Name _________________________________
Period ______
Monk’s Tale
Note-Taking and Summarizing Chart
Directions: Complete the Note-Taking and Summarizing Chart below to help you
remember the events of each tale. Fill in the chart using bullet points or phrases. After
you have completed the four categories for Summary, Characters, Theme, and Narrator,
analyze why Chaucer included this pilgrim’s tale in the collection. What is Chaucer’s
message through this particular pilgrim’s tale?
Monk’s Tale
Summary of the Tale
Characters Involved in the Tale
Theme or Message of the Tale
What We Learn About the Narrator
Why This Tale is Important to the Whole
©2011 Secondary Solutions
- 123 -
The Canterbury Tales Literature Guide
Name _________________________________
Period ______
Monk’s Tale
Comprehension Check
Directions: As you read the Monk’s Tale, complete the following activity. Answer
the questions using complete sentences on a separate piece of paper.
1. The Monk’s Tale is different from the others in that it is actually a collection of
short tales all designed to teach one lesson. He states the lesson in the very first
stanza. What is it?
2. What do Lucifer and Adam have in common?
3. What is the common thread between Samson and Hercules?
4. Identify the tales wherein the main character’s pride was the reason for his or her
downfall. Briefly explain how pride was a factor in each tale.
5. Which of the main characters were victims of envy?
6. Identify the tales that have not yet been discussed and explain what led to the
downfall of the main character in each tale.
7. Separate the main characters into two groups: biblical/mythical associations
and historical figures. Those that appear in both categories should be placed in
both categories. You may have to use the Internet or other resources for help.
8. Use your resources to look up the stories behind five of either the
biblical/mythological associations or historical figures. Write down your
findings, noting the source from which you gathered your information. What
themes or commonalities are evident in the stories?
9. Which literary device does the Monk employ when he discusses Fortune?
Provide a quote from one of the tales to support your response.
10. The Monk’s Tale provides a lesson about Fortune, but also implies there are
penalties for being prideful and ostentatious. Nebuchadnezzar is one example,
and his son is another. Yet, in the description of the Monk in the General
Prologue it says he did not follow the ways of his order, “He was a prelate (high
church official) fit for exhibition / He was not pale as a tormented soul”(8). The
implication from his description is that monks were supposed to follow rules,
study the bible, and be devoted to God in a way that would make them appear as
tormented souls rather than wealthy individuals. Therefore, it seems to be the
case that Chaucer the Narrator was saying the Monk may have had a problem
with pride and ostentation, himself. Given that, how is the Monk’s Tale ironic?
©2011 Secondary Solutions
- 124 -
The Canterbury Tales Literature Guide
Name _________________________________
Period ______
Monk’s Tale
Standards Focus: Rhyme Scheme and Meter
The structure of a poem is an important factor to include when analyzing poetry.
Rhyme scheme and meter are two of the elements that comprise the structure of a
poem. Rhyme scheme refers to the last sound in each line and pattern of these sounds
throughout the stanza and entire poem. Meter is the rhythm of a poem, which is
usually dependent on the number of syllables in a line and the way those syllables are
accented. These two elements help the reader understand how to say the poem with
proper emphasis. Understanding how to read a poem and where to apply emphasis
helps the reader grasp the intended message.
Rhyme Scheme
Directions: For this activity, you will be completing a table following the guidelines
below. An example has been done for you (see the Example table using Holofernes
below).
For each poem:
a. Identify the last word of each line of the stanza (Column 1).
b. Identify the last sound of the last word in each line. (Column 2). Remember,
rhyme scheme follows the sound and not the spelling of that sound.
c. Label the last sound of the first line “a” (Column 3).
d. Scan the rest of the lines in the stanza and put an “a” next to any that also have
this sound.
e. Starting at line 1, find the first line that does not have a label.
f. Label the last sound of this line “b” (Column 3).
g. Scan the rest of the lines in the stanza and put a “b” next to any lines that share
this sound.
h. Starting with line 1, find the next line that has not yet been labeled.
i. Label the last sound of this line “c” (Column 3).
j. Scan the rest of the lines in the stanza and put a “c” next to any lines that have
this sound.
k. Once all of the sounds have been labeled, write out the pattern of the letters.
l. Scan the remaining stanzas of the poem to see if they, too, follow this pattern.
Example: Holofernes (P. 206)
Column 1
Line Last word in each line of
#
stanza 1
1
king
2
subjection
3
everything
4
insurrection
5
predilection
6
fair
7
affection
8
aware
Column 2
Last sound of each line
in the first stanza
ing
shun
ing
shun
shun
air
shun
air
Column 3
Rhyme Scheme Letter
Attributed to the Sound
a
b
a
b
b
c
b
c
So, by looking at column three, you see that the rhyme scheme for Holofernes is abab bcbc.
©2011 Secondary Solutions
- 125 -
The Canterbury Tales Literature Guide
Name _________________________________
Period ______
Use the tables below to complete the same task for Alexander, Julius Caesar, and
Nebuchadnezzar. Use the steps to guide your work.
Table 1: Alexander (P. 208)
Column 1
Line Last word in each line of
#
stanza 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Column 2
Last sound of each line
in the first stanza
Column 3
Rhyme Scheme Letter
Attributed to the Sound
Column 2
Column 3
Column 2
Column 3
Rhyme Scheme:
Table 2: Julius Caesar (P. 210)
Line
Column 1
#
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Rhyme Scheme:
Table 3: Nebuchadnezzar (P. 194)
Line
Column 1
#
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Rhyme Scheme:
©2011 Secondary Solutions
- 126 -
The Canterbury Tales Literature Guide
Name _________________________________
Period ______
Part Two: Meter
Another element in the structure of poetry is meter. Before you can understand
meter, you have to learn about accented and unaccented syllables and feet.
Syllables are accented in daily language to add emphasis in certain places. Think
about a mother calling her child. The phrase, “Geoffrey, come here now” can be
accented to provide different messages. An accent on the first syllable, “GEOFfrey,
come here now” might imply that there are multiple children and the parent wants to
get Geoffrey’s attention, whereas adding an accent to the last syllable seems to
suggest Geoffrey is in big trouble, “GEOFfrey, come here NOW!”
A foot consists of one accented syllable and one or two unaccented syllables. These
syllables do not have to be contained in one word. If the foot consists of two syllables
it is knows as a duple meter (to help remember this, think of the word duplicate: a
duplicate is a copy of something, so you have two.) If the second syllable is
accented, then the foot is called iambic. Two syllables that are equally accented as
in “true blue” are called spondaic.
Meter refers to the number of feet in a line. An easy way to find the meter is to
count the number of syllables in the line and divide by two. Then, use the Latin
stems for the number mono (1), di (2), tri (3), tetra (4), penta (5), hexa (6)). Suppose
a line has 10 syllables. If you divide ten by two, you get five. The Latin stem for five
is “penta.” Add “penta” to “meter” and you have “pentameter.”
Directions: Find the meter for each of the poems listed.
1. Find the meter for Hercules. Hint: Sometimes pronunciation can vary across
time and place. For this reason, it is important to scan the number of syllables in
more than one line before determining a pronunciation choice. For example,
some people pronounce “sovereign” with three syllables while others use only
two. Using the three syllable version would give line 1 of Hercules eleven
syllables. However, the second, third, and fourth lines of this poem each have ten
syllables. Therefore, the correct pronunciation of “sovereign” for this poem
consists of two syllables.
a. How many syllables are in line 2?
b. How many syllables are in line 10?
c. How many syllables are in line 22?
d. Look at the feet. Do they consist of two or three syllables?
e. Where is the accent placed in each foot?
f. Because of the number of syllables and where the accent is placed on the
syllable, the meter is:
g. Scan at least 3 more lines of the poem. Does the rest of the poem follow the
same pattern? If yes, what is the pattern of this poem? (Hint: foot/meter)
©2011 Secondary Solutions
- 127 -
The Canterbury Tales Literature Guide
Name _________________________________
Period ______
2. Find the meter of Zenobia.
a. How many syllables are in line 2?
b. How many syllables are in line 10?
c. How many syllables are in line 22?
d. Look at the feet. Do they consist of two or three syllables?
e. Where is the accent placed in each foot?
f. Because of the number of syllables and where the accent is placed on the
syllable, the meter is:
g. Scan at least 3 more lines of the poem. Does the rest of the poem follow the
same pattern? If yes, what is the pattern of this poem?
3. Find the meter of Words of the Host to the Monk.
a. How many syllables are in line 2?
b. How many syllables are in line 10?
c. How many syllables are in line 22?
d. Look at the feet. Do they consist of two or three syllables?
e. Where is the accent placed in each foot?
f. Because of the number of syllables and where the accent is placed on the
syllable, the meter is:
g. Scan at least 3 more lines of the poem. Does the rest of the poem follow the
same pattern? If yes, what is the pattern of this poem?
©2011 Secondary Solutions
- 128 -
The Canterbury Tales Literature Guide
Name _________________________________
Period ______
Monk’s Tale
Assessment Preparation: Using Context Clues and Parts of Speech
Parts of speech include nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions,
conjunctions, and interjections. When determining the meaning of a word in context, it can
be helpful to start by first ascertaining the part of speech.
consecration /consecrated
tarried/tarry
magnanimity /magnanimous
ostentation /ostentatious
geld
fastidious
Directions: The following sentences contain blanks that must be filled in with the
vocabulary words from your list. The part of speech varies throughout the sentences so
pay attention to the context. For each prompt, identify the part of speech, select the correct
word, and briefly explain your reasoning. (Do not merely say “It sounds right.”) An
example has been done for you. Words will be used only once.
Ex. The older sister demonstrated
retribution for her broken Barbie doll.
when she refrained from seeking
a. Part of speech required: noun (it is a thing she can demonstrate)
b. Vocabulary word: magnanimity
c. Reason for the choice: Because the sister did not clobber her younger sibling with
the broken doll, she demonstrated generosity of spirit and forgiveness.
1. Many religions contain a rite of
through which they worship a deity.
a. Part of speech required:
b. Vocabulary word:
c. Reason for the choice:
2. Her
nature made the Prioress difficult to please.
a. Part of speech required:
b. Vocabulary word:
c. Reason for the choice:
3. Nero’s unwillingness to wear a garment more than once could be considered an act of
.
a. Part of speech required:
b. Vocabulary word:
c. Reason for the choice:
4. It is helpful for one as strong as Hercules to also be _____
because a villain whose
strength is accompanied by a lack of compassion is dangerous to society.
©2011 Secondary Solutions
- 129 -
The Canterbury Tales Literature Guide
Name _________________________________
Period ______
a. Part of speech required:
b. Vocabulary word:
c. Reason for the choice:
5. Because Zenobia feared losing her independence to a dominating hand, she
__ _ _
when it came to securing a husband.
a. Part of speech required:
b. Vocabulary word:
c. Reason for the choice:
6. The Wife of Bath was not appreciated after her tendency to ___
set the entire pilgrimage back half a day.
_
a. Part of speech required:
b. Vocabulary word:
c. Reason for the choice:
7. It has become trendy for men to be ____
their girlfriends or wives.
and wear more “bling” than
a. Part of speech required:
b. Vocabulary word:
c. Reason for the choice:
8. Catholics are able to consume their Eucharist because it has been
.
a. Part of speech required:
b. Vocabulary word:
c. Reason for the choice:
9. Sometimes a farmer will _
___ a bull if there are too many for the herd.
a. Part of speech required:
b. Vocabulary word:
c. Reason for the choice:
©2011 Secondary Solutions
- 130 -
The Canterbury Tales Literature Guide
Name _________________________________
Period ______
Section Quiz: Monk’s Tale
Directions: Write the letter of the BEST choice on the line provided.
_____ 1. What do the Monk’s individual tales all have in common? They are all about
a. people who started out insignificant and became great through a twist of fate.
b. great people who fell from grace due to the fickleness of fate.
c. great warriors who were killed because luck turned against them.
d. religious leaders who put themselves above God and were killed because of it.
_____ 2. Throughout the stories, the Monk utilizes ______ to convey his theme.
a. alliteration
c. personification
b. assonance
d. metonymy
_____ 3. Lucifer and Adam are two characters from
a. Julius Caesar
c. the Iliad
b. Romeo and Juliet
d. Genesis from the Bible
_____ 4. Samson’s downfall was orchestrated by
a. Dálila
b. Judith
c. Deianira
d. Zenobia
_____ 5. After Croesus was given a second chance to change his ways, he
a. became Saint Croesus and lived a life of poverty and generosity.
b. continued to wage war and was eventually hanged.
c. continued to wage war, overtook his enemies, and ruled their lands until his death.
d. went to his daughter for help and she hid him until his enemies gave up.
_____ 6. Croesus has a dream that he was perching in a tree when Jupiter washed him
and Phoebus dried him off with a towel. This dream is a foreshadowing
a. of his escape
b. of his death
c. that he would overtake the mighty Jupiter and Phoebus and rule their lands
d. that his daughter would ask him to save her pet bird and, while attempting to save it,
he would become stuck in the tree for one day of rain and one day of sun.
_____ 7. In the story of Holofernes, it says he worked for which of the other characters in
the Monk’s stories?
a. Julius Caesar
c. Bernabo Visconti of Lombardy
b. Nebuchadnezzar
d. Hercules
_____ 8. Hercules is brought down when the love of his life
a. gives him a shirt containing a poisonous substance
b. cuts off his head while he is sleeping
c. instructs a couple of men to cut off his hair and gouges out his eyes
d. stabs him in the capitol thirty-three times
_____ 9. The Count Ugolino of Pisa is the only story in which the main character
a. is stabbed in the capitol by his best friends.
b. is chased out of the city by an angry mob and eventually kills himself.
c. becomes so prideful that he puts himself above God.
d. is imprisoned with his children and forced to watch them starve to death.
©2011 Secondary Solutions
- 131 -
The Canterbury Tales Literature Guide
Name _________________________________
Period ______
_____ 10. In the King Antiochus the Illustrious, God smites Antiochus because of his
a. lust for material objects
c. pride in his ability to wage war
b. gluttony for fine food
d. sloth; refusal to do anything
requiring effort
_____ 11. To smite Antiochus, God sends
a. locusts to ruin the crops on his land which makes the people turn on him.
b. worms to infest and rot his body.
c. floods to drown him when he is crossing the desert.
d. a mob of angry people to chase him out of town.
_____ 12. The stories of Adam, Hercules, and Samson are similar in that all three include
a. a great military leader who is brought down by a refusal to act peacefully.
b. a historical figure who fell from greatness because his men betrayed him.
c. a man who is hanged as a result of betrayal by a loved one.
d. a man who is betrayed by a woman he loves.
_____ 13. When Nero was a lad he had a tutor named ___, and when he grew older he ____
a. Seneca; killed his tutor
c. Nebuchadnezzar; took his life
b. Seneca; took Seneca’s place as a
d. Holofernes; joined the war to fight
royal tutor
by his tutor’s side
_____ 14. Holofernes and Antiochus are similar in that both
a. were beheaded by a woman
c. took pride in persecuting Jews
b. were struck down by the hand of
d. were killed by a plague
God
_____ 15. In the story of Julius Caesar, it seems to be the case that Caesar is held
responsible for the death of Pompey and that this sentiment is one reason why people turned
on him. The story attempts to correct this sentiment by blaming Pompey’s death on
a. a man who was trying to earn Caesar’s favor by bringing him Pompey’s head.
b. a man who misunderstood Caesar’s instructions when Caesar gave the order to
behead the statue of Pompey.
c. carelessness in battle; Caesar had intended to make Pompey surrender but his sword
slipped.
d. suicide resulting from the common knowledge that Pompey would have to surrender.
The Romans felt suicide was more courageous than surrendering to an enemy.
_____ 16. Belshazzar is a particularly sad case because he is an idolater who
a. was killed by his own idol when it fell off a shelf during an earthquake.
b. was killed by a hand the shadow of which he saw on the wall right before it stabbed
him.
c. used all of his city’s gold to make idols and the people eventually turned on him.
d. died in the same way as his father because Belshazzar refused to learn from his
father’s mistakes.
_____ 17. Zenobia is a story about a
a. warrior queen who conquered many lands until finally defeated by Julius Caesar
through a quick change of Fortune.
b. warrior queen who conquered many lands until finally defeated by Aurelian due to a
quick reversal of Fortune.
c. queen who lost her lands when her husband was killed by King Antiochus.
d. a warrior queen who was struck down by God because she tortured Jews.
©2011 Secondary Solutions
- 132 -
The Canterbury Tales Literature Guide
Name _________________________________
Period ______
_____ 18. Before beginning his first short story, the Monk tells his fellow travelers that he
has compiled these stories
a. to entertain the group.
b. to serve as a warning against gluttony for all who are prone to that sin.
c. to serve as a warning to all who would trust a blind prosperity.
d. to make it easier for the pilgrims who cannot pay attention to one long story.
_____ 19. The Monk probably begins with Lucifer because
a. he is working in alphabetical order.
b. he is going in chronological order and the angels were around before people.
c. he knows the other pilgrims do not pay attention for long, so he wants to get the best
story in first.
d. this is the most significant example of how pride can make a great character fall from
grace.
_____ 20. Unlike some of the other characters, Alexander, Julius Caesar, King Peter of
Spain, King Peter of Cyprus, Bernabo Visconti of Lombardy, and the Count of Ugolino found
their twist of fate because of
a. pride
c. lust
b. envy
d. anger
©2011 Secondary Solutions
- 133 -
The Canterbury Tales Literature Guide
Name _________________________________
Period ______
Summary of the Monk’s Tale
The Monk chooses to tell 17 individual tales rather than one long tale. Each
individual tale provides an example of a biblical or historical figure who once stood
in a high degree, but through a change in fortune, becomes desolate. Personifying
Fortune, the Monk says she changes her mind and brings bad luck often because the
person thought more highly of himself or herself than of the relevant deity.
The first two tales are brief descriptions of two biblical men who fall from grace due
to their own disobedience to God. Lucifer, once God’s favorite, is cast into hell as a
result of his sin, and Adam, the first man, was banished from Paradise for eating
from the wrong tree. Adam’s sin of disobedience causes him to lose his place in
Paradise.
The second set is comprised of Samson, a strong man from the bible, and Hercules, a
strong man from mythology. In both cases the powerful man was brought down by a
woman he loved and trusted. For Samson, it was his love for Delilah that allowed
him to trust her with the secret of his strength, which she used to undo him. In
Hercules’s case, his love, Deianira, made him a poisonous shirt. Fortune had her
way with both men because she set the conniving women in their respective path.
The next pair are King Nebuchadnezzar and his son Belshazzar. Both are biblical
figures who allowed pride to overcome their love for God. Each had idols made in
his image and forced his people to worship him. In both cases God changes their
fortune and ends their life. The tale of Belshazzar is even more poignant than that of
his father because he would have witnessed his father’s fate, and yet he does not
heed the warning in it.
The tale of Zenobia continues the message that Fortune can change in the blink of an
eye as she goes from being a self-controlled and controlling queen to a slave. She
rules for years with her husband and children, and when her husband dies, she
continues to rule alone. Because she is a powerful military leader, men from other
countries are afraid to do battle against her. Zenobia’s reign ends when Aurelian
leads his legions against her and wins. As part of his winnings, Aurelian takes
Zenobia prisoner. Thus, the powerful queen becomes a slave through a twist of fate.
The theme of jealousy leading to murder by loved ones appears in the next few tales.
First, there are two tales about kings named Peter. King Peter of Spain is dethroned
and then killed by his brother. King Peter of Cypress is murdered out of jealousy by
his own men. Following the Peters, Bernabo Visconti of Lombardy is imprisoned
until his death by his nephew. Finally, Count Ugolino of Pisa is falsely imprisoned by
Bishop Ruggieri. The Count remains in prison with his little children, watching each
one die of starvation until he dies.
The remaining tales are all about feared leaders who allow pride to get the better of
them. This set begins with Nero, a vicious leader who kills his senators just to hear
them scream, rapes his sister, and cuts open his mother to see the womb that carried
©2011 Secondary Solutions
- 134 -
The Canterbury Tales Literature Guide
Name _________________________________
Period ______
him. Once Fortune decides to turn against him, the citizens of Rome create an
uprising and Nero kills himself after asking peasants to shield his body from
mutilation. Holofernes, another despised leader, is killed by a woman named Judith
after terrorizing her village. Thinking she was lusting after him, Holofernes invites
her into his tent and drinks enough wine to pass out. She uses his sword to kill him
in his sleep. King Antiochus the Illustrious is the third hated leader in this grouping.
This leader offends God by saying he is going to eliminate Jerusalem. God takes His
vengeance by attacking the king’s digestive system, causing a violent chariot
accident, and then having maggots infect the king’s body causing a stench so bad
that no one would go near him. Antiochus dies alone and in agony. Alexander is the
fourth leader in this grouping to suffer at the hand of fortune. Unlike the others,
Alexander is feared by his opponents but he has a good reputation among his own
people. He is considered to be a noble and graceful knight. Still, Fortune changes
her mind and Alexander is poisoned by his own men. Following the tale of
Alexander is a similar tale of treachery. This time, the leader is Julius Caesar.
Caesar is reputed to be a great leader; however, one of his men kills Pompey and
claims he did so for Caesar. A few of the senators, including Brutus Cassius, collude
against Caesar and stab him to death in the capitol. The final tale is of Croesus, a
King of Lydia from long ago. Croesus is about to be executed by fire when a rain
saves him. When his pride does not allow him to see the event as a warning against
his warring ways, Croesus interprets the event as a sign that he is being lifted to
greatness. Despite assurances from his daughter that he is mistaken, Croesus
continues with his plan until he is taken and hanged.
©2011 Secondary Solutions
- 135 -
The Canterbury Tales Literature Guide
Answer Key
Page 123: Note-Taking and Summarizing Chart
The Monk’s Tale
Summary:

In each tale a person of greatness is struck down.

In some cases such as Lucifer, Adam, and Nebuchadnezzar, the end comes because of the character‟s pride
and disobedience to God.

In other cases such as King Peter of Spain and Count Ugolino of Pisa, treachery is responsible for bringing
the good men down.
Important Characters: Lucifer, Adam, Samson, Hercules, Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Zenobia, King Peter of Spain,
King Peter of Cyprus, Bernabo Visconti of Lombardy, Count Ugolino of Pisa, Nero, Holofernes, King Antiochus the
Illustrious, Alexander, Julius Caesar, Croesus
Theme or message: Fortune seems to disfavor the proud, so do not trust good luck to last.
What we learn about the narrator: The Monk is well-versed in tales of biblical and historical leaders who fell from
grace as the result of a turn of Fortune. He appears to be educated and offers a morally sound lesson.
Importance to the book as a whole: Several of the tales deal with the evils of pride. This one seems to offer factual
rather than anecdotal evidence. Unlike the Pardoner‟s fictitious tale of the three young rioters, the Monk‟s stories are
all about historical or biblical figures. At this point, the Monk contrasts against the monks that had behaved badly in
the tales.
Page 123: Monk’s Tale: Comprehension Check
1. Wording may vary. Never trust Fortune because it can change quickly. Throughout history great men have
been cast down by Fortune.
2. Both were cast out of paradise because of a sin they committed.
3. Both were betrayed by women they loved and trusted. The women‟s treachery led to their downfall.
4. Nebuchadnezzar‟s pride made God angry so God smote him. Belshazzar did not learn from his grandfather‟s
error, committed it himself, and was likewise destroyed. Zenobia seems to have befallen a similar fate although
not because she angered God. She was a proud queen who treated her enemies cruelly and was eventually taken
down by Aurelian. Nero was also a cruel leader taken down when Fortune turned his people against him. In the
end he begged people to kill him and hide his body. The King of Antiochus allowed his pride to get the better of
him when he declared war against the Jews. This upset God who sent unimaginably horrific illnesses to destroy
King Antiochus slowly. King Croesus was also destroyed because his pride caused him to believe Fortune saved
his life so he could continue to wage war. According to the tale, if he had learned his lesson, he would have
stopped his behavior and avoided the gallows.
5. Alexander is said to have been a magnanimous and gentle leader, but he was poisoned by jealous men. Julius
Caesar was likewise killed by a jealous Brutus. King Peter of Spain was killed by treachery after his brother exiled
him. King Peter of Cyprus was likewise killed by envious liegemen. Bernabo Visconti of Lombardy was also
deposed and sent to prison by his brother‟s son. The Count of Ugolino might also qualify for this category
because he was betrayed by Bishop Ruggieri; however, it is not stated why he was betrayed.
6. Count of Ugolino of Pisa was imprisoned by Bishop Ruggieri who had framed him and convinced the people to
rise against the Count. The Count was imprisoned with his three small children and starved to death. This act
could have been done out of envy but it is not specified in the tale. Holofernes was working for Nebuchadnezzar.
He besieged the city of Bethulia and none of the inhabitants could stop him except for Judith. She pretended to
like Holofernes to gain access to his tent. Thinking she was interested in him, Holofernes let down his guard and
drank himself into unconsciousness. Once she saw Holofernes was asleep, Judith beheaded him with his own
sword and returned home.
7. Biblical/Mythical
Lucifer – pre-history biblical story
Adam – ancient history biblical story
Samson book of Judges – last of the Judges of Israel
Nebuchadnezzar – Babylon 605-562 BC
Belshazzar – King of Babylon after grandfather Nebuchadnezzar
Holofernes – Book of Judith
King Antiochus the Illustrious – appears in the Book of Daniel in the Bible
Hercules – Greek mythology
Historical Figures
Nebuchadnezzar – Babylon 605-562 BC
Belshazzar – King of Babylon after grandfather Nebuchadnezzar – (difficult to find exact years)
King Croesus of Lydia – 560-546 B.C
Alexander of Macedon – 356-323 BC
King Antiochus the Illustrious 215 BC – died 164 BC (reigned 175 – 164 BC)
Julius Caesar – lived 101 BC – 44BC
Nero Roman Emperor – lived AD 15 - AD 68 (reigned AD 54 – 68)
Zenobia – 3rd Century Syrian queen (264 AD)
Count Ugolino of Pisa – 1284
King Peter of Spain – 1350-1362
King Peter of Cyprus – 1352-1369
Bernabo Visconti – deposed 1358 in 1387
8. Answers will vary. Students should recognize the theme of the biblical figures are all from the Old Testament of
the bible meaning that they are figures from early history rather people like St. Becket. Perhaps this was done to
give the audience the idea that great men have fallen due to a change in Fortune since the dawn of time. These
figures also show that God works to defeat his enemies as well as the enemies of his favorites. Using historical
figures drives home the reality of the warning because these were real people who had achieved greatness and
were cast down for what might appear to be a change in fortune. Again, it brings validity to the warning that even
great men can have a downfall if their luck turns.
9. Choice of quote and explanation may vary. The Monk is using personification when he talks about Fortune
changing her mind. Fortune is treated like a woman who has emotions, can articulate her thoughts with logical
reasoning, and exact revenge. “But as it happened Fortune cared no longer / To cherish Nero in his soaring
pride. /Though he was strong enough yet she was stronger / And thus she thought: „By God, I let him ride / Far
too indulgently upon the tide / Of vice, and lend the title that protects / An emperor. By heaven, he shall slide /
Out of his seat, and when he least expects.‟” (205) In the first line, she “no longer” cares to “cherish Nero.” She
says that she “let him ride” long enough and that “he shall slide” off his seat of power.
10. Given the description of the Monk in the General Prologue, the reader would expect to see him tell a tale of a
bawdy or pleasure-based nature rather than one that emphasizes the consequences of having pride and being
ostentatious. This difference between what the reader expects to happen based on the description given, and
what actually happens is situational irony.
Pages 125-128: Monk’s Tale: Standards Focus: Rhyme Scheme and Meter
Table 1. Alexander
Column 1
Column 2
Column 3
1. famous
us
A
2. least
east
B
3. ignoramus us
A
4. east
east
B
5. increased
east
B
6. friend
end
C
7. beast
east
B
8. end
end
C
Table 2. Julius Caesar
Column 1
Column 2
Column 3
1. war
ar
A
2. majesty
ee
B
3. conqueror ar
A
4. sea
ee
B
5. diplomacy ee
B
6. tributary
ary
C
7. he
ee
B
8. adversary
ary
C
Table 3. Nebuchadnezzar
Column 1
Column 2
Column 3
1. treasure
er
A
2. diadem
em
B
3. Nebuchadnezzar er
A
4. Gem
em
B
5. Jerusalem em
B
6. plighted
ed
C
7. them
em
B
8. delighted
ed
C
Part 2
1. Hercules
a. 10
b. 10
c. 10
d. two = duple
e. on the last syllable
f. iambic pentameter
g. yes; the pattern is iambic pentameter
2. Zenobia
a. 10
b. 10
c. 10
d. two = duple
e. second syllable
f. iambic pentameter
g. yes; the pattern is iambic pentameter
3. Words of the Host to the Monk
a. 10
b. 10
c. 10
d. two = duple
e. second syllable
f. iambic pentameter
g. yes; the pattern is iambic pentameter
Pages 129-130: Monk’s Tale: Assessment Preparation: Using Context Clues and Parts of Speech
1. a. noun that is a part of a religious ceremony
b. consecration
c. The sentence is about a religious “rite” and that is one definition for this word. Also, consecration is the only
vocabulary word that is connected directly to the idea of religion.
2. a. adjective describing her nature
a. fastidious
b. In the General Prologue the Prioress is described as attending to minute details and that would be fastidious.
Also, the use of “difficult to please” means she is fastidious
3. a. noun
b. ostentation
c. While it could be that Nero was mysophobic (fear of germs), it is more likely that he wanted to show off his
wealth by having a new garment every day.
4. a. adjective describing a personality trait
b. magnanimous
c. The second part of the sentence sets up an opposite relationship for the missing trait. If Hercules did not
have this trait, he would have a “lack of compassion;” therefore, having the trait would mean being
compassionate or generous.
5. a. verb indicating how she behaved
b. tarried
c. She hesitated before choosing a husband. She could have shied away or balked, but neither of those matches
the choices.
6. a. verb; the “to” indicates an infinitive
b. tarry
c. If she “set them back half a day”, she must have been doing something that required them to wait. Tarry is
the vocabulary word associated with waiting.
7. a. adjective describing their behavior
b. ostentatious
c. The men are wearing more jewelry than the women who are with them so they can stand out and show off
their wealth.
8. a. verb pertaining to a religious act
b. consecrated
c. This sentence is referring to a part of the Catholic ceremony that is also a definition for consecration.
9. a. verb because it is an action the farmer is going to do
b. geld
c. One definition for the verb is to castrate.
Pages 131-133: Section Quiz: Monk’s Tale
1. b. great people who fell from grace due to the fickleness of fate.
2. c. personification
3. d. Genesis from the Bible
4. a. Dálila
5. b. continued to wage war and was eventually hanged
6. b. of his death
7. b. Nebuchadnezzar
8. a. gives him a shirt containing a poisonous substance
9. d. is imprisoned with his children and forced to watch them starve to death.
10. c. pride in his ability to wage war
11. b. worms to infest and rot his body
12. d. a man who is betrayed by a woman he loves.
13. a. Seneca; killed his tutor
14. c. took pride in persecuting Jews
15. a. a man who was trying to earn Caesar‟s favor by bringing him Pompey‟s head.
16. d. died in the same way as his father because Belshazzar refused to learn from his father‟s mistakes.
17. b. warrior queen who conquered many lands until finally defeated by Aurelian due to a quick reversal of Fortune.
18. c. to serve as a warning to all who would trust a blind prosperity.
19. d. this is the most significant example of how pride can make a great character fall from grace.
20. b. envy