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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. What is different about the Wife of Bath's Prologue?

2. What does the Man of Law say he will not use in his tale?

3. Why is the apprentice cook able to revel all day?

4. What does the knight in the Wife of Bath's Tale do that gets him in trouble?

5. What does the Miller say his tale is about?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why are Palamon and Arcite jealous of each other when Arcite is released from the tower?

2. According to the Clerk's Prologue, what is the method for telling a good story?

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

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

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

6. What is comedic about the Reeve's Tale?

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

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

9. Why is the friar in the Summoner's Tale ironic?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the role of characters' names in the pilgrims' tales. How do characters' names contribute to the overall stories? Why does Chaucer use characters' names to contribute to the stories in this way?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the role of the Narrator in The Canterbury Tales. Is he a reliable narrator? Why or why not? Is he effective in his role? Why or why not?

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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