Brief Questions in “The General Prologue to The Canterbury Tales”

Brief Questions in “The General Prologue to The Canterbury Tales”

• What were the three main phases of Chaucer’s poetic career?

Ans: Chaucer’s poetic career had three phases: French, Italian, and English.

• What is the masterpiece of Chaucer? 

Ans: The Canterbury Tales is the masterpiece of Chaucer.

• What is The Canterbury Tales?

Ans: The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories told by pilgrims traveling from London to Canterbury.

• How many pilgrims are described in the General Prologue?

Ans: Twenty-nine pilgrims are described, and Chaucer himself was the thirtieth pilgrim.

• What was the proposal of Harry Bailey?

Ans: Harry Bailey proposed that each pilgrim should tell two stories on the way to Canterbury and two on the way back. The best storyteller would win a free meal.

• What is a pilgrimage?

Ans: A pilgrimage is a religious journey made to a sacred place for spiritual blessing or forgiveness.

• How did the narrator describe the Knight?

Ans: The Knight was a brave, noble, and honorable man who fought many battles and was respected for his courtesy.

• How is the Knight dressed?

Ans: The Knight wore a plain fustian tunic, stained with rust from his coat of mail.

• How many battles did the Knight fight?

Ans: The Knight fought in fifteen battles.

• How old was the Squire?

Ans: The Squire was about twenty years old.

• What is the function of a Yeoman?

Ans: A Yeoman served as an attendant to a knight and often worked as a skilled forester or archer.

• Who accompanied the Prioress?

Ans: The Prioress was accompanied by another nun, who was her chaplain, and three priests.

• What was inscribed on the brooch of the Prioress?

Ans: The brooch of the Prioress was inscribed with the words “Amor vincit omnia,” meaning “Love conquers all.”

• What was the Monk’s horse like?

Ans: The Monk’s horse was strong, handsome, and brown as a berry.

• Mention some good qualities of the Friar.

Ans: The Friar could sing sweetly, play the fiddle well, and was cheerful and polite.

• What did the narrator tell about the Friar’s dress?

Ans: The Friar dressed like a rich man or lord, not like a poor scholar.

• What type of person was the Merchant?

Ans: The Merchant was clever, confident, and skillful in business dealings.

• How did the Clerk of Oxford look?

Ans: The Clerk of Oxford was thin, quiet, and serious-looking.

• Which books did the Clerk like to keep near his bed?

Ans: The Clerk liked to keep twenty volumes of Aristotle and philosophy near his bed.

• What was the Sergeant of Law?

Ans: The Sergeant of Law was a wise and respected lawyer and judge.

• What did the Sergeant of Law wear?

Ans: He wore a multi-colored coat and a silk belt with small stripes.

• What was the Franklin’s view of life?

Ans: The Franklin believed that perfect happiness lies in pleasure.

• Write about the five guildsmen.

Ans: The five guildsmen were a Haberdasher, a Carpenter, a Weaver, a Dyer, and a Tapestry Maker. They were well-dressed and prosperous.

• What was the name of the Sailor’s ship?

Ans: The name of the Sailor’s ship was Madelaine.

• How was the dress of the Doctor of Medicine?

Ans: The Doctor of Medicine wore clothes of blood-red and blue-gray lined with silk and taffeta.

• Mention some physical features of the Wife of Bath.

Ans: The Wife of Bath was fair, red-faced, gap-toothed, large-hipped, and somewhat deaf.

• How many times did the Wife of Bath marry?

Ans: The Wife of Bath married five times.

• What was the occupation of the Wife of Bath?

Ans: The Wife of Bath was an expert cloth-maker.

• What type of person was the Plowman?

Ans: The Plowman was honest, hardworking, charitable, and devoted to God.

• What did the Miller wear?

Ans: The Miller wore a white coat and a blue hood.

• What were the negative features of the Miller?

Ans: The Miller was a rude talker, told obscene jokes, and cheated people by overcharging for corn.

• What do you know about the horse of the Reeve?

Ans: The Reeve’s horse was named Scot and was spotted gray all over.

• What did the Summoner wear on his head?

Ans: The Summoner wore a garland on his head, as big as one used for an alehouse sign.

• How were the eyes of the Pardoner?

Ans: The Pardoner had bright, shining eyes like those of a hare.

• What does Plato say?

Ans: Plato says that words should truthfully express one’s thoughts and feelings.

• What type of man was the Host?

Ans: The Host was bold, cheerful, sensible, and full of good humor.

• Whom did the Host call to draw his lot first?

Ans: The Host called the Knight to draw his lot first.

• To whom did the lot fall?

Ans: The lot fell to the Knight, who told the first tale.

• Why does Chaucer praise April?

Ans: Chaucer praises April because it brings rain, warmth, and the renewal of life.

• Why did people travel to Canterbury?

Ans: People traveled to Canterbury to visit the shrine of St. Thomas à Becket and receive blessings.

• What is the job of a Reeve?

Ans: A Reeve worked as a manager and accountant of a nobleman’s estate.

• Who is the owner of the Tabard Inn?

Ans: The owner of the Tabard Inn was the Host, Harry Bailey.

• Name some of the great personalities referred to in the Prologue.

Ans: Some important characters are the Knight, the Squire, the Prioress, the Monk, and the Sergeant of Law.

• What does the Host of the Tabard Inn propose to pass the time?

Ans: The Host proposes a storytelling contest during the journey to Canterbury and back.

• What is the name of the Prioress?

Ans: The Prioress’s name was Madam Eglantine.

• Who is Saint Thomas Becket?

Ans: Saint Thomas Becket was the Archbishop of Canterbury who was killed in 1170 for opposing King Henry II’s interference in church matters.

• What did the Host propose after the pilgrims reached the watering place of Saint Thomas?

Ans: The Host proposed that they draw lots to decide who would tell the first story.

• What is a prologue?

Ans: A prologue is an introduction that gives background information before the main story begins.

• Who was the Sergeant-at-Law?

Ans: The Sergeant-at-Law was a learned judge at the law courts.

• Why did the Doctor of Physic love gold?

Ans: The Doctor loved gold because he believed that gold was useful in medicine and healing.

• What is Canterbury?

Ans: Canterbury is a city in southeast England that became a famous pilgrimage site in the Middle Ages.

• Where did the pilgrims assemble?

Ans: The pilgrims assembled at the Tabard Inn in Southwark.

• What was the Friar’s name?

Ans: The Friar’s name was Hubert.

• How were the teeth of the Wife of Bath?

Ans: The Wife of Bath was gap-toothed.

• What is a Prologue?

Ans: A Prologue is an opening section of a story that introduces the background or setting.

• What does spring symbolize in The Prologue?

Ans: Spring symbolizes fertility, hope, and spiritual renewal.

• How does Chaucer praise April?

Ans: Chaucer praises April because its rain and warm winds bring life and beauty back to the earth.

• What was the destination of the pilgrims?

Ans: The destination of the pilgrims was the shrine of St. Thomas à Becket at Canterbury.

• What was the favorite pastime of the Monk?

Ans: The Monk’s favorite pastime was hunting.

• Who is Madam Eglantine?

Ans: Madam Eglantine is the Prioress described in the General Prologue.

• What is the name of the Host?

Ans: The name of the Host is Harry Bailey.

• What is the function of a Summoner?

Ans: The Summoner’s duty was to call people to appear before the church court for their sins.

• Who was the Wife of Bath?

Ans: The Wife of Bath was a wealthy and experienced woman from near the city of Bath who loved travel and marriage.