The Canterbury Tales study guide

What is the structure of the Canterbury Tales? (Hint: Frame Narrative) Overall structure? Poetic structure?

Chaucer compiled an anthology of stories popular in the Middle Ages. It begins with a prologue which introduces the reader to a variety of characters from different social backgrounds in Medieval society. The story is structured as a frame narrative about pilgrims going on a pilgrimage. The majority of the Canterbury Tales is written in heroic couplets forming its poetic structure.

What is the significance of their journey to Canterbury Cathedral (discuss the spiritual significances and symbolism of their journey)

Chaucer's pilgrims go on a ​physical journey towards Canterbury Cathedral and a more symbolic journey of spiritual progress toward God and away from sin. The journey both physical and spiritual, ​starts at a bar and ends at a shrine —the tension of the dichotomy—reflects the same tension in each character (religious versus secular interests and corruption).

What are the Three Estates?

Clergy - ones who pray; led by the pope 2. King/Nobles - ones who fight; led by the king 3. Commoners - one who work; peasants/lower classes

True or False The knight and his son dress in the same military manner.

False

True or false The pilgrims are going to hear a sermon by Thomas A. Becket at Canterbury

False

What is the topic of every sermon that the Pardoner preaches?

Greed is the root of all evil.

The old woman offers the knight a choice between

Having an old but faithful wife, or having a beautiful but unfaithful wife.

In order to win his bride, what does the knight finally do?

He allows his wife to make the choice, giving her the power she craved. The Knight learned his lesson.

The pilgrims meet to begin their journey to Canterbury at

In southwork, south of London,at the Tabard inn.

The physical appearances of Chaucer's pardoner suggests.

Is not trusted. He is smarmy and untrustworthy, a liar and Chaucer dislikes the pardoners because of his moorland religious corruption.

What are the four deadly sins that the Flemish youths commit, according to the Pardoner's sermon at the beginning of his tale? *

Lust, greed, gluttony, and sloth

The knight is portrayed as

Modest and gental-knight. He is described as a distinguished man, honorable, brave, courageous and chivalrous.

What does the Pardoner get out of every sermon?

Money

What is the most popular Medieval Literature written in middle English

Most popular narratives ​Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, King Arthur​ romance, and ​The Canterbury Tales .

The knight clothes

Not dressed well he is dressed like he just came back from war.

The Squire was good at

Riding horses ,writing poetry, singing and dancing

The Pardoner is described as

That he doesn't like him so he make fun of him by saying that he looks like different animals

What is the significance of the Canterbury tales? (Hint: I gave you 3 reasons).

The importance and significance of the Canterbury tales is that it was 1. written in the vernacular, Middle English, the language of the average person, 2. By doing so he raised the language to an acceptable standard for literature, 3. it presents a cross section of the medieval society in England.

Why is the answer to #26 an example of irony?

The irony is that the Pardoner preaches about the very sin that he commits.

What does the last line of the story translate to? ​HIC IACET ARTHURUS, REX QUONDAM REXQUE FUTURUS

The last line of the story is written in Latin and it says "Here lies Arthur, the once and future king."

Radix malorum est Cupiditas​ is translated as...

The root of all evil is greed.

The three rioters each plan murder. How do these plans work? Explain the plan?

The wickedest of the three sends the youngest on an errand for food and supplies. While the youngest of the three is gone, the other two plan to murder him upon his return. The youngest of the three decides that he wants the gold for himself and buys poison to kill the other two. When the youngest arrives he is stabbed and murdered by the other two. To celebrate, the two drink from the poisoned wine and die. All of them find death as a result of their greed.

The suggestion to tell stories on the way to and from Canterbury is made by the Host.

True

True or false Geoffrey Chaucer wrote the Prologue of The Canterbury Tales

True

True or false The Pardoner claims to have parts of the Virgin Mary's veil and a piece of St. Peter sail.

True

True or false The knight had nought for Christianity in many forge in locales.

True

True or false The pilgrimage takes place in April

True

The knight son differs from his father in that the son

Young and vibrant. He wore fancy clothes.

The term we used to identify the political and economical system in Medieval England where the hierarchy of power was based on the premise that the King owned everything is

feudalism

Who is the Squire receiving training from?

his father, the knight

What is the significance of the title?

​(The Death of Arthur) eulogizes not only the late king but also the idea of chivalry.

Why is Geoffrey Chaucer called the "father of English Poetry?" Why is he significant?

​Chaucer was the first writer of significance to move beyond scholarly Latin or court French to Middle English, standardizing English as an appropriate language for literature, and he popularized the use of heroic couplets in English poetry.

Who does the Wife of Bath say has purged the fairies that lived in the time of King Arthur? Why are they to be feared?

​Christian Friars. They are only to be feared for their propensity to take women's virtue.

What does the sword, Excalibur, symbolize?

​Excalibur symbolizes the righteous order of the monarchy and the natural supremacy of its power. The Lady of Lake retrieves the sword; destiny will decide the fate of the sword and thus the monarchy.

When the old man sends the youths to a particular tree, what do they find under it? ​

​Gold coins.

What is Le Morte D'Arthur? Who wrote it?

​Le Morte D'Arthur written by Sir Thomas Malory is a retelling of the collective tales and legend of King Arthur

The Canterbury Tales is considered to be _____________ because it expresses an opinion about society.

​Social Commentary

The knight won how many mortal battels

15 mortal battles

The pilgrim who tells the best tale during the journey will be rewarded with

A free meal that is paid by everybody else.

What are the characteristics of the medieval romantic hero such as Arthur?

A. The hero's birth is shrouded in mystery B. Hero is raised away from his true parents and far from his original home, unaware of his true identity C. Undergoes a childhood initiation of magical significance D. The hero claims his birthright after an extraordinary challenge.