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WorksheetsMedieval British Literature
Total questions: 63
Worksheet time: 29mins
What battle in 1066 brought a Norman king to the English throne?
Normandy
Maldon
Hastings
Winchester
The Normans came from a region in present-day
France
Belgium
Denmark
Norway
The term we use to identify the social system of medieval England and Europe is
chivalry
feudalism
monasticism
socialism
An important characteristic of feudalism was its
Religious and political freedom
Surprising personal freedom
Considerable social mobility
Fixed class positions
What legendary figure arose from this time period’s ballads?
Robin Hood
Count of Monte Cristo
Dracula
Captain Hook
According to the Host’s plan in The Canterbury Tales, each pilgrim would tell
two tales
four tales (2 tales on the way and 2 tales on the way back from the pilgrimage)
six tales
as many tales as he or she wished
The pilgrims are traveling to Canterbury in The Canterbury Tales because
The shrine of Saint Thomas á Becket is there
The want to avoid the plague in London
The innkeeper has dared them to make the journey
They plan to travel throughout England
In The Canterbury Tales, the pilgrim who tells the best tale during the journey will be rewarded with
a free dinner at the end of the pilgrimage
a free pardon from sins provided by the Pardoner
an opportunity to sit with the knight at the head of the table
a free stay at the inn during the next pilgrimage
The first writer to achieve real greatness in English literature and also the writer of The Canterbury Tales is
Sir Thomas Malory
John Wycliff
Geoffrey Chaucer
Caedmon
The author of The Canterbury Tales uses a pilgrimage to Canterbury to link numerous characters and tales. This form that tells stories within stories is an example of
pastoral poem
frame narrative
satire
exemplum
In “The Prologue,” the author of The Canterbury Tales’ main objective is to
analyze religious customs
reveal the narrator’s thoughts
introduce his cast of characters
describe a London inn
Every level of society in medieval England is represented among the pilgrims in The Canterbury Tales with one exception. This exception is
the merchant class
the clergy
royalty
the peasantry
Chaucer’s characterizations of the Prioress, Monk, and others connected with the Church are mainly
idealized
realistic
flattering
satirical
In The Canterbury Tales, who tells the story of two men who must fight to the death for the love of Emily; ironically questions love and chivalry
The Monk
Franklin
Cook
The Knight
In The Canterbury Tales, who does not follow the rules of the monastery as evidenced by his fondness for hunting and the finer things in life?
The Monk
Franklin
Cook
The Knight
Wealthy landowner who enjoys good company; parties at his house all the time in The Canterbury Tales
The Monk
Franklin
Cook
The Knight
this pilgrim in The Canterbury Tales has ulcers on his knees but makes the best creamy chicken dish
The Monk
Franklin
Cook
The Knight
Son of the knight; inexperienced and lovesick in The Canterbury Tales
Yeoman
Squire
Sergeant-at-Law
Summoner
“Robin Hood” figure in The Canterbury Tales who knew woodcraft
Yeoman
Squire
Sergeant-at-Law
Summoner
Zit-faced, scabby eye-browed church official in The Canterbury Tales who can pardon indiscretions for a price
Yeoman
Squire
Sergeant-at-Law
Summoner
Know-it-all lawyer in The Canterbury Tales who is self-important; tells story of talking crow
Yeoman
Squire
Sergeant-at-Law
Summoner
The tender-hearted nun in The Canterbury Tales who feeds her dogs from the table
Friar Hubert
Oxford Cleric
Prioress
Merchant
A student in The Canterbury Tales who would rather read than eat
Friar Hubert
Oxford Cleric
Prioress
Merchant
Despicable figure in The Canterbury Tales who does not help those that he is expected to help (i.e. lepers) and prefers to hang out with rich people and women in bars; tells a story about going to the Devil
Friar Hubert
Oxford Cleric
Prioress
Merchant
Good negotiator in The Canterbury Tales; knows world currency but is in debt; tells the story of an old man literally blinded by the love of his very young wife
Friar Hubert
Oxford Cleric
Prioress
Merchant
Honest worker in The Canterbury Tales who paid tithes to the church
Doctor
Miller
Shipman/Skipper
Plowman
Pilgrim in The Canterbury Tales who gets kick-backs from apothecaries; doesn’t believe in the Bible
Doctor
Miller
Shipman/Skipper
Plowman
This pilgrim in The Canterbury Tales makes fun of the a Reeve in his story about an unfaithful wife and a flood; has a wart on his nose
Doctor
Miller
Shipman/Skipper
Plowman
This pilgrim in The Canterbury Tales is not used to life on land as evidenced by inability to ride a horse; known to make prisoners walk the plank
Doctor
Miller
Shipman/Skipper
Plowman
Wise, thin auditor of estate in The Canterbury Tales; peasants fear him
Wife of Bath
Parson
Reeve
Host
This pilgrim in The Canterbury Tales proposes a story-telling contest in which the winner will receive a feast at the other pilgrims’ expense
Wife of Bath
Parson
Reeve
Host
An independent woman in The Canterbury Tales who is so offended by one pilgrim’s tale that she tells a story about what women really want
Wife of Bath
Parson
Reeve
Host
One of the few truly holy church officials in Chaucer’s work; he does not leave his flock despite promise of riches elsewhere
Wife of Bath
Parson
Reeve
Host
What did the knight do to warrant the punishment of beheading in "The Wife of Bath's Tale"?
He killed a Friar.
He robbed the king's treasury and gave it to the poor.
He refused to follow the king's orders.
He raped a young maiden.
In "The Wife of Bath's Tale," who saved the knight, and under what condition was he let go?
The King saved him, under the condition that he leave the country and never return.
The priest saved him, under the condition that he enter a monastery and remain there for the rest of his life.
The Queen saved him, under the condition that he would come back in one year's time and tell her the one thing women wanted above all else.
The court sorcerer saved him, under the condition that he become an apprentice sorcerer.
In "The Wife of Bath's Tale," what deal did the knight make on his way home after the year had almost ended?
He met a priest who worked with the poor. The knight promised the priest he would work for a year and give everything he earned to the poor.
He met an old woman who told him the answer to the queen's question and under the condition that he would grant her next request if it would be in his power to do so.
He met a sorcerer who said he could erase everyone's memory of the knight's evil deed. In return, the knight would have to spend the rest of his life doing good deeds and carrying a message of peace to other knights.
He met a beautiful girl and fell in love with her. She agreed to marry him after he had saved twelve other maidens from the crime which he had committed.
What was the answer to the Queen's question I=in "The Wife of Bath's Tale"?
All women want to marry, regardless of the kind of man they marry.
All women want to be young and beautiful forever.
All women want to be happy, above all else.
All women want to be masters of their husbands.
In "The Wife of Bath's Tale," what did the woman ask of the knight in return for saving his life?
She asked him to marry her.
She asked him to give her a purse filled with gold.
She asked him to return in one year to help her harvest her crops.
She asked him to sacrifice his life in order that she could become young again.
In "The Wife of Bath's Tale," the knight kept his word and married her, but he was miserable. What options did the old woman give him?
She would release him in one year if he would devote that year to loving her.
He could be unfaithful to her, but he would never be happy.
He could have her old and faithful or young and perhaps not so faithful.
He could leave her, but never marry again.
In “The Pardoner's Tale,” what bargain or agreement did the rioters make at the tavern?
They agreed to stop rioting if the Pardoner could find wives for all of them.
They agreed to stop all sin within a hundred miles of the tavern.
They agreed to hunt down Death.
They agreed to go with the Pardoner and earn money for the church.
In “The Pardoner's Tale,” they three rioters met an old man as they began their journey. What was the old man's problem?
He had been very sinful in his youth. He could not die until he had confessed each sin to a different priest or Pardoner, and made a donation to each of them.
He would keep getting new illnesses unless he could convert at least one person a day. Most people didn't want to listen to him, because he was so old and diseased.
He would gain eternal life if he could find a beautiful young woman to love and marry him.
He had to roam the earth until he had found someone who would trade youth for age.
In “The Pardoner's Tale,” where does the old man send the rioters?
He sent them to the Holy Land.
He sent them up the road to an oak tree.
He sent them to a hidden cave in the forest.
He sent them to the shrine at Canterbury.
In “The Pardoner's Tale,” what did the three rioters find where the old man sent them?
They found three beautiful women waiting for them.
They found eight bushels of gold.
They found a bag full of jewels.
They found jewelry and golden swords.
In “The Pardoner's Tale,” why did the three rioters have to bring the treasure home at night?
They were afraid someone would think they had stolen it.
They were afraid the Pardoner would see them and demand that they turn it over to the church.
They didn't want any highwaymen to rob them.
It was so heavy to carry that it got them overheated in the bright sun. It was easier to carry it at night.
In “The Pardoner's Tale,” what plan did the two other youths make to kill the one when he returned from town?
They would ambush him, tie him up, and throw him in the river.
They would cut off his head while he slept.
They would set him on fire.
One would talk to him and the other would come up from behind and stab him.
In “The Pardoner's Tale,” what plan did the one who went to town make to kill the two others when he got back?
He was going to stab them while they slept.
He was going to let the horse trample them.
He was going to poison them.
He had hired two thugs to kill them as they brought the treasure home.
In “The Pardoner's Tale,” who died and how did it happen?
The one died when they stabbed him.
All three died. The two stabbed the one, and then they unknowingly drank the poisoned wine.
Only the two died when the horse trampled them.
They all died. The thugs killed the two men, then killed the one who had hired them
A typical ballad stanza, consisting of four lines, is termed a
refrain
triolet
quatrain
rhyming couplet
Common ballad topics and themes included all of the following except
disappointed love
jealousy
deeds of daring and adventure
tales from Greek mythology
A cottage door was left unlocked in “Get Up and Bar the Door” because a
husband and wife were absent-minded
lock had rusted and wouldn’t turn
husband and wife were both stubborn
married couple expected visitors
When two rude visitors moved to cut off his beard and kiss his wife, the husband
spoke first and lost the contest
attacked the visitors in a fury
let them kiss his willing wife
cried out in dismay and spilled the pudding water
Which selection tells the story of a tragic love?
“Get Up and Bar the Door”
“The Pardoner’s Tale”
“Sir Patrick Spens”
“Barbara Allan”
What is the main reason that Gawain seeks out the Green Knight after their first encounter in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight?
He wants vengeance.
He has given the Green Knight his word.
He has no reason to fear the Green Knight.
He doesn’t want to be known as a traitor.
In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, by accepting the green belt and keeping it secret, Gawain
prevents injury to his body
saves the lady’s life
destroys the Green Knight’s magic
fails the test of faith.
A code of brave and courteous conduct for knights was
Coat of arms
Siege perilous
Chivalry
Heraldry
Who is the wizard who helped raise King Arthur under the guardianship of Sir Ector?
Merlin
Frick
Mab
The Lady of the Lake
King Arthur’s Queen Guinevere was unfaithful with which of his Knights of the Round Table?
Sir Gawain
Sir Galahad
Sir Lancelot
Sir Bedivere
In the Le Morte D’ Arthur excerpt from the textbook, who visits Arthur in his dream
Merlin
Mordred
Sir Gawain
Sir Galahad
In Le Morte D’ Arthur, what must Arthur do to save his life according to this person in his dream
Begin a battle immediately
Hold off on battling until Lancelot’s return
Give up his throne
Make friends with his enemies
In Le Morte D’ Arthur, the killing of what animal causes one of the knights to show his sword and inadvertently start the battle that will end Arthur’s life?
Horse
Bear
Scorpion
Snake
Who dies in the Le Morte D’ Arthur excerpt from the textbook,
thousands of men
Mordred
King Arthur
All of the above
In Le Morte D’ Arthur, Arthur’s final request of Sir Bedivere is for him to do what?
Give Merlin the sword
Throw Excalibur into the lake
Become a holy man
Bury him
True or False? Sir Bedivere is successful in completing this request the first time it is requested in Le Morte D’ Arthur .
True
False
