Name _________________________________
Period ______
Part A: General Prologue
Section One: Introduction, Knight through Friar (Pages 3-10)
Comprehension Check
Directions: Complete the following activity by answering the questions using complete
sentences on a separate piece of paper.
1. Think about Chaucer’s description of the spring and draw conclusions about why these
signs might inspire a person to take a potentially long trip to see a sacred shrine.
2. Compare the Knight and the Squire by completing the Venn diagram like the one below.
Copy the chart onto your own page to complete. Use the descriptions given in the text to
complete the chart. The chart as been started for you.
Knight
wears subdued colors
Squire
wears brightly colored tunic
Both
good soldier
3. What do you think the phrase “charitably solicitous” means? (You may need to use a
dictionary for help.) Explain how the phrase can be defined as both a positive trait and a
negative trait. Decide which more closely describes the Prioress.
4. Chaucer gave the Prioress the name “Eglantyne.” It happens to be a type of rose that
grows on a briar. Think about the imagery of this rose and explain how it reflects the
characterization of the Prioress.
5. In what ways are the Monk and the Prioress similar?
6. Chaucer includes a friar among his religious pilgrims. Think about friars you have read
about previously or have seen in movies; make a list of the typical traits of a friar.
Include clothing, behavior, and anything else that would identify a person as being a
friar.
7. Think about the descriptions of each of the religious pilgrims (from Prioress to Friar)
and decide which one is the best example of a member of his or her order and which is
the worst. Defend your choices using evidence from the text.
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Name _________________________________
Period ______
Section Two: Merchant through Plowman (Pages 10-17)
Comprehension Check
Directions: Complete the following activity by answering the questions using
complete sentences on a separate piece of paper.
1. Reread the description of the Merchant and identify the lines that best represent
the satire.
a. Identify the character trait that is being satirized.
b. Cite the lines in which this satire appear and explain them.
2. Given what Chaucer the narrator says about the Merchant, infer the reason for
the Merchant’s concern with the Harwich-Holland ranges.
3. Describe the Cleric.
4. Explain how Chaucer undercuts his statement about the Serjeant at the Laws
being a wise man. Identify the key words or phrase that cast doubt on the
compliment.
5. A few lines down from the description of the Serjeant at the Laws as a “wise”
man, Chaucer the narrator again raises doubt about the credibility of this pilgrim.
a. Identify the trait that Chaucer the narrator doubts in this section.
b. Write the line(s) that raise doubt about this trait.
6. The Franklin is riding with the Serjeant at the Laws; at least it seems to be this
way to Chaucer the narrator. What is it about the Franklin that might make him
a good companion for the Serjeant at the Laws? Use the text to support your
response.
7. Find the lines that explain what it means to be “Epicurus’ very son.”
a. In your own words, what does this phrase mean, given the context?
b. Given this attribute, predict how the Franklin may behave while on the
trip.
8. Identify the lines that explain how the wives of the guildsmen (the Haberdasher,
Dyer, Carpenter, Weaver, and Carpet-maker) would benefit if their husbands
became aldermen, and explain these lines in your own words.
9. Thinking about the image of a cook with a nagging sore on his leg, suggest a
reason why this flaw might be a poor one for a cook to have.
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10. According to the text, what tools does the Doctor use to diagnose and heal
people? How do his tools and methods differ from current medical practice?
11. Assume for a moment that the tools and techniques the Doctor used were the top
of the line during his time and therefore signs of an honest practice. What is it
about the description of the Doctor that makes him sound a little dishonest?
12. Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales as an estate satire so you know he is poking
fun at different characters. What are the traits of the Franklin, the Skipper, and
Wife of Bath that Chaucer is most likely satirizing?
13. The Parson is said to be “a learned man, a clerk.” This means he has had a
similar education to the Cleric.
a. List two ways in which these pilgrims are similar.
b. List two ways in which they are different.
14. Reread the description of the Parson on pages 16 and 17. Which parts of this
description seem to be in direct contrast to the Friar? What conclusions can you
draw about Chaucer’s beliefs in the ideal priest from this contrast?
15. The description of the Plowman seems to be devoid of satire and this suggests
Chaucer finds something admirable in this pilgrim. Use his description to draw
conclusions about Chaucer’s impression of the ideal man.
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The Canterbury Tales Literature Guide
Name _________________________________
Period ______
Section Three: Miller through Pardoner (Pages 17-22)
Comprehension Check
Directions: Complete the following activity by answering the questions using
complete sentences on a separate piece of paper.
1. In what way is the description of the Miller similar to the description of the
Reeve?
2. What is it about the Manciple and the Reeve that makes them similar? Use lines
from the descriptions to support your response.
3. Compare the Miller, Summoner, and Pardoner to identify the trait they have in
common. Explain how this trait appears in all three pilgrims.
4. Keeping in mind Chaucer’s interest in satirizing his pilgrims, identify and explain
the lines that best represent a satire of the Pardoner.
5. Which of the pilgrims are bald? How does Chaucer’s description of each pilgrim’s
lack of hair add to the satire?
6. Chaucer the narrator points out many of the physical flaws that the pilgrims bear
to help the reader laugh at them, but it is not the case that all of the pilgrims are
given a physical description.
a. Identify those for whom there is very little or no description of his or her
appearance.
b. Given all you know about Chaucer’s intent with these descriptions, suggest
a reason why the descriptions of these pilgrims might not include their
appearance.
7. Research the meaning of the Charing Cross. Why does Chaucer the narrator
describe the Summoner and the Pardoner as, “A bird from the Charing Cross of
the same feather?”
8. Explain how the description of the Summoner’s appearance is as important to
building his personality as the description of his behavior.
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Name _________________________________
Period ______
Section Four: Conclusion of Prologue (Pages 22-26)
Comprehension Check
Directions: Complete the following activity by answering the questions using
complete sentences on a separate piece of paper.
1. The disclaimer can be seen as an attempt by Chaucer to disguise himself under
the persona of the narrator. Analyze the lines and identify four characteristics or
personality traits that the narrator seems to embrace in this disclaimer. Provide
evidence from the text to support your choices.
2. Write a paragraph in which you explain how Chaucer’s tales contradict the very
traits he is trying to espouse in the disclaimer. Use your knowledge of Chaucer
and the General Prologue to support your response.
3. Chaucer slips his disclaimer in after describing all of the pilgrims. On the
surface, this position makes sense because he has finished describing the
participants and is about to describe the nature of the contest. On the other
hand, we know Chaucer is clever and probably has another reason for positioning
the disclaimer where he does. Suggest a motive Chaucer might have for choosing
this position for the disclaimer.
4. What is the Host’s proposal?
5. The parameters of the contest can be broken down into four basic rules. List
them.
6. What criteria will be used to determine the best story?
7. The Host says “If Evensong and mattins will agree / Let’s see who shall be first to
tell a tale.” Evensong is the night before, and mattins is the morning when they
are gathered in preparation for their journey. What do you think the Host is
asking the Pilgrims before they begin their journey?
8. Using inference, determine a reason why the Host might anticipate one or more
of the pilgrims will have changed his or her mind.
9. Which of the pilgrims draws first? What does this order suggest?
10. How does the reader know someone is trying to cheat?
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