The Age of Chaucer
34 Questions
5 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the supposed birthplace of Sir John Maundeville?

  • St. Albans (correct)
  • Bourgogne
  • Far East
  • Holy Land

    • What is the primary purpose of The Travels of Sir John Maundeville?

  • To promote Christianity in the Far East
  • To describe the geography of the Holy Land
  • To record a genuine travel experience
  • To compile fabulous stories from various sources (correct)

    • What is the true authorship of The Travels of Sir John Maundeville?

  • Sir John Maundeville wrote the book himself
  • Friar Odoric was the actual author
  • Marco Polo wrote it during his travels
  • It is a translation from the French of a certain Jean de Bourgogne (correct)

    • What is the common characteristic of the stories in The Travels of Sir John Maundeville?

    <p>They are all fictional and marvellous</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the year 1322 in The Travels of Sir John Maundeville?

    <p>It is the year Sir John Maundeville set out on his journey</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the nature of the descriptions in The Travels of Sir John Maundeville?

    <p>Fabulous and entertaining</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of The Travels of Sir John Maundeville in the English literary canon?

    <p>It is the first English prose classic</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of including fantastical creatures in The Travels of Sir John Maundeville?

    <p>To entertain the readers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the French language in The Travels of Sir John Maundeville?

    <p>It is the language of the original source material</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the tone of The Travels of Sir John Maundeville?

    <p>Amusing and entertaining</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the core values emphasized in the code of Chivalry?

    <p>Honor</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key aspect of Courtly Love in The Knight's Tale?

    <p>Adoration and worship of a lady from afar</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the legendary group of knights known for?

    <p>Knights of the Round Table</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key theme in The Knight's Tale related to Medieval Morality?

    <p>The struggle between good and evil</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key aspect of The Knight's Tale in relation to Chivalry?

    <p>The tale portrays knights as noble and virtuous</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key tension explored in The Knight's Tale related to Medieval Morality?

    <p>The tension between fate and free will</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the estimated number of lines in The Canterbury Tales?

    <p>Over 17,000 lines</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the destination of the pilgrims in The Canterbury Tales?

    <p>Canterbury Cathedral</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the prize for the story-telling contest in The Canterbury Tales?

    <p>A free meal at the Tabard Inn</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was Chaucer's intention for The Canterbury Tales?

    <p>To write four stories from the perspective of each pilgrim</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When was The Canterbury Tales written?

    <p>Between 1387 and 1400</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is The Canterbury Tales generally thought to have been at the end of Chaucer's life?

    <p>Incomplete</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where does the narrator of The Canterbury Tales meet a group of pilgrims?

    <p>The Tabard Inn in Southwark</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the pilgrims' journey?

    <p>To visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many stories will each pilgrim tell on the way to and from Canterbury?

    <p>Two</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the prize for the pilgrim who tells the most meaningful and comforting stories?

    <p>A free meal paid for by the rest of the pilgrims</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who proposes that the group ride together and entertain one another with stories?

    <p>The Host</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who wins the draw to tell the first tale?

    <p>The Knight</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where does the narrator meet a group of pilgrims?

    <p>The Tabard Inn in Southwark</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the pilgrims' journey?

    <p>To pray for forgiveness and healing at the shrine of Thomas Becket</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the month of April in the General Prologue?

    <p>It's the month when the rains and warm western wind restore life and fertility to the earth</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the narrator's attitude towards the pilgrims?

    <p>Admiring and praising</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is the narrator of the General Prologue?

    <p>Geoffrey Chaucer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the focus of the larger part of the General Prologue?

    <p>The description of the pilgrims</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Chivalry

    • A code of conduct for knights that emphasizes honor, loyalty, courage, protection of the weak, and defense of the faith
    • In The Knight's Tale, chivalry is portrayed as an ideal, with knights being depicted as noble and virtuous

    Courtly Love

    • A literary and philosophical movement that emphasizes adoration and worship of a lady from afar
    • Often unrequited or platonic love
    • In The Knight's Tale, courtly love is exemplified through Arcite and Palamon's love for Emily
    • Courtly love emphasizes the longing and suffering of the lover, idealizing the lady as a distant, unattainable goal

    Knights Of The Round Table

    • A legendary group of knights in King Arthur's court known for bravery, loyalty, and honor
    • Embodied the ideals of chivalry
    • Although not explicitly mentioned in The Knight's Tale, the story is set in a similar chivalric world
    • The characters' actions and values reflect the ideals of the Round Table

    Medieval Morality

    • A moral framework of the Middle Ages that emphasizes the struggle between good and evil
    • Focused on the individual's relationship with God
    • In The Knight's Tale, the story explores the tension between fate and free will
    • Morality is tied to the concept of fortune and the will of the gods
    • The characters' moral struggles reflect the medieval moral framework

    The Canterbury Tales

    • Written by Geoffrey Chaucer between 1387 and 1400
    • A collection of 24 stories in Middle English, totaling over 17,000 lines
    • Regarded as Chaucer's magnum opus

    Plot and Structure

    • Presented as a story-telling contest among pilgrims traveling from London to Canterbury
    • The prize for the contest is a free meal at the Tabard Inn on their return
    • Each pilgrim was intended to tell four stories: two on the way to Canterbury and two on the way back

    The General Prologue

    • Introduces 30 pilgrims, with the intention of writing 120 stories
    • The narrator, Chaucer, meets the pilgrims at the Tabard Inn in Southwark
    • The prologue describes the pilgrims' characteristics, social status, and abilities

    Pilgrims

    • Include a knight, squire, yeoman, prioress, monk, friar, merchant, clerk, sergeant of law, franklin, haberdasher, carpenter, weaver, dyer, tapestry weaver, cook, shipman, doctor of physic, wife of Bath, parson, plowman, miller, manciple, reeve, summoner, pardoner, and the Host (Harry Bailey)
    • Chaucer himself is also a pilgrim

    Themes and Impact

    • Contributed to the popularization of the English vernacular in literature
    • Unclear how seminal Chaucer was in this evolution of literary preference
    • Regarded as one of the most important works in English literature

    The Canterbury Tales: General Prologue

    • The poem's frame story revolves around a religious pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral, the site of Saint Thomas Becket's shrine, believed to have the power to heal the sinful.

    Setting

    • The story takes place in April, a month symbolizing life, fertility, and renewal.

    The Tabard Inn

    • The narrator, Geoffrey Chaucer, meets a diverse group of pilgrims at The Tabard Inn in Southwark.

    The Pilgrims

    • The group consists of 30 pilgrims, including:
      • A knight and his son, a squire
      • A yeoman
      • A prioress with a nun and a priest
      • A monk
      • A friar
      • A merchant
      • A clerk
      • A sergeant of law
      • A franklin
      • A haberdasher
      • A carpenter
      • A weaver
      • A dyer
      • A tapestry weaver
      • A cook
      • A shipman
      • A doctor of physic
      • A wife of Bath
      • A parson and his brother, a plowman
      • A miller
      • A manciple
      • A reeve
      • A summoner
      • A pardoner
      • The Host (Harry Bailey)
      • Chaucer himself

    The Storytelling Plan

    • The Host proposes that each pilgrim tells two stories on the way to Canterbury and two on the way back.
    • The pilgrim with the most meaningful and comforting stories will receive a free meal paid for by the rest of the group upon their return.

    The Journey Begins

    • The group agrees to the Host's plan and elects him as their governor, judge, and record keeper.
    • They set off the next morning, drawing straws to determine who will tell the first tale.
    • The Knight wins and prepares to tell his tale.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Related Documents

    History of English Literature, The Age of Chaucer PDF

    Description

    This quiz explores the life and works of Geoffrey Chaucer, a renowned English poet, and his significance in the 14th century. Learn about his famous Canterbury Tales and the cultural context of his time.

    More Like This

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser