following best describes the Reeve? a. Corrupt church official b. Poor money manager c. Excellent money manager d. Young and careless lord
c. Excellent money manager
Which words best describe the three rioters? a. Careful and meticulous b. Happy and fun c. Greedy and violent d. Smart and dangerous
c. Greedy and violent
In "The Wife of Bath's Tale" in The Canterbury Tales, how does the knight demonstrate that he has learned his lesson? a. He marries the old woman. b. He chooses to die rather than marry the old woman. c. He lets his wife decide what is best. d. He submits to the queen's punishment.
c. He lets his wife decide what is best.
In The Canterbury Tales, which of the following is NOT a way that "The Wife of Bath's Tale" subverts the traditional gender stereotypes in medieval romances? a. It gives women positive and active roles in the story. b. It redeems the knight only when he gives authority to a woman. c. It shows that women can do anything men can do. d. It suggests that the happiest marriage is when the wife is in control.
c. It shows that women can do anything men can do.
In the prologue of The Canterbury Tales, which word or phrase would best describe the Squire? a. Comedian b. Studious c. Ladies' man d. Shy
c. Ladies' man
In the Early Middle Ages, who were the most literate people? a. Knights and officers b. Traveling bards and teachers c. Monks, nuns, and clergy d. Lords and ladies
c. Monks, nuns, and clergy
In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, why does King Arthur initially accept the Green Knight's challenge? a. He refused to allow his men to be involved. b. He was afraid the Green Knight would hurt the queen. c. No one else offered to accept it. d. He wanted to prove he really was the bravest.
c. No one else offered to accept it.
In Noah's Flood, what do the Good Gossips do when they realize they will drown? a. They pray to God in desperation. b. They bang on the doors of the ark. c. They begin to drink wine. d. They try to build their own boat.
c. They begin to drink wine.
At the start of Everyman, God explains why He plans to bring Everyman to his reckoning. He says of humanity: They thank me not for the pleasure that I to them meant,Nor yet for their being that I them have lent;I proffered the people great multitude of mercy,And few there be that asketh it heartily ... Which of the following is the best paraphrase of these lines? a. They do not believe they are worthy of gifts, life, or mercy. b. Few of them ask for good things, even though I have extended mercy. c. They don't thank me for the good gifts I gave them, for their lives, or for the mercy I have shown them. d. They spit on my image.
c. They don't thank me for the good gifts I gave them, for their lives, or for the mercy I have shown them.
In "The Pardoner's Tale," why do the men say that they need to wait until night to move the treasure? a. They are afraid it is a trick and want to be sure no one is around. b. They want to hide the treasure from their wives who will want to spend it all. c. They don't want people to think they are stealing it. d. They know they are stealing it and don't want to get caught.
c. They don't want people to think they are stealing it.
In "The Pardoner's Tale," where does the old man tell the rioters they can find Death? a. They don't have to look for Death because he is never far away. b. They will find Death wherever there is money. c. They will find Death under a tree just up ahead. d. They can wait with him because Death will return soon.
c. They will find Death under a tree just up ahead.
According to "Lesson: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Le Morte d'Arthur," who/what begins the battle between King Arthur and Mordred? a. Lancelot b. Mordred c. A rat d. A snake
d. A snake
When the Pardoner speaks about greed ("avarice") in his prologue in The Canterbury Tales, he says this: Thus I can preach against that same viceWhich I use, and that is avarice.But though myself be guilty of that sin,Yet I can make other folk to turn awayFrom avarice and bitterly to repent. (427-31) Which of the following is the best summary of those lines? a. It's unknown whether or not I am greedy because I spend so much time convicting others. b. Although I myself am greedy, I always win arguments with greedy people. c. The Church has given me the power to force people into repentance. d. Although I myself am greedy, I can help others repent of greed.
d. Although I myself am greedy, I can help others repent of greed.
Who/what comes to take Everyman to Jesus in Everyman? a. Doctor b. Fellowship c. Peter d. Angel
d. Angel
In the prologue of The Canterbury Tales, according to the poet, the Nun's "greatest pleasure" is in which of the following? a. Prayer and supplication b. Bad manners c. Good meals d. Good manners
d. Good manners
According to "Lesson: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Le Morte d'Arthur," at the end of the battle, who is left? a. Mordred and Lucan versus Arthur and Bedivere b. Mordred versus Arthur c. Mordred and Bedivere versus Arthur and Lucan d. Mordred versus Arthur, Lucan, and Bedivere
d. Mordred versus Arthur, Lucan, and Bedivere
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and "The Wife of Bath's Tale" technically both belong to which medieval genre? a. Allegories b. Morality plays c. Mystery plays d. Romance
d. Romance
In Everyman, when Good-Deeds first appears in the story, why is she unable to go with Everyman and help him? a. God told her to ignore Everyman. b. She does not exist because Everyman has never done a good deed. c. She does not want to. d. She is weak and bound to the ground by Everyman's sins.
d. She is weak and bound to the ground by Everyman's sins.
Until recently, this period has been called the "Dark Ages," but the period was actually filled with sophisticated political and cultural structures and beautiful art. a. The High Middle Ages b. The Enlightement c. The Late Middle Ages d. The Early Middle Ages
d. The Early Middle Ages
Which of these is the shortest period of the Middle Ages, marked both by horrible loss and remarkable growth? a. The Renaissance b. The High Middle Ages c. The Early Middle Ages d. The Late Middle Ages
d. The Late Middle Ages
In the prologue of The Canterbury Tales, how many pilgrims are present for the pilgrimage to Canterbury? a. Twenty b. Thirty-three c. Nine d. Twenty-nine
d. Twenty-nine
At the end of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight part on ______ terms.
friendly
The genre of _______ was written by and for the nobility.
romance
In the prologue of The Canterbury Tales, ________ has a bad temper.
the Wife of Bath
In Noah's Flood, Noah and his family respond _____ to God's command.
willingly
In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Gawain and the lord of the castle agree to exchange gifts at the end of each day. Sir Gawain repeatedly gives the lord of the castle a gift of ______.
a kiss
In The Canterbury Tales, the Wife of Bath's story fits in the genre of medieval romance. Which of the following is NOT an element of the romance genre that shows up in the tale? a. A noble and selfless knight b. King Arthur's court c. A test or trial of character d. Supernatural/magical creatures
a. A noble and selfless knight
In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, which medieval literary theme is displayed by Gawain's accepting the challenge for the king? a. Chivalry b. Romance c. Supernatural involvement d. Courtly love
a. Chivalry
To which medieval work does the following passage belong? In the name of the Holy Trinity,My body sore punished shall be:Take this body for the sin of the flesh;Also thou delightest to go gay and fresh,And in the way of damnation thou did me bring;Therefore suffer now strokes and punishing.Now of penance I will wade the water clear,To save me from purgatory, that sharp fire. a. Everyman b. "General Prologue," The Canterbury Tales c. Le Morte d'Arthur d. "The Wife of Bath's Tale" e. Noah's Flood f. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
a. Everyman
At the end of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, what decree does King Arthur make? a. Everyone at the Round Table must wear green girdles. b. Everyone at the Round Table must wear red girdles. c. Sir Gawain may never sit at the Round Table again. d. Sir Gawain must burn his green girdle in order to rid himself of the shame.
a. Everyone at the Round Table must wear green girdles.
In the prologue of The Canterbury Tales, which of the following best describes the Reeve? a. Excellent money manager b. Poor money manager c. Corrupt church official d. Young and careless lord
a. Excellent money manager
In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, why does the Green Knight intentionally miss and then make fun of Gawain on the first swing? a. Gawain flinches b. Gawain starts crying c. The Green Knight just wanted to trick Gawain and stops d. The Green Knight feels badly for luring Gawain into the challenge
a. Gawain flinches
How does Noah's Flood end? a. God puts His rainbow in the sky b. Noah and his family begin to build a new life c. The dove comes back with an olive branch d. Noah and his family sacrifice animals to God
a. God puts His rainbow in the sky
In the prologue of The Canterbury Tales, the Cook is notable for his great cooking skills and his ability to tell from which brewery in London an ale comes. What significant flaw does the narrator point out about the Cook? a. He has an open wound. b. He is stubborn. c. He has a mangy pet dog. d. He is gluttonous.
a. He has an open wound.
In Le Morte d'Arthur, under what condition does the Lady of the Lake give Arthur her sword? a. He must give her a gift when she asks it of him. b. He must bring it back soon. c. He must use it to kill the king of France. d. He must only use it for good.
a. He must give her a gift when she asks it of him.
In "The Pardoner's Tale," what lie does the young rioter tell the apothecary as to why he needs the poison? a. He tells him it is for some vermin in his yard. b. He tells him it is for his archenemy. c. He tells him it is for an experiment. d. He tells him it is for his cockroach problem.
a. He tells him it is for some vermin in his yard.
We have already discussed the irony in the fact that the greedy, deceitful Pardoner warns others against the vice of greed. With this story in mind, do you believe that even wicked people can spread truth? Why or why not?
I believe that even wicked people can spread truth because even wicked people can know truth, but the difference is that they do not follow truth. Most often, the most wicked people we know are fully aware of the truth, but they do not adhere to it. Due to this, I believe wicked people can spread truth.
In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer makes sure that each pilgrim has a signature storytelling "style" that is distinct from the other pilgrims. For example, the Pardoner is well-known for his smooth speaking skills. Therefore, his story is short, suspenseful, and thought through; he never interrupts his main story with other stories. Describe two style elements in "The Wife of Bath's Tale" that are different from either the general prologue or "The Pardoner's Tale." Consider elements like tone, vocabulary, structure, mood, or message. Use examples from the text.
Two style elements in "The Wife of Bath's Tale" that are different from "The Pardoner's Tale" are the length of the story and the structure of the story. Where the Pardoner's story is concise and short, the Wife of Bath's story is incredibly long and wordy. She also changes the structure of her story by adding many other stories into her main plot, whereas the Pardoner sticks to his main plot.
Everyman is probably an ______ adaption of a _____ play.
English; Dutch
In the prologue of The Canterbury Tales, which color is associated with the Yeoman?
Green
A famous document called the _________ (signed in 1215) established the first English laws protecting rights for common individuals.
Magna Carta
Like many medieval tales, this story focuses on temptation and human failure. Though Sir Gawain is a strong knight, he fails to be perfectly brave and perfectly honorable. What message (theme) does this story send about Sir Gawain's failures? Is the message encouraging or condemning?
The message this story sends about Sir Gawain's failures is encouraging. Although Sir Gawain experiences deep shame at realizing and having his failures exposed, others around him do not shame him. Instead, the Green Knight, as well as everyone at the Round Table, shows him mercy and forgiveness. King Arthur even decrees that everyone at the Round Table should wear green girdles with Sir Gawain, showing that this story is not concerned with condemning him, but rather with encouraging him.
In ancient times, kings and emperors commonly claimed to be gods in human form. In medieval Europe, this concept was interpreted as the "divine right of kings." According to the divine right of kings, God himself appointed the rulers of England, in the same way that the prophets anointed kings in the Old Testament. How do the sword in the stone and the sword in the lake episodes in Le Morte d'Arthur reinforce the medieval "divine right of kings" concept? Use examples from the text in your response. Your response must be 4-6 sentences.
The sword in the stone and the sword in the lake reinforces the medieval "divine right of kings" concept because only Arthur managed to take the swords out of the stone and the lake. Specifically, the sword in the stone features heavy themes of religion and the "divine right of kings." It was believed, in the myth, that whoever pulled the sword from the stone had been chosen by God to be king. The sword in the lake does not explicitly reference any such religious belief. However, it still reinforces this concept because it shows that Arthur was special, as no one had taken this sword from the Lady of the Lake before him.
On which part of the ladder of feudalism are the knights?
The third rung
"The Pardoner's Tale" is a medieval exemplum. These moral tales usually featured purely evil and purely good characters. In this story, are the three friends purely evil? Why or why not? Use examples from the text to support your answer.
The three friends are purely evil. When the youngest friend goes to buy wine and cheese, he has no hesitancy in deciding to buy poison as well. As soon as the younger one leaves, the two immediately decide to kill the younger one when he returns. Also, when they are pursuing Death, they get distracted as soon as they see the gold, when they are influenced by their greed.
In a medieval morality play, it was important to show the protagonist observing sacraments of the church, including: Confession: Acknowledging one's sins Penance: Repenting of one's sins Unction: Anointing of the sick/dying by a priest In 4-6 sentences, describe how each of these sacraments plays a part in the second half of Everyman.
These sacraments play a part in the second half of Everyman because Everyman goes through each of these three sacraments in the story. Firstly, he acknowledged his sins in confession. Secondly, he repented of his sins in penance. Thirdly, he was anointed by a priest because he was dying. These are all of the ways in which these sacraments prove to be important in the second half of Everyman.
In the tale, the knight goes on a quest, and he asks people everywhere what they want the most in the world. Unfortunately, no one can agree on the answer! Each person he asks, whether woman or man, offers a different answer to the question. Some say money. Some say fame. Some say compliments. Some say trust. What do you think this passage means? What does it communicate about men and women, or people in general?
This passage exposes the reality that not only do men and women understand things differently, but so does every person, no matter their gender. Men may think that women desire material things, but most women would agree that they desire a true connection or "trust." However, even women want different things from one another, as each person is different. While there may be similarities in a gender, that does not mean that every person in the same gender will be the same person.
According to "Lesson: Medieval Drama, Mystery Plays, and Noah's Flood," in the High Middle Ages, churches began to employ ______ drama, in which clerics and monks demonstrated religious teachings.
liturgical
Christian _______, a theme in medieval literature, emphasizes spiritual union with God, powerful visions, and personal experiences.
mysticism
