Chaucer and Canterbury Tales

Chaucer was born in London and belonged to ___

• an educated middle class

• the aristocracy

• the royal family

• the lower class

During his frequent journeys abroad he _____

• extended his knowlege of Italian, French and Classical literature

• got involved in wars in Spain

• happened to be kidnapped by bandits and ransomed by the king himself

• became well- connected to revolutionary intellectual movements

He was a Member of Parliament for Kent and engaged in the politics of the day

• TRUE

• FALSE

He was the first to use ___ in his literary works

• The dialect of London, which gradually became standard English

• Latin

• Old English and French

He was the first poet to be buried in ___

• the Royal Cemetery

• the Poets' corner in Westminster Abbey

• the Tower of London

• the Hall of Fame

The Canterbury Tales is set in spring. The narrative poem begins with a group of pilgrims who wish to travel to (1) ____________ to the tomb and shrine of Thomas Becket.

The group meet at the (2) ____________ Inn in London. There are thirty people, including Chaucer, of mixed backgrounds and professions. There are lay and religious pilgrims and both sexes are represented.

The (3) ____________ of the inn has an idea for a pleasant way of passing the time on their journey.

He suggests that each one of them tell (4) ____________ tales on the way to Canterbury, and two on their way back.

On their return the tale considered the best will receive a (5) ____________, while anyone who refuses to play their part will have to pay a penalty.