Study Guide for Canterbury Tales Prologue test:

Study Guide for Canterbury Tales Prologue test:

 Chaucer’s purpose for writing the Canterbury Tales:

1. Social Commentary (a way of commenting on or starting a discussion about the issues

of the times). He often uses satire to do this.

2. To present people from many walks of life all in one story (and the infinite variety of

human nature).

 Despite its length, the Canterbury Tales is a poem rather than a novel.

 It is also a frame story (a story, or in this case many stories, inside a story)

 Chaucer is known as the Father of English Poetry.

 The Canterbury Tales were written in Middle English.

 The Canterbury Tales were written during the Middle Ages (same as Medieval times) and

were not ever finished because Chaucer died.

 During the Middle Ages, The Black Death (plague), the 100 Years War, and the Crusades

led to much sadness and a dark outlook on life.

 The Canterbury Tales is a frame story: a story or stories within a story

 The pilgrims (people on a religious journey) are going to Canterbury, to pay homage to

Catholic martyr Saint Thomas Becket, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury and was

murdered in the Canterbury Cathedral for going against the king of England.

 The narrator says he plans to "give account of all their words and dealings,/Using their

very phrases as they fell." By doing so, he will use both direct and indirect

characterization. You should know and be able to recognize what both direct and indirect

characterization.

 The pilgrimage (religious journey) takes place in April, which the narrator tells us is the

time of year people enjoy going on pilgrimages because it’s nice weather (not too hot, not

too cold).

 They meet at the Tabard Inn and the host, who provides a good meal before their journey,

suggests that they have a story telling contest to entertain themselves going there and

back. They are to tell two tales each going to Canterbury and two tales each upon their

return.

In addition to the above information, study these characters. You don’t need to know every last

detail, but have an understanding of who was good, bad, and in between and why. Characters to

study:

1. Knight

2. Squire

3. Nun (Prioress)

4. Monk

5. Friar

6. Parson

7. Plowman

8. Summoner

9. Pardoner

Know the difference between the good and holy members of the Church and those that didn’t

fulfill their religious duties in the way we might expect. Chaucer points out that the church is

corrupt in many areas, but there are still good people involved as well. The Prologue also really

makes us as readers aware of what a major part (how much power they had) the Roman Catholic

Church played in the Middle Ages.

The Pardoner’s Tale and The Wife of Bath’s Tale