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The Canterbury Tales: The Prologue

Total questions: 16

Worksheet time: 12mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which idea is expressed most clearly in the Prologue?

a)

the conflicts inherent in society

b)

the basic evils of mankind

c)

the endless variety of human nature

d)

the faults of the church during the middle ages

2.

Which of the following best describes the Nun (the Prioress)?

a)

educated and wise

b)

sentimental and refined

c)

funny and loud

d)

popular and outgoing

3.

What brings the characters together in the Prologue?

a)

They all work for the church

b)

They are all member of the Nun's entourage

c)

They are looking for a fun, easy trip

d)

They are making a religious journey to a cathedral

4.

Which qualities of the Monk are most uncharacteristic of a typical monk? Choose three options.

a)

His horses and greyhounds

b)

His frequent praying

c)

His personable nature

d)

The fine jewelry he wears

e)

His fur-lined clothing

5.

What directive does the Host give the characters at the end of the Prologue?

a)

He asks them for donations to help support his Inn

b)

He asks them to judge the story he is about to tell

c)

He tells them to let him go on the trip for free

d)

He tells them to tell stories on the trip

6.

What is the definition for eminent?

a)

rising above others in rank or achievement

b)

having a pleasant manner

c)

to be courageous

d)

conscientious and hard-working

7.

What is the definition for discreet?

a)

conscientious and hard-working

b)

rising above others in rank or achievement

c)

careful about what one says or does; prudent

d)

truthfulness; good faith

8.

What is the definition for diligent?

a)

having a pleasant manner

b)

to be courageous

c)

conscientious and hard-working

d)

rising above others in rank or achievement

9.

What is most likely true about the Friar?

a)

He uses people for money

b)

He wants to be a merchant

c)

He is pious and friendly

d)

He is always helpful to others

10.

What is most likely true about the Wife of Bath?

a)

She is shy but very popular

b)

She is very religious

c)

She is selfish and arrogant

d)

She hates the church

11.

Which is the best description of the Oxford Cleric (the Clerk)?

a)

He likes to steal his friends' money and pray that they will forgive him

b)

He spends all of his time praying for more books

c)

His friends refuse to give him money because he wastes it all on books

d)

He likes to spend the money his friends give him on books and prays for them as a sign of gratitude

12.

What is most likely true of the speaker's opinion of members of the clergy?

a)

He finds a number of them insincere and greedy

b)

He is in awe of their good faith

c)

He is indifferent towards them and their beliefs

d)

He respects their work but not their beliefs

13.

How do the author’s descriptions of the characters most clearly create comments on society?

a)

He places importance on the character's social class and appearance

b)

He provides details that show how the characters act in real-life situations

c)

He includes many different characters on different life paths

d)

He quotes various characters remarks in different situations

14.

What is an example of indirect characterization?

a)

The speaker describing how talented certain characters are

b)

The speaker describing the characters' personalities in detail

c)

The speaker giving accounts of everything the characters say

d)

The speaker describing the details of the characters' physical appearance

15.

What is an example of direct characterization?

a)

His face scared children as he walked by.

b)

The boy had a mouth like a furnace door.

c)

The boy was an honest worker who always did what he was told.

d)

The boy liked to sleep all day and never woke up on time.

16.

What dose the suffix -able mean?

a)

the act, practice, or process of doing something

b)

capable of being or worthy of being

c)

pertaining to

d)

incapable of being OR unworthy