A | B |
Why is this collection called a frame story? | people tell stories within the story of going on a trip; they "frame" the trip to Canterbury |
Where and why are the pilgrims traveling? | traveling to Canterbury Catherdral, shrine of Thomas a Becket |
Why do the pilgrims agree to tell stories? | free meal at tavern and entertain one another |
How many stories will they tell? | 2 on the way; 2 on the way back |
What is Chaucer's purpose in the Prologue? | to describe the pilgrims |
What methods does he use to describe the pilgrims? | a) tells what they are like; b) describes how they look; c) says what the characters do |
Which pilgrims are associated with the Church? | friar, summoner, parson, pardoner, nun |
Which pilgrims are associated with the feudal system? | squire, yeoman, miller, Franklin |
Which pilgrims are associated with the city? | Oxford cleric, cook, doctor, wife of Bath |
What does it mean that Chaucer wrote the vernacular language? | language of the common man |
Why is it ironic that the Pardoner preaches against avarice (greed)? | he IS greedy |
What are other examples of irony from "The Pardoner's Tale"? | 2 rioters plot to kill the 3rd; 3rd plots to kill them |
What do the rioters find out from the Old Man? | death will be under the oak tree |
What do the rioters promise to each other? | take care of each other til death |
What do the first two rioters plan when the third one goes to town? | stab him when he comes back |
What happens to the gold? | we don't know; never find out |
How does personification play a role in "The Pardoner's Tale"? | death is personified |
What crime doe sthe knight commit in "The Wife of Bath's Tale"? | rape |
How does the queen give him a chance to save his life? | find out what women want |
What doe sthe knight find out on his journey? | that women want same mastery (power) over husbands as they do over lovers |
How does the knight show that he understands the answer to the question? | he gives the lady a choice |
What happens to the ugly, old crone at the end of the tale? | faithful and beautiful wife |