The Canterbury Tales Unit Test(FATHER OF ENGLISH LITERATURE)
1. The author of the Canterbury Tales is Geoffrey
Chaucer, the : Father of English literature
2. What time period of the English language is this story
written in?: Middle English
3. Though a loyal Catholic, why did Chaucer criticize and poke
fun at the Catholic Church and people of religious orders?: He
wanted to inspire reform of its corruption and worldliness.
4. Frame story: a collection of stories which is tied together by a
common interest
5.Satire: A literally technique which employs humor to mock and
ridicule a subject, but with the intention of reform.
6. Verbal Irony: The actual meaning of a statement is different,
often opposite, than what is said.
7. Sarcasm: the use of exaggerated praise to imply dispraise
(specific in intent, more hurtful)
8. What is the central theme that ties all these stories
together?: A pilgrimage.
9. What two social classes are not represented by the
pilgrims?: the royal nobility and the serfs
10.What is the setting of the prologue?: The Tabard Inn in
Southwark
11.Pilgrimage: a long journey to a shrine or holy site taken by
1/
,people who wish to express their devotion
12.Where are the pilgrims going?: The shrine of St. Thomas
Becket, killed by King Henry's men, in Canterbury
13.How many pilgrims, besides Chaucer's narrator, are going
on the pilgrim- age?: 29
14.What is the Host's name?: Harry Bailey
15.What does the Host propose to pass the time on the
journey?: Each pilgrim will tell two tales going and two tales back.
16.What is the Host's three roles on the pilgrim?: Guide, judge,
and mediator.
17.What is the prize for the one who tells the best tale?: A
free dinner, paid by the other pilgrims, at the Tabard Inn.
18.What is the consequence should someone act out of line
while tales are told?: The person is to pay for the entire journey.
2/
, 19.How is it decided who tells the first tale?: The pilgrims draw
cuts (cast lots, draw straws), and the one with the shortest cut tells
their tale first.
20.Who tells the first tale?: The Knight
21.Romances: tales of chivalry
22.Fabliaux: short, bawdy, humorous stories
23.Allegory: A literary work in which characters, objects, or
actions represent abstraction ideas
24.Estates Satire: a genre which satirizes the abuses that occur
within three traditional social classes
25.What are the Three Estates?: Clergy (1), Nobility (2), Common
workers and peasants (3)
26.How many tales are told instead of the intended 120?: 24
27.Knight: -Upperclass nobleman that just came back from war
-Admired by the narrator
-Described as true, gentle, modest, humble, and perfect
-Goes on the pilgrimage to give thanks to God for his successfulness in
battle
28.Squire: -The Knight's young son
-Ladies-man
-Loving, courteous, agile
-Embroided flowers on his tunic, long gold hair, flamboyant yet
manly (lightly mocked)
3/
1. The author of the Canterbury Tales is Geoffrey
Chaucer, the : Father of English literature
2. What time period of the English language is this story
written in?: Middle English
3. Though a loyal Catholic, why did Chaucer criticize and poke
fun at the Catholic Church and people of religious orders?: He
wanted to inspire reform of its corruption and worldliness.
4. Frame story: a collection of stories which is tied together by a
common interest
5.Satire: A literally technique which employs humor to mock and
ridicule a subject, but with the intention of reform.
6. Verbal Irony: The actual meaning of a statement is different,
often opposite, than what is said.
7. Sarcasm: the use of exaggerated praise to imply dispraise
(specific in intent, more hurtful)
8. What is the central theme that ties all these stories
together?: A pilgrimage.
9. What two social classes are not represented by the
pilgrims?: the royal nobility and the serfs
10.What is the setting of the prologue?: The Tabard Inn in
Southwark
11.Pilgrimage: a long journey to a shrine or holy site taken by
1/
,people who wish to express their devotion
12.Where are the pilgrims going?: The shrine of St. Thomas
Becket, killed by King Henry's men, in Canterbury
13.How many pilgrims, besides Chaucer's narrator, are going
on the pilgrim- age?: 29
14.What is the Host's name?: Harry Bailey
15.What does the Host propose to pass the time on the
journey?: Each pilgrim will tell two tales going and two tales back.
16.What is the Host's three roles on the pilgrim?: Guide, judge,
and mediator.
17.What is the prize for the one who tells the best tale?: A
free dinner, paid by the other pilgrims, at the Tabard Inn.
18.What is the consequence should someone act out of line
while tales are told?: The person is to pay for the entire journey.
2/
, 19.How is it decided who tells the first tale?: The pilgrims draw
cuts (cast lots, draw straws), and the one with the shortest cut tells
their tale first.
20.Who tells the first tale?: The Knight
21.Romances: tales of chivalry
22.Fabliaux: short, bawdy, humorous stories
23.Allegory: A literary work in which characters, objects, or
actions represent abstraction ideas
24.Estates Satire: a genre which satirizes the abuses that occur
within three traditional social classes
25.What are the Three Estates?: Clergy (1), Nobility (2), Common
workers and peasants (3)
26.How many tales are told instead of the intended 120?: 24
27.Knight: -Upperclass nobleman that just came back from war
-Admired by the narrator
-Described as true, gentle, modest, humble, and perfect
-Goes on the pilgrimage to give thanks to God for his successfulness in
battle
28.Squire: -The Knight's young son
-Ladies-man
-Loving, courteous, agile
-Embroided flowers on his tunic, long gold hair, flamboyant yet
manly (lightly mocked)
3/
