The Middle Ages / Canterbury Tales
Study Guide
1. What was Chaucer’s father’s profession? -merchant
2. What was it called when a person went on a long journey to a shrine or
holy site to demonstrate their devotion? – a pilgrimage
3. What is the structure of Canterbury Tales? – a series of stories told by
characters
4. What literary title has been bestowed on Chaucer? – The Father of English
Poetry
5. What was the poetic form that Chaucer developed? – The heroic couplet
6. What language was spoken at the time of Chaucer? – Middle English
7. Why is the Prologue such an achievement all by itself? – it gives up sharp
portraits of many character types in the Middle Ages
8. In “The Prologue,” Chaucer’s main objective is to …? – Introduce his cast of
characters
9. Chaucer uses the pilgrimage primarily as a device to…? – frame the stories
told by individual characters
10.Be able to infer information about characters from the text using direct and
indirect characterization.
11.Whom do the pilgrims set up as judge over themselves? – the Host
12.Chaucer’s characterization of the Prioress, the Monk, and others connected
with the Church are mainly…? - sarcastic
13.Know the difference between direct and indirect characterization.
14.Which of the church related characters was admired by Chaucer? – the
Parson
15.What sin does the Pardoner admit to even though he preaches against it? avarice
16.What theme does Chaucer convey in “The Prologue” to The Canterbury
Tales? – the infinite variety of human nature
17.Be able to answer comprehension questions about “The Pardoner’s Tale.”
18.Be able to compare and contrast characters in “The Prologue,” using
examples from the story. Include both direct and indirect characterization.