The Tragic Fate of Palamon and Arseit

The Knight's Tale from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales tells of Duke Theseus, who conquers the Amazons and marries their queen, Hippolyta. On his return, he encounters grieving queens who seek his help against Creon, the tyrant of Thebes. Theseus defeats Creon and returns the queens' husbands' remains. Two knights, Arseit and Palamon, are imprisoned in Athens and fall in love with Emily, Hippolyta's sister. They escape, leading to a confrontation and a tournament to win Emily's hand. Arseit wins but dies tragically, and Palamon eventually marries Emily, uniting Thebes and Athens.

Who did Duke Theseus marry after conquering the Amazons?

• Venus

• Emily

• Hippolyta

• Diana

What did the grieving women ask Theseus to do?

• Help them find their husbands

• Marry their queen

• Avenge their husbands' deaths

• Conquer another city

Who was the evil ruler that Theseus defeated?

• Arseit

• Palamon

• Creon

• Protheus

What was the fate of the knights Arseit and Palamon after being discovered?

• They were freed

• They were executed

• They were made generals

• They were imprisoned

Who did Palamon and Arseit fall in love with?

• Emily

• Venus

• Hippolyta

• Diana

What condition was placed on Arseit's release from prison?

• He must defeat Creon

• He must marry Emily

• He must become a monk

• He must never return to Athens

What prompted Arseit to return to Athens?

• A letter from Emily

• A vision from Venus

• A message from Theseus

• A dream from Mercury

What did Palamon do after escaping from prison?

• He joined Theseus's army

• He went to Thebes

• He married Emily

• He hid in a grove

What did Theseus propose to resolve the conflict between Arseit and Palamon?

• A council meeting

• A tournament

• A duel to the death

• A peace treaty

What did Emily pray for before the tournament?

• To defeat Theseus

• To remain unmarried

• To marry Arseit

• To win the tournament