The Canterbury Tales Prologue Study Guide



The Canterbury Tales Prologue Study Guide

I. Fill in the Blank

*Fill in the blank with the best possible answer. Use all your notes and handouts to help you.

1. A _________________ is an introduction to a work of literature.

2. _________________________ is the author of The Canterbury Tales.

3. There are _______________ pilgrims who are making a pilgrimage to __________________ to see the shrine of __________________.

4. In the beginning of the Prologue, Pilgrims meet in ______________ at the __________________ Inn.

5. The season that this pilgrimage occurs in is _______________.

6. The narrator decides to join the group of pilgrims and begins to ________________ each pilgrim.

7. In order to make their trip to Canterbury go quicker, each pilgrim will tell __________________ stories on the way there and _______________ stories on the way back.

8. The ___________________ sets the rules for the story telling contest.

II. Who am I?

*From the description of each pilgrim try to guess who is being described.

1. This pilgrim is one of the highest ranking on this trip. He serves as an ideal, and is the epitome of chivalric code honor. This pilgrim is still dressed in battle clothes.

__________________________

2. This pilgrim is not what we would expect his kind to be. He is fat and is describes as a “Manly Man.” He is said to live “High on the Hog.” This pilgrim loves hunting and is always dressed in expensive clothes. He also wears a lover’s knot.

________________________

3. This character is perhaps the most corrupt clergyman on the pilgrimage. This pilgrim found husbands and dowries for women he himself seduced. This pilgrim is familiar with all the taverns in the area, and parties quite a bit for a religious man. He is a good beggar because he makes people feel guilty, so they give him money

_________________________

4. This pilgrim is articulate and opinionated. He studies all the time. He is a typical starving student in threadbare clothes; even his horse is skinny.

_________________________

5. This pilgrim knows his stuff but is dishonest. He prescribes medicine that patients don’t need so his apothecary friends make money.

________________________

6. This character is a connoisseur of food and wine. “His house was never without baked dishes, both fish and meat, and these so plenteous that it seemed to snow food and drink in his house.” No one seems to know where he gets the money for his occupation, but judging from his waistline, it is not in short supply.

______________________

7. This character upholds justice in matters large ad small. He knows every statute of England’s law by heart. He is an officer of the court.

______________________

8. This pilgrim is a clergyman who lives in the country. This pilgrim is meant to be seen as a model of good religious conduct. He takes very good care of his flock and lives humbly. Important quote: “If gold rusts, what will iron do?”

______________________

9. This pilgrim is very dishonest. He is a big sloppy man with a hairy wart on his nose and a red beard. He loves to hang out in taverns and tell dirty stories.

______________________

10. This pilgrim works for the church court handing out violations. His face is covered with puss-filled sores and pimples (suffering from syphilis). This pilgrim is “with the Pardoner.

______________________

11. This pilgrim is the manager of a large estate. He is shrewd but somewhat dishonest. This character is a cranky, skinny estate manager (accountant) who steals money from his bosses.

______________________

12. This pilgrim works for lawyers as a kind of manager at the Inns of Court.

______________________

13. This pilgrim sells church indulgences and fake religious relics. He has a high voice, long blond curls, and very little facial hair. He is very good at convincing people to give him money.

______________________

14. This pilgrim is the brother of the Parson. He is another truly good character. He works very hard as an honest farmer. He always pays his tithe (10% of income that is given to the church).

______________________

15. This pilgrim lives in the city of Bath and is a wealthy weaver. This pilgrim has been married 5 times and has had many boyfriends. She has a gap between her front teeth (a sign of a highly sexual person).

______________________

16. This pilgrim is dressed in multicolored clothes, which suggests affluence. He is in debt because he is a poor businessman, but no one knows it. He believes in the government protecting small businesses.

______________________

17. This pilgrim seems to defy her vows of: Obedience, Chastity, and Poverty. This pilgrim dresses in nice clothing and is very pretty. She has fancy manners and speaks French with an English accent. She looks and acts like a fine lady even though she is not. Her nickname is “Madame Eglantyne.” She has a pack of little dogs that she spoils with rich expensive foods. She wears a brooch that says “Love conquers all.”

______________________

18. This pilgrim is the knight’s servant. This pilgrim wears a St. Christopher’s medal and is well armed. He is clothed in green and carries a great bow along with his sword, dagger and horn

______________________

19. This pilgrim is the Knight’s son. He’s passionate, vain, and talented in jousting. He is a combination of virtues and vices.

_____________________

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download