Canterbury Tales Online Discussion Questions
Prologue
1.Choose one character from the prologue and use the description of that
character to predict what type of story you think they might tell. Given the
descriptions of the various characters in the prologue, what type of story
(genre, style, sophistication, subject, theme[s], etc.) would you expect them
to tell? Use details from discussion to support your prediction.
Multiple Choice: List characters
2. Take a closer look at the contradiction of one character.
Chaucer created characters that possess qualities, characteristics, physical
attributes, etc. that seem to contradict their profession, social status/position
on the social hierarchy, gender, etc (i.e. the Cook has a festering wound on his
leg). Choose one character described in the prologue and analyze the seeming
contradiction in his/her character. Analyze the purpose of this.
Vote and Suggest
3. Is there character described in the prologue who does not possess a
character flaw or contradiction in character?
Yes/No
“Knight’s Tale”
1. Have you ever been on a journey to a destination that held religious,
spiritual or cultural significance for you and/or your family? What was the
significance of the destination? What was this experience like? How do you
pass the time during your travels? Who did you travel with?
Forum Question
2. What is the significance of the three temples erected outside of the
stadium where the tournament between Arcite and Palamon is to be held?
Why do you think these three gods were chosen to have temples built in their
honor? What do you learn about each character based on his/her decision to
visit a particular god's temple? Who do you think will be victorious in the
tournament: Arcite or Palamon? Does the god they align themselves with
determine their fate?
Vote and Suggest
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Canterbury Tales Online Discussion Questions
3. What aspects (characters, events, themes, etc.) in the “Knight’s Tale” Part
I reflect the Knight’s character, attributes, qualities, etc? Use the information
in the prologue as well as details from the story to support your answer!
Vote and Suggest Question
4. Is there anything you would sacrifice your own life to accomplish or gain as
Arcite and Palamon are willing to do to win Emelye’s hand?
Forum Question
5. Do you think Emelye is trapped in the traditional role of a woman during
this time period? Why or why not? Provide examples from the text to support
you answer.
Yes/No Question
6. Did you enjoy the ending of the “Knight’s Tale”? Were you happy with the
ending? Why or why not? Is it what you expected? Explain.
Yes/No Question
7. At the end of his story the Knight poses the question to the listeners,
rhetorically: who is worse off, Arcite or Palamon? What do you think? Which
man is experiencing worse torture in your opinion...Arcite or Palamon? Explain
your response.
2 Option Multiple Choice Question
8. How likely do you think it is that you will select the “Knight’s Tale” as your
favorite given your reaction to the story?
a)  Very likely! I enjoyed it.
b)  Somewhat likely.
c)  Unlikely; not my cup of tea.
d)  Definitely not!
Multiple Choice Question
“Nun’s Priest’s Tale”
1. As is the case with most Medieval Fables, this fable contains a subtext that
is subversive of the feudal system. How? How is this fable commenting on
the feudal order/social hierarchy? What do you think this subtext or deeper
meaning is? What is the metaphorical significance of each main character
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Canterbury Tales Online Discussion Questions
(Chanticleer, Lady Pertelote, and the Fox)? Use details from the fable to
support your assertions.
Vote and Suggest Question
2.What can you infer about the traditional role of a man in the Medieval Time
Period based on your reading of the “Nun’s Priest’s Tale”? Use details from the
fable of Chanticleer and the Fox to support your ideas. How is this role limiting
or liberating? Do you think our gender roles and/or expectations of men have
changed dramatically from the Medieval Period? Explain.
Vote and Suggest Question
3. Do you think the “Nun’s Priest’s Tale” is “the opposite of a tragedy”? After
the Monk has told his tale, the Knight pleads that no more tragedies be told.
He asks that someone tell a tale that is the opposite of tragedy, one that
narrates the extreme good fortune of someone previously brought low. Do you
think the "Nun's Priest's Tale" accomplishes this? Explain.
Yes/No Question
4.Do you think that the “Nun’s Priest’s Tale” was more enjoyable than the
“Knight’s Tale”? Why or why not?
Yes/No Question
“Summoner’s Tale”
1. Given your knowledge of the “Summoner’s Tale,” why do you think friars
during the middle ages were the “great object of criticism”? Friars are
described as "Roaming priests with no ties to a monastery, friars were a great
object of criticism in Chaucer’s time. Always ready to befriend young women
or rich men who might need his services, the friar actively administers the
sacraments in his town, especially those of marriage and confession."
Vote and Suggest Question
“Wife of Bath’s Tale”
1. Is the Wife of Bath’s tale reflective of her personality, beliefs, values, etc.?
Use details from the text to support your answer. Did anything about her tale
surprise you or seem to contradict her character as revealed in her prologue?
Did you enjoy her tale? Why or why not?
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Canterbury Tales Online Discussion Questions
2. Do you agree or disagree with the Wife of Bath’s assessment of what
women want as reflected in her tale? What do you think women really want
most in life? Do you agree that women want equality or superiority in
relationships most of all?
Vote and Suggest Question
“Clerk’s Tale”
1. In what way[s] is the “Clerk’s Tale” told in response to the “Wife of Bath’s
Tale”? How are their views on the role of women in relationships, family,
marriage and/or society different?
Vote and Suggest Question
2. Does it surprise you that an educated scholar like the Clerk would tell this
story?
In your opinion, do the characters, sequence of events, theme[s], etc. reflect
his vast academic knowledge? What type of story would you have expected
him to tell given the description of the Clerk in the prologue?
Yes/No Question
“Franklin’s Tale”
1. How is the three way love affair plot structure from the “The Knight’s Tale”
echoed in the “Franklin’s Tale”? Which story did you find most engaging?
Explain. Support your ideas with textual evidence.
Forum Question
2. Is “The Franklin’s Tale” a compromise between the views on love/marriage
expressed by both the Wife of Bath and the Clerk? How is marriage described
in “The Franklin’s Tale”? Support your statements with evidence from the tale.
Which character’s definition of love or view of marriage do you identify with
most?
Yes/No Question
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Canterbury Tales Online Discussion Questions
Culminating Question
Which story from The Canterbury Tales was your favorite? Why?
a)  “Knight’s Tale”
b)  “Nun’s Priest’s Tale”
c)  “Pardoner’s Tale”
d)  “Summoner’s Tale”
e)  “Wife of Bath’s Tale”
f)  “Clerk’s Tale”
g)  “Franklin’s Tale”
Multiple Choice Question
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