Chaucer and Everyman (Messina)
Why did Chaucer personify Death in this tale?
Helped to establish the allegorical nature
Who was responsible for the rebirth of Theatre during the Medieval Period?
Roman Catholic Church
He seemed wise. He made a lot of money. He seemed busier than he really was.
The Sergeant at Law
After the Roman Empire fell and the Dark Ages began, what happened to drama and theatre?
The church outlawed theatre because it was vulgar and evil
Which of the following statements accurately describes feudalism?
Under feudalism, kings gave land to nobles in exchange for their military service.
What are indulgences?
certificate of forgiveness
Florins are ____
coins
Which type of drama contains humor, mocks people and situations and ends happily, often with a marriage or big problem solved?
comedy
The Prioress is distinguished by the fact that she
could not stand cruelty to animals
Which of the following is NOT a character in Everyman?
courage
polite, elegant manners, refined behavior
courtliness
The nun or Prioress was concerned with imitating what type of behavior?
courtly
Which best describes the influence of the Church during the Middle Ages
daily life in the village and towns revolved around the Church
Religion was important in the Middle Ages because .... was rampant in their society.
death
What is the allegorical character in this tale?
death
Who are the rioters looking for in the tale?
death
Who surprised Everyman by his sudden appearance?
death
What is the theme of Everyman?
death comes for every man when least expected
What was the prize for who told the best story?
dinner
"God stimulates the heart, or so we're told. He therefore had a special love of gold."
doctor
When the rioters plot against each other, it is an example of
dramatic irony
When the tale opens, what are the rioters doing?
drinking
Chaucer describes the cook as having amazing talent with food but "what a pity... that he should have ulcer on his knee." What does this tell us about Chaucer's attitude toward food preparation?
even a small, remote blemish makes a person unsanitary for preparing food
In addition to allegories, what are 3 other genres that were popular during Chaucer's time?
fabliaux, stories of the saints' lives, sermons
The Canterbury Tales serves as an example of
frame story
The friar's most obvious character trait
greed
Which of the following best describes the cook?
has an oozing ulcer on his knee, questionable hygiene
What does the narrator mean in saying these lines from the Prologue? But first I beg you, not to put it down/To my ill-breeding if my speech be plain.
he uses these words, especially "ill-breeding," to indicate that he is not royalty
Near the beginning of the prologue, the narrator reveals that his main motivation for making the pilgrimage was?
his religious devotion
"Proposed the plan of storytelling on the way to and from Canterbury".
host
What would you find the monk doing on a beautiful day?
hunting
The skipper is the character that ...
made his prisoners walk the plank
What type of English is the Canterbury Tales written in?
middle english
What does Everyman offer to Death when they first meet, in hopes of delaying the journey they must undertake?
money
Similar to other types of plays from this time, _______ plays taught the difference between right and wrong rather than Christianity itself.
morality
Plays based on bible stories, usually biblical history were
mystery plays
What does secular mean?
of a non-religious nature
Which character does the narrator seem to admire the most
parson
Death went his way without a word - is an example of
personification
By focusing mainly in the battles, the Knight had fought successfully and the nobility of the work he'd done, the reader can assume that Chaucer feels what about the knight?
respect and understanding
Miracle plays were plays about the ______
saints
A work that makes fun of a social institution.
satire
What figurative language device does Chaucer mainly use to depict the clergy class
satire/irony
When the rioters expect to fins death under the tree and find gold instead, it is an example of
situational irony
What season is described in the opening passage of the Canterbury tales
spring
If you have a "parley" with someone, you ____
talk with them
He was a shrewd buyer. Lawyers with all their knowledge were no match for him. He purchased well and kept the extra money for himself. He stole the lawyers blind.
the Manciple
He knew his profession well, and took kickbacks from one in another profession. He was not particularly religious. He was dressed in red and blue-gray garments, and loved gold.
the doctor
He looked a little like santa clause. He liked to eat, drink, and be merry, He was a country gentleman with a dagger and a silk purse
the franklin
He takes bribes for easy penance. He knows the taverns and barmaids better than he does the lepers and beggars. He is rather aristocratic, and he lisps.
the friar
Which of the following ideas is expressed most clearly in the prologue from the Canterbury Tales?
the infinite variety of human kind
What is he moral of the "Pardoner's Tale"?
the love of money is the root of all evil
He has a forked beard and a motley coat. He is careful with money, a good negotiator, and always tells his opinions about business.
the merchant
He was bald and fat. He had a preference for fine cloths and luxuries. He didn't like hard work, but he did like to ride.
the monk
This pilgrim was truly Christ-like; patient, giving, holy and virtuous, and didn't believe in pomp or glory. He practiced what he preached.
the parson
He was the Parson's brother. He was an honest worker who paid his taxes on time.
the plowman
He was old, choleric, and thin, He was a good manager and good carpenter, feared by the farm workers. He usually brought up the rear of the party, lagging behind
the reeve
Which of the following best describes the Squire?
the son of the Knight, had curly hair, and had many girlfriends
By positioning his description of the Miller almost immediately after that of the plowman, Chaucer accentuates
the virtues of the Plowman as well as the baffoonishness and criminality of the Miller
He was the Squire's servant. He was a woodsman, a Robin Hood type character.
the yeomen
These were the people in the Nun's group
three priests and 1 nun
Why does God send Death to summon Everyman?
to find out what he's being doing in his life
Why do the pilgrims tell tales during the journey?
to pass time in fun instead of being boring
Why does the author make the Oxford Cleric, who won't work but only focuses on study, such an ironic figure (well-educated yet poor, philosopher yet short in his speech)?
to show that education without application cannot accomplish much
orthodox
traditional
When the rioters say "trust me" it is an example of _________
verbal irony
How does Chaucer about the church based upon the majority of the descriptions of the clergy class?
views them with disdain and disgust
What kind of people are the rioters?
Trouble-makers - drinking before 9 am
In the prologue, Chaucer examines which 4 segments of Medieval England?
Old Feudal order, merchant class, lower Rank, clergy
This pilgrim sells fake artifacts and makes "monkey of the priest and congregation."
Pardoner
Which member of the clergy (church) does Chaucer NOT use irony to describe?
Parson
The Father of English poetry
Geoffrey Chaucer
Who wrote The Canterbury Tales?
Geoffrey Chaucer
Who stays with Everyman when he goes to his grave?
Good Deeds
The Pardoner thinks that ___
Greed is the root of all evil
What tradesmen were there?
Haberdasher, Dyer, Carpenter, Weaver, Carpet-maker
Which of the following lines best describe the Prioress?
"She reached a hand sedately for the meat"
Define and Give an example of each type of irony in the Pardoner's Tale.
- Dramatic irony (when a reader is aware of something that a character isn't): we knew the younger brother was going to die from the other friends plotting his death - verbal (A figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant): they would have each other's back, but they plotted to kill one another - situational(An outcome that turns out to be very different from what was expected): fortune sent them for jolly and pleasure, but actually death sent it and brought them their death
When did Chaucer begin writing the Canterbury Tales?
1387
How many tales was each of the pilgrims supposed to tell according to the rules set forth by the host?
4
What is he time period if the Middle Ages?
500 AD - 1400 AD
In which century was drama started
6th century BC
Part A: What type of play is Everyman?
A morality play
Feudalism
A political system in which nobles are granted the use of lands that legally belong to their king, in exchange for their loyalty, military service, and protection of the people who live on the land
What basic concept or idea about the relationship between the nobility and commoners dominated this period?
Aristocracy during this period was based on the belief that the nobility simply deserved to have power and wealth, the lowest class, the serf, permanently remained from birth to death, impoverished and powerless
Medieval plays were based mainly on stories from the _________ and the lives of saints.
Bible
Where are the pilgrims going?
Canterbury Cathedral
The Pardoner is an official of the _____
Church
After the rioters abandon their search for Death, they murder each other. This is an example of ________
Dramatic Irony
This play was the best known of the morality plays and was performed in many nations in various languages.
Everyman
Which of the following plays could best be described and an Allegory?
Everyman
Part B: Which of the following reasons supports the previous Statement?
Everyman, and the audience, is taught a lesson through the play.
Which of the following is an indication that Chaucer was close to the king?
Kind Edward's payment of 16 pounds for Chaucer's ransom
"In fifteen mortal battles he had been"
Knight
After almost 5 centuries of relative inactivity, European drama was reborn in religious ceremonies in monasteries in which time period?
Medieval
"was deeply in debt but no one knew."
Merchant
Which plays used Allegories to teach a lesson?
Morality Play
Plays based on the Bible were called ___________ and _________ plays
Mystery and miracle
Chaucer wrote all of the following except:
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
"Children were afraid whem he appeared"
Summoner
In the play Everyman, Good Deeds is too weak to go with Everyman on his journey. What does this situation show the audience?
That Everyman did little to no good things in his life
What was the cause of so much death during this time period?
The Black plague
The author describes the activities of the Friar with the lines, "...nothing good can come/Of commerce with such slum-and gutter-dwellers." Which answer interprets Chaucer's feeling on the Friar's character the best?
The Friar is a snob only out for money
Though population in England and London fell rapidly then grew steadily until the Black Death, London's population grew during the 1500s despite a decline in England during and after the plague. What might be one reason why he city's population increased, but not the countryside?
The country was moving from an farming to an urban society. (explain why populations decreased in the urban society)
He had a football-player build, a red beard, a wart on his nose, and a filthy mouth. He cheated customers and in his spare time he would play the bagpipes
The miller
This pilgrim sang in a strong voice, had long, yellow hair, bulging eyes, was baby-faced and carried a bunch of false relics to sell.
The pardoner
Which statement best describes the end of the Pardoner's Tale
The rioters meet death
He was from Dartmouth, didn't ride well, and was a good navigator. He had little conscience about killing the enemy, and seemed rather like a pirate.
The skipper
He had a red face full of sores. He ate onions and drank too much. He would take bribes.
The summoner
Why did the writers of the Middle Ages used such vivid imagery in their descriptions of characters and places? Consider Chaucer's the Canterbury Tales, and explain how Chaucer's descriptions impact his purpose. Be sure to use specific examples from the play to support your reason.
The vivid imagery would help bring the characters to life. Chaucer's intention was to show an over view of medieval society. The imagery would have helped the reader to see his point more clearly. For example, (hair made of wax)....
How does the narrator know the pilgrims at the Tabard Inn?
They decided to travel together on their way making a pilgrimage to Canterbury.
Why was everyone at the Tabbard?
They were on their way making a pilgrimage to Canterbury.
Who was murdered in the Canterbury Cathedral?
Thomas Becket
This pilgrim is a wealthy weaver, has a gap between her teeth; is slightly deaf, and has been married 5 times
Wife of Bath
What passes by the rioters that catches their attention?
a coffin
Morality Plays
a kind of drama with personified abstract qualities as the main characters and presenting a lesson about good conduct and character, popular in the 15th and early 16th centuries.
What does reckoning mean?
a person's view, opinion, or judgement
Mystery Plays
a popular medieval play based on biblical stories or the lives of the saints.
what is exemplum?
a story with a moral point
Allegory
a work of fiction or drama in which the elements - characters, settings, and plot - symbolize ideas, qualities, and figures beyond themselves
Why did the rioters want to move the coins at night?
avoid suspicion
Miracle Plays
based on the lives of saints
Chaucer wrote much of the Tales using his own form called _______
both iambic pentameter and heroic couplet
