1. “The Canterbury Tales Prologue” Exam PPT 1

2. Language & Rhyme Scheme
First 18 lines in Middle English
The meter and rhyme scheme have been preserved in the Modern English version.
Look for details that will help you to get to know the characters and understand their beliefs, ideas, and position.  

3. Literary Analysis: Characterization
1.) In these lines, what does the narrator suggest about the pilgrims’ motives for going to Canterbury?

4. Answer
They want to visit the saint’s shrine and ask for his help and healing.

5. Reading Strategy
2.) What does Chaucer say he will do in lines ? How, or in what manner, will he do it?

6. Answer
Chaucer says that, before he tells more of the story, he is going to describe the people who are going along with him on the pilgrimage.  
He will include their social position, how they are dressed, their professions, and whatever else he can determine from what he has seen so far.

7. Reading Check
#3.) Who have gathered at the Tabard?

8. Answer
Pilgrims on their way to Canterbury are gathered at The Tabard in Southwark.

9. The Knight “Most distinguished man” followed “chivalry”
“Truth, honor, generousness, and courtesy”
“He was a true, a perfect gentle-knight.”
modest, humble attire
Served the king well in religious wars
Most socially prominent person on the journey
nobility – role model for the other pilgrims

10. The Knight
When Chaucer describes the Knight as the epitome of chivalry, he is talking about an ideal from the past.
By the 1380’s, when Chaucer began The Canterbury Tales, feudalism and chivalry had nearly disappeared from England.

11. Literary Analysis: Characterization
#4.) What do lines indirectly suggest about the Knight’s character?

12. Margin Questions #4 Answer
He is brave, loves action and adventure, really believes in the ideals of chivalry – and must be an excellent fighter to have survived so many battles.

13. The Squire Son of the Knight “lover and a cadet” “a lad of fire”
curly, well-groomed hair
twenty years old
performed valiantly in battle to win the favor of a lady
ostentatious clothing – “embroidered like a meadow bright”
part of the nobility

14. Critical Viewing
#5.) Compare this portrait with Chaucer’s description of the Yeoman. What details did the artist choose to change or omit?

15. Margin Q #5 Answer
The yeoman’s arrows are slung over his shoulder rather than hanging at his belt as in Chaucer’s description.
The author has chosen to omit the arm brace, the medal of St. Christopher, and the hunting horn.
Only the lining in his coat in the picture is green, not the entire coat.
There are objects in the painting that were not mentioned in the text – purse and feathered cap

16. Yeoman nobleman’s attendant to the Knight and Squire
considered part of nobility
“wore a coat and hood of green”
“His head was like a nut, his face was brown.”
rustic w/a medal of St. Christopher around his neck
“proper forester”

17. Reading Check
#6.) What is the relationship among the Knight, the Squire, and the Yeoman?

18. Margin Q #6 - Answer
The Knight’s son is the Squire, and the Squire’s servant is the Yeoman.

19. Nun “Prioress” “simple and coy” “known as Madam Eglantyne”
“spoke daintily in French”
very feminine, concerned about her appearance, pretty, ladylike
“Her veil was gathered in a seemly way,”
Amorous – wears a bracelet “Love conquers all.”
part of the high clergy
Hugely ironic, considering her vocation

20. Reading Strategy
#7.) What two basic qualities does the sentence in lines attribute to the Nun?

21. Answer
On the one hand, the Nun is friendly and entertaining, on the other hand, she is working very hard at pretending to be elegant.

22. Literary Analysis
#8.) What can you infer about the Prioress based on this detailed description of her jewelry?

23. Answers The jewelry indicates wealth.
The jewelry indicates a degree of worldliness.

24. Monk (Art) - Massive and richly robed
- Expression of self-satisfaction
Wealth is apparent:
- fur-trimmed robe
- Gold brooch
- Elaborate sword

25. Monk Likes hunting Owns a stable full of horses
Ignores the rules by which monks are supposed to live
Owns greyhounds
Spares for no expense
Sleeves are garnished with fur
Fastens his cloak with a gold pin
Head is bald and shiny
fat

26. #9. ) What Can You Infer about the Monk’s Style of Living
#9.) What Can You Infer about the Monk’s Style of Living? List Three details Supporting Your Conclusion

27. ANSWER The monk is large so he eats well
His fur trimmed clothing and fine purse indicates a degree of wealth
Spurs and sword suggest he rides and possibly hunts or engages in sport
Huge gold cross hanging from his belt reminds everyone that he is a member of religious order and also great wealth

28. 10.) What is the Monk’s Main Interest?

29. ANSWER
Hunting!

30. Identify key elements of the description of the monk:
Social Commentary
Writing that provides insights into society, its values, and its customs
Social Commentary helps us understand the motives and lives of the individuals who lived in that society
Identify key elements of the description of the monk:
He loves to hunt
Rides a horse well
Likes to eat “liked a fat swan best”
Ignores any doctrine he doesn’t like

31. 11.) What do the details about the Monk’s habits and tastes indirectly suggest about religious institutions of the time?

32. ANSWER
Religious institutions of the time provided a comfortable lifestyle for some without requiring special devotion from them

33. Literary Analysis: Characterization
12.) In lines , is Chaucer using direct characterization or indirect characterization? Explain

34. ANSWER
Chaucer is using indirect characterization: He describes who the Friar knew and where he spent his time

35. FRIAR
Unlike Monks whose work lay within a monastery, friars were itinerant clergymen whose begging supported schools, hospitals, the poor, and other church-related institutions – or was supposed to.
The Friar exemplifies the corruption to which many of these people had sunk by Chaucer’s time

36. FRIAR
A Limiter (a friar given begging rights for a certain limited area)
Claims to be qualified to hear confessions (for a fee)
Sings wells
Plays the hurdy-gurdy
Does not associate with lepers and the poor
Associates with wealthy as well as innkeepers and barmaids
Takes money from a widow with no shoes
Arbitrates disputes for money
Plays the harp
Named Hubert

37. 13. ) What is the main thought in the sentence in lines 259-263
13.) What is the main thought in the sentence in lines ? What Question about this main idea (who, what where, why, when, or how) do the other parts of the sentence help answer?

38. ANSWER Who – both the Friar (SUBJECT) and the widow
What – the farthing (money)
Why – because he wants an income
How – he is such a skillful begger
Main idea is that he gets money even from the poor to supplement his own income

39. FRIAR
The Friar’s job was supposed to include helping the poor, and the teachings of Christianity include protecting widows and helping the poor
With this in mind, what can you deduce about the Friar’s beliefs? …

40. ANSWER
It is evident that the Friar cares nothing about what he is supposed to be doing or what he says he believes.
He is in it for the money!

41. 14.) How does the Friar earn his living?

42. ANSWER
The Friar earns his living by skillful begging

43. MERCHANT Forked beard Dressed in motley Wears a beaver hat
Wears daintily buckled boots
Expert in currency exchange
Is in debt

44. OXFORD CLERIC A student of religion Has a skinny horse
Does not have yet a job in the church and is too unworldly to find secular employment
Prefers reading of Aristotle’s philosophy over pursuits
Has not yet discovered the philosopher’s stone for making gold
Takes money from friends to buy books and repays them by praying for them
His only care is study
Speech is filled with moral virtues
Likes to learn and teach

45. 15.) What Can you Infer from this Picture about the Oxford Cleric’s Style of Living? List Three Details Supporting Your Answer.

46. ANSWER The student likes to read and lives rather frugally
These characteristics are suggested by:
He is reading
His hose are patched at the knees
He lacks the more luxurious purses, swords, and adornment seen in the pictures of other pilgrims

47. #16.) What are the Cleric’s interest?

48. ANSWER
He enjoys reading, learning, teaching, praying, & books on philosophy

49. THE SERGEANT AT THE LAW Justice of Assize
Knows of every case and crime recorded since King William’s time
Wears a homely coat and a silken belt