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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who does the Franklin compare the Squire to?

2. What kind of language does the Host use to ask the Man of Law to tell his tale?

3. How was the fight between the Wife of Bath and Jankyn resolved?

4. Who wrote The Canterbury Tales?

5. Why does the Cook have to tell a good tale?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is the Knight's Tale fitting for his character?

2. How are the summoner and the yeoman both bailiffs?

3. Why does the Man of Law tell a story he heard once before?

4. What does the Cook like about the Reeve's Tale?

5. Why is it fitting for the Squire to begin the tale that he does?

6. Why does Chaucer have the Franklin interrupt the Squire only to compliment him?

7. Why does January say he wants to marry? Why does he likely really want to marry?

8. What concern does the Friar have about the Wife of Bath's Tale?

9. Why does the Host ask the Clerk to tell a tale after the Summoner's Tale?

10. Why can there be no real determination of the outcome of the Cook's Tale?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one pilgrim. Summarize his or her tale in a sentence or two. What is the tone of the tale? What is the theme? How is this tale fitting with this particular pilgrim?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the role of women during Chaucer's time. How do the female pilgrims differ from the male pilgrims? How are these differences reflected in their tales? What does this tell you about Chaucer's society?

Essay Topic 3

Define theme. Choose one tale and identify its theme. How is the theme expressed in the tale? How is the theme used to drive the story forward?

(see the answer keys)

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