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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. Why does the king in the Squire’s Tale order a celebration?

2. Who sleeps with the miller's wife?

3. Why does the knight's wife transform into a beautiful woman?

4. What does Nicholas tell John which allows him to spend the night with Alison?

5. Who asks the Squire for the next tale?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the basis of the Reeve's story? Why is this the basis for the story?

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

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

4. What is the purpose of the knight's quest to find what women most desire?

5. What is the Squire's plan before he is interrupted?

6. How do the townspeople react to the situation after John crashes through the ceiling?

7. What is the point the Summoner makes about friars with the anecdote in his Prologue?

8. Why are the pilgrims confused by the Merchant's Tale?

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

10. What could be considered controversial about the Wife of Bath's Tale?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the setting of The Canterbury Tales. How does the setting of a pilgrimage contribute to the individual pilgrims' tales? How would the story be different if Chaucer had used a different setting?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the role of Greek literature and mythology on Chaucer's society. How does Greek mythology and literature play a role in the pilgrims' tales? What does this reveal about Chaucer's society? What does it reveal about the pilgrims?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the role of the Host in The Canterbury Tales. How does he join the group's pilgrimage? Is he effective in his role? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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