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A group of pilgrims making their way to Canterbury Cathedral engage in a storytelling competition in The Canterbury Tales. The pilgrims have a purpose to relate their stories, which mirror the anxieties produced by the social upheavals of late medieval England, because of this overarching plot, or frame. The General Prologue introduces a wide range of pilgrims from various socioeconomic strata, which sets the stage for these societal tensions. The Host starts the storyline when he introduces the storytelling competition and says the winner will receive a free dinner at the pub. This is because the competition gives the pilgrims a reason to tell stories and puts them in competition with one another.
As befits his status, the Knight talks first and bases his narrative solidly on rigorous courtly standards. The Miller, however, was on moving up the chain of command. His risqué narrative, which praises infidelity, stands in stark contrast to “The Knight’s Tale’s” courtly affection. The Reeve responds to a slight in “The Miller’s Tale” by pointing out that social status is no longer a factor in the order of the stories. Also, you must try to play this Canterbury Tales quiz.
Canterbury Tales quiz
The ensuing stories frequently engage in thematic discourse with one another, fostering discussions concerning Middle Ages social issues. Conflicts about women’s shifting responsibilities, particularly in marriage, are shown in several stories. This dispute is sparked by “The Wife of Bath’s Tale,” which promotes female independence while subverting courtly conventions through courtly romance. By arguing that marriages are happiest when the wife is submissive, “The Clerk’s Tale” seeks to disprove the wife’s account. Franklin advocates for a neutral position. He talks of a loving young couple who shares authority in their union. This Canterbury Tales quiz will help you remember certain details.
Characters:
The Narrator
It is very evident from the narrator’s narration that he is a character in his own novel. Despite the fact that he goes by the name Chaucer, we shouldn’t take his statements and viewpoints at face value. The narrator establishes himself as a gregarious and innocent figure in the General Prologue. The Host then accuses him of remaining silent and grumpy. Because the narrator recalls the pilgrims’ impressions of them, what he chooses to remember and not remember about the characters, as well as who he likes and dislikes about them, reveals as much about the narrator’s own prejudices as it does about the individuals themselves.
The Knight
The first traveler that Chaucer mentions in the General Prologue and the first storyteller. The knight embodies the ideal man-at-arms in medieval Christian culture. He has taken part in at least fifteen of the most important crusades of his time. He is much admired by the narrator because he is brave, wise, and experienced.
The Wife of Bath
Bath is not the name of the man this woman is married to; it is an English town on the Avon River. Despite working as a seamstress, she appears to be a successful wife. She has five marriages under her belt and had a lot of other affairs in her younger years, so she is well versed in the art of love. She portrays herself as someone who enjoys marriage and sex, but from what we can tell about her, she also enjoys wearing expensive clothes, conversing with others, and disputing. She has a gap between her front teeth, which was desirable in Chaucer’s day, and is deaf in one ear. She has made pilgrimages to other parts of Europe and to Jerusalem three times.
The Pardoner
Popes awarded pardoners indulgences, or exemptions from penance, in exchange for almsgiving to the Church. This pardoner, like many others, made money for themselves. In truth, Chaucer’s Pardoner is a master of deception and carries a sack full of false relics; for instance, he declares to possess the Virgin Mary’s veil. The Pardoner lacks a beard and has long, greasy, yellow hair. In Chaucer’s time, these traits were linked to deceit and gender ambiguity. When he’s at a church, The Pardoner also has a talent for singing and preaching.
About the Canterbury Tales quiz
15 multiple-choice questions in the free Canterbury Tales quiz below will help you gauge your knowledge of the book. Determine which chapters, ideas, and writing techniques you already understand, as well as what you still need to learn in preparation for your forthcoming essay, midterm, or final test. Now take the free test!
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