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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 Virginius's profession?

2. What happens to Appius at the end of the Physician's Tale?

3. Why does Virginius kill Virginia?

4. Who does Cecilia warn her new husband about?

5. What comparison does the Parson use for life?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is it fitting that the tales end with something from Chaucer?

2. What is the irony of the Pardoner in his argument with the Host?

3. What is the lesson the Second Nun's Tale teaches women?

4. Why is it fitting that the journey ends with the Parson's Tale?

5. What is different about the Parson's Tale in comparison to the rest of the pilgrims' tales?

6. What kind of a man is Phoebus in the Manciple's Tale?

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

8. What becomes the downfall for both Chanticleer and the fox in the Nun's Priest's Tale?

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

10. What contributes heavily to the length of the Tale of Melibee?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain marriage during Chaucer's time. What pilgrims address marriage in their tales? What do they think of the institution of marriage?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the fragmentation that exists in The Canterbury Tales. Why do you think Chaucer left the fragments in the story? What does this reveal about his writing process? What does this reveal about him?

Essay Topic 3

Explain chivalry. What pilgrims are chivalrous in The Canterbury Tales? How are they chivalrous? What role does chivalry play in the tales the pilgrims tell?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 576 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample