Chaucer and the Canterbury Tales

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Who was Geoffrey Chaucer?

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Geoffrey Chaucer was a 14th-century English poet, best known for writing 'The Canterbury Tales', which is considered one of the greatest works of English literature.

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What is 'The Canterbury Tales'?

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'The Canterbury Tales' is a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer, presented as a storytelling contest among a group of pilgrims traveling to Canterbury.

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What literary form did Chaucer popularize in English literature?

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Chaucer was the first to use English as a literary language in a major work, moving away from Latin and French.

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What is iambic pentameter?

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Iambic pentameter is a type of poetic meter that consists of five iambs (an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable) per line.

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What is the significance of the Prologue in 'The Canterbury Tales'?

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The Prologue introduces the characters (the pilgrims) and sets the stage for the stories they will tell during their journey.

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What social class do the characters yeoman, plowman, reeve, and knight belong to?

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These characters represent different roles within the medieval social structure, primarily associated with the commoners and the court.

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What physical trait was often associated with being 'sneaky' in medieval times?

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In medieval times, having red hair was often associated with being sneaky or deceitful.

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Where is Geoffrey Chaucer buried?

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Geoffrey Chaucer is buried in Poet's Corner at Westminster Abbey, a place reserved for many of England's greatest writers.

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What is a pilgrimage?

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A pilgrimage is a journey to a sacred place or shrine, often for religious reasons.

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What themes are explored in 'The Canterbury Tales'?

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Themes in 'The Canterbury Tales' include social class, morality, religion, and the nature of storytelling.