CliffsNotes on

The Canterbury Tales

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Summary of the Work

Geoffrey Chaucer Biography

Personal Background
Public Positions and Service
Chaucer's Work

About The Canterbury Tales

Summary and Analysis

The Prologue
The Knight’s Tale
The Miller’s Prologue and Tale
The Reeve’s Prologue and Tale
The Cook’s Prologue and Tale
The Man of Law’s Prologue and Tale
The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale
The Friar’s Prologue and Tale
The Summoner’s Prologue and Tale
The Clerk’s Prologue and Tale
The Merchant’s Prologue and Tale
The Squire’s Prologue and Tale
The Franklin’s Prologue and Tale
The Physician’s Tale
The Pardoner’s Prologue and Tale
The Shipman’s Tale
The Prioress’ Prologue And Tale
Chaucer’s Tale of Sir Topas
The Tale of Melibee
The Monk’s Tale
The Nun’s Priest’s Tale
The Second Nun’s Prologue and Tale
The Canon’s Yeoman’s Prologue and Tale
The Manciple’s Prologue and Tale
The Parson’s Prologue and Tale
Chaucer’s Retraction

Character List

Character Map

Character Analysis

Harry Bailey, the Host
The Knight
The Miller
The Wife of Bath
The Pardoner

Critical Essays

The Sovereignty of Marriage versus the Wife’s Obedience
The Old Man and the Young Wife
The Trickster Tricked

Study and Homework Help

Glossary
Quiz
Essay Questions
Practice Projects

Cite this Literature Note

Should the government bail out the auto industry?

Yes, it's too important to our economy.
No, the government is already broke enough.
Only with strict regulations on how they can spend the money.

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Study and Homework Help

Quiz

1:  During what century did Chaucer live?

a. 13th

b. 14th

c. 15th

d. 16th
2:  Historical evidence suggests that Chaucer may have died

a. after being knighted by Henry V

b. in Westminster Abbey

c. poor

d. an outcast
3:  Who are the pilgrims traveling to Canterbury to receive blessings from?

a. St. Thomas à Becket

b. The Pope

c. Henry II

d. John Badby
4:  Which is the best description of the Wife of Bath?

a. a quiet and shy lady who is afraid of men

b. a gentle lady who is delicate and well-educated

c. a gap-toothed woman who has been married five times

d. a hateful and spiteful woman who argues constantly
5:  Which of the following pilgrims comes the closest to being the ideal religious leader?

a. the Pardoner

b. the Parson

c. the Monk

d. the Friar
6:  In the Knight’s Tale of chivalry and honor, Arcite and Palamon both are in love with whom?

a. Emilie

b. the Wife of Bath

c. Elizabeth

d. Lady Constance
7:  In the Miller’s Tale, what is the occupation of Alison’s jealous husband?

a. Miller

b. Carpenter

c. Merchant

d. Shepherd
8:  In the Wife of Bath’s Tale, what was the knight’s answer to the question “what is the thing that women desire most?”

a. superior intelligence

b. eternal beauty

c. sovereignty over their husbands

d. authority in all matters
9:  In the Clerk’s Tale, Griselda is a woman

a. of loveliness, patience, and fidelity

b. of great beauty but complete faithlessness

c. of capricious temperament and stubborn disposition

d. of limited intelligence and hostile temperament
10:  The Merchant’s Tale is about

a. the corruption and hypocrisy of the church

b. the deception of an old husband by his young bride

c. the faithfulness of a loving wife

d. the power of money over men’s actions
11:  In the Pardoner’s Tale, what are the young men looking for when they find the bushels of gold?

a. an old witch

b. a priest

c. a maiden

d. Death
12:  In the Nun’s Priest’s Tale, how does the fox trick Chaunticleer?

a. With insults

b. With flattery

c. With bribery



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