Answer Key
Reading Questions:
st
1. Which details in the 1 paragraph reflect upon this time period (historical references)?
*references to chivalry (prowess in arms, jousting)
2.
rd
By the end of the 3 paragraph, what have you learned about Federigo?
*He is in love with Monna Giovanni, he has gone broke trying to win her love, has lost everything except his prize
falcon
3.
th
By the end of the 11 paragraph, what conflict does Monna Giovanna face?
*Torn between hurting Federigo any more and fulfilling her son’s wish/desire
4.
How does the exchange between Monna and Federigo reflect the historical context of the story (end of 13
paragraph)?
th
*Represents ‘Courtly Love’….how polite they are to each other, how the woman grants the man a small favor and
the man suffers in silence
5.
6.
Compare Federigo’s love to modern day men or women in love. What are the similarities and differences? Can
you name a modern day story or movie that is similar to “Federigo’s Falcon”?
*They are like others in that they suffer for love but not many men today would give up everything they have for a
woman
*Modern movie example- “The Notebook” or “Charlie St. Cloud”..pretty much any Nicholas Sparks novel
Federigo and Monna have dinner. How is the meal an example of situational irony?
Situational Irony- what actually happens is different from what is expected to happen. She came to ask for the
falcon and he cooked it up for the meal to please her.
7.
What does the role of Monna Giovanna’s brothers suggest about the status of women in Europe at this time?
*They still have no power to self-govern or choose who they will marry- the men make the decisions
8.
In “The Wife of Bath’s Tale”, the old woman or crone argues with the knight saying that gentility is not the result of
a noble birth but of nobile actions. Which characters in “Federigo’s Falcon” would agree with the crone and which
would disagree? Explain your answer.
*Possible answers: Monna Giovanna would agree hence her marriage to Federigo in the end.
Federigo would since he follows chivalry/courtly love ideals- even when he is poor. Monna’s
brother’s would NOT agree