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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 Cecilia warn her new husband about?

2. Who tells the Tale of Sir Topas?

3. Who does the speaker of the Retraction ask to pray for him?

4. How does the merchant's wife offer to repay her loan?

5. What does the Parson tell as his “story”?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the Prioress emphasize the idea that the boy in her tale is a victim?

2. Where is the inspiration for the Manciple's Tale?

3. What is common in the books Chaucer retracts?

4. How is the merchant's wife able to buy the clothes she wants?

5. What is the theology of life the Parson presents in his tale?

6. What is the significance of Virginia's name in the Physician's Tale?

7. Why does Virginius kill his daughter?

8. Why is the Second Nun's Tale so appropriate for her?

9. What is the common moral in the Monk's tragedies?

10. What does the Pardoner admit about himself in his Prologue?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

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?

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