Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400)
The Canterbury Tales: “The General Prologue”
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Before the Parade:
1. In what month does the pilgrimage occur? What does this timing symbolize?
2. What is Zephyr? What does Zephyr symbolize?
3. In what town does the story begin? At what inn is Chaucer the Pilgrim renting a room?
During the Parade:
4. What is a tabard? Why do you think Harry Bailey named his inn The Tabard?
5. Where on the body would one wear the following items: a brace, a dirk, a baldric, and a buckler?
6. What do Saints Christopher, Loy, and Julian represent? Which pilgrim does Chaucer associate with
each saint?
7. What is a screed? Name someone you know that usually makes one of these.
8. What is an epicurean? Are you an epicurean? Explain.
9. Write a description of blancmange as it would appear on a modern menu.
10. How long is a span? What is your approximate height in spans?
Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400)
The Canterbury Tales: “The General Prologue”
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11. How heavy is a stone? What is your approximate weight in stones? (Your secret is safe with me.)
12. Describe the sward at Spartan Stadium (or another sporting venue).
13. If you had a whelk, what product would you apply to it?
14. Name someone you know who wears a lanyard. Why does this person wear it?
15. How much is a tithe? Suppose each person in your class earns $200 per week. How much money
would I collect every month if the class tithed to me?
After the Parade:
16. How does Chaucer use physical description to show his attitude towards the characters? Give
specific examples.
17. What qualities does Chaucer most despise in a person? Give specific examples.
18. What qualities does Chaucer most admire in a person? Give specific examples.
19. What does Chaucer reveal about his medieval society through his description of the pilgrims?
20. Chart the pilgrims according to their socioeconomic status and morality.
Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400)
The Canterbury Tales: “The General Prologue”
Morality 
Socioeconomic Class
↓
Upper Class
Middle Class
Lower Class
Virtuous
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Average
Corrupt
Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400)
The Canterbury Tales: “The General Prologue”
ELA 11
Mosiondz
The Canterbury Pilgrims’ Parade
Directions:
Impersonate one of the Canterbury Pilgrims by becoming an expert on your pilgrim. If the
textbook does not provide enough information, go online to consult the tale your pilgrim tells, plus the
mS illustrations, which are online: http://www.canterburytales.org/canterbury_tales.html
Use first-person point-of-view (e.g. “I am the Miller” instead of “My pilgrim is called the Miller”).
Think about your pilgrim’s morality and socioeconomic class so you can write his/her name on the
Pilgrims Chart. Have fun with the parade; many of the pilgrims are comical because they are
stereotypical or hypocritical.
Participation in the parade is worth 100 test points. For Extra Credit, get theatrical and
impersonate your pilgrim—wear similar clothing, use similar props, and speak in a British accent.
Answer these questions about your pilgrim:
 What is your profession? What do you do to earn a living?

What do you look like? What are you wearing on the pilgrimage? What do you carry with you?

Which pilgrims do you get along with? Which ones are you avoiding?

Why are you making a pilgrimage to Canterbury?
Pilgrim Parade Reading Assignments & Notes
A. Everyone reads pages 90-94.
B. Individual pilgrims report on the following lines from pages 95-115:
1. Chaucer the pilgrim (lines 1-42, 740-766)
2. The Knight (43-80)
3. The Squire (81-102)
Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400)
The Canterbury Tales: “The General Prologue”
4. The Yeoman (103-21)
5. The Prioress [called The Nun in your textbook] (122-68)
The Second Nun (lines 167-8)
The three Priests (lines 167-8)
6. The Monk (169-211)
7. The Friar (212-79)
8. The Merchant (280-94)
9. The Clerk [called The Oxford Cleric in your textbook] (295-318)
10. The Man of Law [called The Sergeant at the Law in your textbook] (319-40)
11. The Franklin (341-70)
12. The Haberdasher (371-88)
13. The Dyer (371-88)
14. The Carpenter (371-88)
15. The Weaver (371-88)
16. The Arras-Maker [called The Carpet-Maker in your textbook] (371-88)
17. The Cook (389-97)
18. The Shipman [called The Ship’s Captain in your textbook] (398-420)
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Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400)
The Canterbury Tales: “The General Prologue”
19. The Physician [called The Doctor in your textbook] (421-54)
20. The Wife of Bath (455-86)
21. The Parson (487-538)
22. The Plowman (539-60)
23. The Miller (561-84)
24. The Manciple (585-604)
25. The Reeve (605-40)
26. The Summoner (641-88)
27. The Pardoner (689-734)
28. The Host, Harry Bailly (735-9, 767-803)
C. Everyone reads lines 1-42 and 804-856.
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