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WorksheetsThe Canterbury Tales - Prologue
Total questions: 28
Worksheet time: 14mins
Who did the narrator meet at the Tabbard Inn?
the King of England
the Archbishop of Canterbury
29 pilgrims
St. Thomas a Becket
Why was everyone at The Tabbard?
There was a band of highwaymen on the road and the people were afraid to travel.
They were on their way making a pilgrimage to Canterbury.
They had come to celebrate the baptism of the King's youngest son.
Over half the group had taken ill. They were recuperating at the inn.
What were they going to see?
the relics of the True Cross
a special presentation of the Passion play
a spring that was supposed to have miraculous healing powers
the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket
He has been in many battles. He was true and gentle.
The Knight
The Yeoman
The Sergeant at the Law
The Merchant
He was the son of the Knight, in his twenties, agile, strong, and happy-go-lucky.
The Plowman
The Squire
The Reeve
The Pardoner
He was the Squire's servant. He was a woodsman, a Robin Hood type of character.
The Host
The Shipman
The Yeoman
The Manciple
She spoke French, was dainty and pleasant, and the picture of medieval beauty.
The Prioress/Nun
The Wife of Bath
The Cook
The Weaver
These people were in the nun's group.
One priest and three students
Four nuns
Two converts, one priest, and one nun
One nun and three priests
He was bald and fat. He had a preference for fine clothes and luxuries. He didn't like hard work, but he did like to ride.
The Knight
The Monk
The Squire
The Franklin
He takes bribes for easy penance. He knows the taverns and barmaids better than he does the lepers and beggars. He is rather aristocratic, and he lisps.
The Pardoner
The Parson
The Friar
The Summoner
He has a forked beard and a motley coat. He is careful with money, a good negotiator, and always tells his opinions about business.
The Haberdasher
The Shipman
The Merchant
The Host
This pilgrim was an Oxford student who didn't say much, didn't have a job, and just loved learning for the sake of learning.
The Clerk
The Squire
The Franklin
The Prioress/Nun
He seemed wise. He made a lot of money. He seemed busier than he really was.
The Knight
The Squire
The Manciple
The Sergeant at the Law
He looked a little like Santa Claus. He liked to eat, drink, and be merry. He was a country gentleman with a dagger and a silk purse.
The Yeoman
The Franklin
The Host
The Pharmacist
What tradesmen were there?
a minstrel, barrel-maker, tailor, reeve
a merchant, teacher, lawyer, potter, weaver
a haberdasher, dyer, carpenter, weaver, carpet-maker
a clerk, carpenter, barrel-maker, plowman, haberdasher
This pilgrim was a master of the trade, had a sore on one knee, and was physically rather a disgusting character.
The Plowman
The Cook
The Wife of Bath
The Summoner
He was from Dartmouth, didn't ride well, and was a good navigator. He had little conscience about killing the enemy, and seemed rather like a pirate.
The Miller
The Knight
The Reeve
The Shipman
He knew his profession well, and took kickbacks from one in another profession. He was not particularly religious. He was dressed in red and blue-grey garments, and loved gold.
The Doctor
The Squire
The Pharmacist
The Manciple
This pilgrim was large and somewhat deaf, had a red complexion, wore a wide hat and spurs and had been married several times.
The Host
The Cook
The Wife of Bath
The Shipman
This pilgrim was truly Christ-like; patient, giving, holy and virtuous, and didn't believe in pomp or glory. He practiced what he preached.
The Monk
The Friar
The Parson
The Pardoner
He was the Parson's brother. He was an honest worker who paid his taxes on time.
The Reeve
The Plowman
The Shipman
The Haberdasher
He had a football-player build. He had a red bear, a wart on his nose, and a filthy mouth. He cheated customers and in his spare time played the bagpipes.
The Miller
The Cook
The Clerk
The Merchant
He was a shred buyer. Lawyers with all their knowledge were no match for him. He purchased well and kept the extra money for himself. He stole the lawyers blind.
The Franklin
The Manciple
The Sergeant at the Law
The Merchant
He was old, choleric, and thin. He was a good manager and a good carpenter, feared by the farm workers. He usually brought up the rear of the party, lagging behind.
The Pardoner
The Friar
The Squire
The Reeve
He had a red face full of sores. He ate onions and drank too much. He would take bribes, had a garland of flowers on his head, and held a cake like a shield.
The Summoner
The Cook
The Haberdasher
The Miller
This pilgrim sang in a strong voice, had long, yellow hair, bulging eyes, was baby-faced and carried a bunch of false relics to sell.
The Friar
The Monk
The Pardoner
The Prioress/Nun
His name was Harry Bailly. He was manly, good-natured, and happy.
The Knight
The Host
The Shipman
The Franklin
What does the host propose to the pilgrims?
He proposes that they memorize Bible verses and recite them to the group each evening. The host will keep account of the number each pilgrim memorizes. The pilgrim who memorizes the most will receive a monetary reward from the rest.
He proposes that they stop three times each day (morning, noon, and evening) for prayers, and that a different pilgrim will lead the prayers each day.
He proposes that hey convert people along the way and take them on the pilgrimage. He convinces the Pardoner to offer special indulgences to the pilgrims who got converts to join them.
He proposes that they each tell two stories on the way to and from their destination. The winner will get a free meal at the expense of the others. The Host will ride along and be the judge. Anyone who doesn't abide by his rule will have to pay everyone's way.
