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WorksheetsThe Canterbury Tales
Total questions: 40
Worksheet time: 20mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
Which word has the same meaning as tarry?
a)
hesitate
b)
hurry
c)
lory
d)
rush
2.
Who is the real traitor in “The Pardoner’s Tale”?
a)
the three rioters
b)
Death
c)
the old man
d)
the young knave
3.
How do two of the rioters decide to increase their share of the gold?
a)
stab the other rioter upon his return
b)
poison the other rioter upon his return
c)
turn the third robber in to the priest
d)
killing the monk
4.
For what reason does the Pardoner usually tell “The Pardoner’s Tale”?
a)
He is convinced that greed is evil and has himself given all his money away to the poor.
b)
He uses it as an exemplum in a sermon designed to get listeners to part with their money.
c)
He is a poor man who tells the story in storytelling contests in hopes of earning enough money to pay for his travels.
d)
all of these are correct
5.
Which of the following best describes the three rioters in “The Pardoner’s Tale”?
a)
prating, kindly, old
b)
hoary, arrogant, insincere
c)
earnest, brave, handsome
d)
prating, arrogant, greedy
6.
The moral of “The Pardoner’s Tale” is
a)
greed is the source of evil
b)
trust no one
c)
a promise is a promise
d)
old men are unreliable
7.
What becomes clearer when rereading the following passage from “The Pardoner’s Tale”?
... if it be your design / To find Death, turn up this crooked way / Towards that grove. I left him there today / Under a tree, and there you’ll find him waiting.
... if it be your design / To find Death, turn up this crooked way / Towards that grove. I left him there today / Under a tree, and there you’ll find him waiting.
a)
There is a hooded figure near the grove awaiting the three rioters.
b)
The plague will get the three rioters because there is a graveyard near the grove.
c)
The man is directing the three rioters toward their own deaths.
d)
The three rioters will be victorious over Death because they are not afraid of him.
8.
In “The Pardoner’s Tale,” the three rioters are sure that they can destroy Death, and yet they fail to see that they are falling into his trap. This is an example of _______________.
a)
irony
b)
sarcasm
c)
parody
d)
satire
9.
In “The Pardoner’s Tale,” how do the rioters treat the old man when they first meet him?
a)
with contempt
b)
with kindness
c)
with false flattery
d)
with polite disinterest
10.
At one point in “The Pardoner’s Tale,” the publican says, “This very year he killed, in a large village a mile away, man, woman, serf and tillage.” Reread these lines that precede the publicans remark, and then decide what most likely happened in the village.
There came a privy thief, they call him Death, Who kills us all round here, and in a breath He speared him through the heart, he never stirred. And then Death went his way without a word. He’s killed a thousand in the present plague, And, sir, it doesn’t do to be too vague
There came a privy thief, they call him Death, Who kills us all round here, and in a breath He speared him through the heart, he never stirred. And then Death went his way without a word. He’s killed a thousand in the present plague, And, sir, it doesn’t do to be too vague
a)
Thieves robbed the village and killed the inhabitants.
b)
A very strong wind blew through the village, killing everyone there.
c)
Everyone in the village died with a spear in his or her heart.
d)
Plague claimed the lives of the people in the village.
11.
On the symbolic level of the allegory of “The Pardoner’s Tale,” which of these qualities might rioters represent?
a)
old age and death
b)
courage and greed
c)
greed and treachery
d)
fame and fortune
12.
What is ironic about the pledge the rioters make in these lines of “The Pardoner’s Tale”?
They made their bargain, swore with appetite. / These three, to live and die for one another / As brother-born might swear to his born brother.
They made their bargain, swore with appetite. / These three, to live and die for one another / As brother-born might swear to his born brother.
a)
They really are brothers but have forgotten.
b)
They have only just met.
c)
They do not realize that Death is listening.
d)
They later plot to kill one another to get a larger share of the gold.
13.
When “The Pardoner’s Tale” opens, what caused Death to stalk the land?
a)
a terrible flood
b)
an outbreak of the plague
c)
a riot
d)
a deluge and conflagration
14.
The “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” is about what women
a)
hate
b)
love
c)
fear
d)
desire
15.
In the final scene of the story “The Wife of Bath’s Tale,” the ugly old woman transforms herself into a beautiful young wife. How do you know she might be a fairy?
a)
Only fairies have the power to transform themselves.
b)
The Wife of Bath suggests the existence of fairies when she frames the tale.
c)
The old woman is so wise she must be something more than human.
d)
The queen would not have allowed the knight to marry her as a human.
16.
In “The Wife of Bath’s Tale,” after the knight and the old woman are married, the old woman gives him two choices. What are they?
a)
He can have an old and faithful wife or a young and faithful wife.
b)
He can have a young and faithful wife or an old and rich wife.
c)
He can have an old and faithful wife or a young wife who is unfaithful.
d)
He can have an old and faithful wife or he can have his freedom.
17.
According to “The Wife of Bath’s Tale,” near the end of the story, the knight correctly answers the queen’s question. Why does the old woman suddenly leap up and claim her reward in front of the queen?
a)
The knight will not be able to back out on his promise.
b)
She wants the queen to perform the wedding ceremony.
c)
She wants the queen to know the knight had her help.
d)
The queen will reward her for her excellent wisdom.
18.
1. In “The Wife of Bath’s Tale,” the old woman insists the knight marry her as her reward. What does the word misalliance mean in his reply?
“My love? Said he. “By heaven, my damnation! / Alas that any of my race and station / Should ever make so foul a misalliance!”/ Yet in the end his pleading and defiance / all went for nothing, he was forced to wed.
“My love? Said he. “By heaven, my damnation! / Alas that any of my race and station / Should ever make so foul a misalliance!”/ Yet in the end his pleading and defiance / all went for nothing, he was forced to wed.
a)
bad marriage
b)
missed chance
c)
perfect wedding
d)
incorrect guess
19.
According to “The Wife of Bath’s Tale,” why does the knight agree to marry the old woman?
a)
He thinks the queen will not have him killed if he is married.
b)
She deceives him with magic, making him think she is beautiful.
c)
She promises him that she knows the secret to what all women want.
d)
He believes she will turn into a young woman when he marries her.
20.
In “The Wife of Bath’s Tale,” the knight decides to return to the queen and meet his fate even before he meets the old woman. Why?
a)
He thinks he knows the answer.
b)
He gave his word he would return.
c)
He thinks she will forgive him.
d)
She will find him wherever he runs.
21.
According to “The Wife of Bath’s Tale,” in the story of Midas, his wife tells her secret to the water. What is the point of this story?
a)
Women should not go near the water.
b)
Women cannot keep secrets to themselves.
c)
Women enjoy telling secrets to others.
d)
Women can be trusted to keep secrets.
22.
What is the main setting of the story about the knight in “The Wife of Bath’s Tale”?
a)
England in the time of King Arthur
b)
the court of a great queen
c)
an unknown country in the distant past
d)
a mythical kingdom at an unknown time
23.
What does the word reprove mean in these lines from “The Wife of Bath’s Tale”? Some say the things we most desire are these:
Freedom to do exactly as we please, With no one to reprove our faults and lies, Rather to have one call us good and wise.
Freedom to do exactly as we please, With no one to reprove our faults and lies, Rather to have one call us good and wise.
a)
scold
b)
congratulate
c)
allow
d)
encourage
24.
According to “The Wife of Bath’s Tale,” why was the knight condemned to die?
a)
He insulted the queen.
b)
He was a coward.
c)
He attacked a maiden.
d)
He disobeyed the king’s order.
25.
Which word is most nearly the same in meaning as garnished?
a)
tasted
b)
said
c)
caught
d)
decorated
26.
A sanguine person is usually ______________________.
a)
cautious
b)
angry
c)
cheerful
d)
bored
27.
In standing by to carve meat for his father at the table, the young Squire is showing himself to be _______________________.
a)
garnished
b)
prevaricating
c)
solicitous
d)
sanguine
28.
What theme does Chaucer convey in the Prologue to The Canterbury Tales?
a)
he conflicts inherent in society
b)
the basic evil of mankind
c)
the infinite variety of human nature
d)
the pitfalls of sensual pleasure
29.
By positioning his description of the Miller almost immediately after that of the Plowman, Chaucer accentuates
a)
the virtues of the Plowman
b)
he buffoonishness and criminality of the Miller
c)
the kinship between these two laborers
d)
the virtues of the Plowman as well as the buffoonishness and criminality of the Miller
30.
Which of the following is not an example of direct characterization?
a)
“He was an honest worker, good and true . . .”
b)
“. . . His mighty mouth was like a furnace door.”
c)
“Children were afraid when he appeared.”
d)
“He wore an fustian tunic stained and dark . . .”
31.
Using the who, what, where, when, why, and how questioning strategy to understand the following passage, write the letter of the phrase that best summarizes its meaning.
Whatever money from his friends he took / He spent on learning or another book / And prayed for them most earnestly, returning / Thanks to them thus for paying for his learning.
Whatever money from his friends he took / He spent on learning or another book / And prayed for them most earnestly, returning / Thanks to them thus for paying for his learning.
a)
Whatever money he borrowed from his friends he spent on his studies and books and then prayed earnestly for his friends as a way of giving them thanks.
b)
Whatever money he could get from his friends he spent on his studies and books, prayed for his books, and then returned thanks to his friends for paying for his learning.
c)
Whatever money he borrowed from his friends he spent on his studies and books, prayed for more books, and then sent his friends thank-you notes for paying for his learning.
d)
He stole his friend’s money, spent it on books, and then prayed his friends would return.
32.
Chaucer calls the Franklin’s girdle “white as morning milk” to
a)
Reiterate the Franklins obsession with food.
b)
Emphasize the Franklin’s personal cleanliness.
c)
Symbolize the Franklin’s purity of heart.
d)
Show the Franklin’s weakness for fancy clothes.
33.
What do the following lines suggest about the woman from Bath?
In all the parish not a dame dared stir / Towards the alter steps in front of her
In all the parish not a dame dared stir / Towards the alter steps in front of her
a)
She is a religious fanatic.
b)
She abhors the church.
c)
She is selfish and arrogant.She is selfish and arrogant.
d)
She disdains the company of women.
34.
Chaucer describes the Pardoner’s hair as “rat-tails” primarily to
a)
furnish realistic detail
b)
provide comic relief
c)
suggest the Pardoner’s obsession with current fashions
d)
imply moral corruption
35.
What can the reader infer about the Friar from these lines?
But anywhere a profit might accrue / Courteous he was and lowly of service too.
But anywhere a profit might accrue / Courteous he was and lowly of service too.
a)
He helps others make money.
b)
He is humble and servile.
c)
He has aspirations to be a merchant.
d)
He will use people to make money.
36.
Using the who, what, where, when, why, and how questioning strategy, write a letter of the phrase that best summarizes the meaning of the following passage.
He was an easy man in penance-giving/Where he could hope to make a decent living;/It’s a sure sign whenever girls are given/To a poor Order that a man’s well shriven./And should he give enough he knew to verify/The penitent repented in sincerity.
He was an easy man in penance-giving/Where he could hope to make a decent living;/It’s a sure sign whenever girls are given/To a poor Order that a man’s well shriven./And should he give enough he knew to verify/The penitent repented in sincerity.
a)
He gave out easy penances and absolution in exchange for gifts.
b)
He gave out easy penances and absolution in exchange for gifts whenever he thought he could get gifts from the confessors.
c)
He gave out easy penances and absolution in exchange for gifts whenever he thought he could get gifts from the confessors. He knew that if he exacted a large enough price for the sin that the penitent person would feel truly sorry for what he’d done.
d)
He gave out easy penances and absolution in exchange for gifts whenever he thought he could get gifts from the confessors. He knew that if he exacted a large enough price for the sin that the penitent person would feel truly sorry for what he’d done. In fact, whenever a poor group of friars receives gifts, you can be sure that someone has just received absolution for his sins.
37.
Which best describes Chaucer’s attitude toward the Nun?
a)
amused tolerance
b)
polite detachment
c)
marked scorn
d)
weary reproachfulness
38.
The narrator says he plans to “give account of all their words and dealings. / Using their very phrases as they fell.”
For which kind of characterization would an author provide such details?
For which kind of characterization would an author provide such details?
a)
direct characterization
b)
indirect characterization
c)
direct and indirect characterization
d)
dramatic characterization
39.
The narrator is portrayed as
a)
stern and judgmental
b)
sophisticated and worldly
c)
robust and merry
d)
naïve and observant
40.
Chaucer uses the pilgrimage as a device to
a)
emphasize the character’s religious aspirations
b)
frame the stories told by individual characters
c)
describe the rigors of medieval life
d)
create a vivid and realistic setting
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