Background and Context
The Church Class
The Merchant Class
The Feudal Class
Interpretation
100
The author of The Canterbury Tales
Who is Geoffrey Chaucer?
100
This character is supposed to marry God and take care of the sick; instead, she cares more about social status and animals.
Who is the Nun (Prioress)?
100
These three characters carry instruments made of silver; their chief concern is money and power. A cook with a weeping ulcer travels with them.
Who are the Guildsmen?
100
He is the most noble character, doing his job well " in Christian and in heathen lands." Humble, polite, dedicated, chivalrous.
Who is the Knight?
100
These are both possible meanings for the Wife of Bath's "remedies for love's mischances."
What is the cure for a broken heart OR how to "cure" a pregnancy or STD?
200
A religious journey to a holy site
What is a pilgrimage?
200
Supposedly a "begging priest," this character marries women off before it can be discovered they are pregnant; he also tries to "make a decent living" from taking charity which is meant for lepers and beggars.
Who is the Friar?
200
She makes every appearance of being a religious nut; however, her behavior would indicate that she has never been happy in one place, with one man.
Who is the Wife of Bath?
200
Another perfect examples of his class, this character remains happy and charitable to his church and neighbors despite carting dung all day.
Who is the plowman?
200
These are the ambiguous meanings of the statements regarding the Monk being "an Abbot able/ with many a dainty horse in his stable."
What is a good and capable priest who likes to keep horses OR a man very capable of becoming a father and likes to keep a number of women available?
300
The number of individuals on the journey to Canterbury in the poem.
What is 29?
300
The perfect priest; he makes sure that he follows the word of God before he teaches it, because "if gold rusts, so shall iron."
Who is the Parson?
300
He carries three daggers, and makes folks walk the plank. He also knows every place to hide in strange, out of the way places.
Who is the Skipper (Captain, Shipman)?
300
He fights nobly, but is contrasted with his father in the fact that he fights for a woman's favor instead of a sense of duty to church and state. He is pretty, artsy, and "loves hotly."
Who is the Squire?
300
This is the meaning of the lines regarding the Doctor, in which it is stated, "All his apothecaries were ready.../ with the drugs he would prescribe,/ And each made money from the other's guile."
What is they received kickbacks from possibly false diagnoses and prescriptions?
400
The century in which the poem was written.
What is the 14th century?
400
While he should be "cloistered," studying and working in the garden, this character is out hunting because he is "A manly man, an Abbot able/ with many dainty horses in his stable."
Who is the Monk?
400
He diagnoses illnesses by looking at the stars and planets' alignments. He also gets kickbacks from his apothecary friends.
Who is the Doctor?
400
He loves to get drunk and knock doors down with his head. He only knows dirty stories and has a "golden thumb" to help cheat his customers.
Who is the Miller?
400
This is meant by the author's metaphor stating that the Franklin "was Epicurus' very son."
What is he felt that happiness is the most important thing in life?
500
The author uses this to create a "social commentary," holding up man's follies and weaknesses for scrutiny and ridicule.
What is satire?
500
With greasy, long blonde hair, he is tasked with bringing sinners to "church court," but is known to let them go for some wine; it is also hinted that he may be a pimp.
Who is the Summoner?
500
He knows every law verbatim; no one can find a misplaced comma in his writing (possibly because you cannot read his writing).
who is the lawyer (sergeant at law)?
500
More or less the governor of an area, he likes to use his money for parties. There is always a feast prepared at his home.
Who is the Franklin?
500
The author suggests this regarding the Wife of Bath and why her French accent is not genuine, she insists on being called 'Madam,' and her manners are impeccable while she gobbles down every drop and morsel of her food.
What is she was raised in humble circumstances and desires to appear classy and rich?
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