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Quiz about The Canterbury TalesThe Basics

The Canterbury Tales-The Basics Quiz

This won't be easy, unless you've read at least the General Prologue. I tried to keep the questions general, and the choices as obvious as I could. I just hope you go away a little better Jeopardy player. How do they know all that stuff? Quizzyland!

A multiple-choice quiz by dagney. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
dagney

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
6,953

Updated
Mar 16 24

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
2838

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The obvious first question... who wrote The Canterbury Tales? Hint

William Shakespeare

Mark Twain

Homer

Geoffrey Chaucer

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Question 2 of 10

2. Several travelers (pilgrims) set off on a pilgrimage to whose Shrine, and where is it located? Hint

King George, Essex

Robin Hood, Nottingham

Joan of Arc, Paris

Thomas a Becket, Canterbury

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Question 3 of 10

3. As the pilgrims left Southwark, they were led out of town by the Miller. What instrument was he playing? Hint

Drum

Flute

Bagpipes

Coronet

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Question 4 of 10

4. Who told the first tale? Hint

Wyf of Bathe

The Miller

The Nun's Priest

The Knight

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Question 5 of 10

5. Chaucer writes in English, of course, but what type of English, specifically? Hint

Old English

British English

Chaucerian English

Middle English

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which of the pilgrim women was widowed? Hint

Prioress

Alison

Secretary to the Prioress

Wyf of Bathe

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Question 7 of 10

7. The Wyf of Bath had a physical impairment, what was it? Hint

Blindness

Nervous Tic

Amputee

Deafness

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which of the following is NOT one of Chaucer's travelers? Hint

The Monk

The Cook

The Merchant

The Blacksmith

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Question 9 of 10

9. The man who organized the pilgrimage and mediated the tale-telling contest, Our Hoste, what is his name? Hint

Vincent Grovner

Bill Bailey

Harry Bailey

John of Gaunt

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Question 10 of 10

10. How did Harry decide who would tell the first tale? Hint

According to age

Drawing straws

According to social rank

Coin toss

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The obvious first question... who wrote The Canterbury Tales?

Answer: Geoffrey Chaucer

Chaucer was born c. 1340 and died in 1400.

2. Several travelers (pilgrims) set off on a pilgrimage to whose Shrine, and where is it located?

Answer: Thomas a Becket, Canterbury

They set off from the Tabbard Inn, in Southwark, 29 in all. The pilgrims would listen to each other tell tales along the trip there and back. The best tale teller earns a free dinner.

3. As the pilgrims left Southwark, they were led out of town by the Miller. What instrument was he playing?

Answer: Bagpipes

Ironically, the Reeve, the anthithesis of the Miller, was the last in the line.

4. Who told the first tale?

Answer: The Knight

He told a tale of ideal, chivalrous love. The perfect 14th century romantic story that audiences loved, today we call them 'chick flicks'.

5. Chaucer writes in English, of course, but what type of English, specifically?

Answer: Middle English

Old English was spoken from about 579 A.D. to 1100 A.D., Middle English until 1500 A.D. when Shakespeare and Milton (among others) helped usher in Modern English.

6. Which of the pilgrim women was widowed?

Answer: Wyf of Bathe

The Wyf of Bath was married 5 times! And her special talent, she proclaimed, was the knowledge of all remedies of love.

7. The Wyf of Bath had a physical impairment, what was it?

Answer: Deafness

She had a gap in her front teeth too.

8. Which of the following is NOT one of Chaucer's travelers?

Answer: The Blacksmith

Chaucer did a wonderful job of representing a wide array of 'real' medieval folkes.

9. The man who organized the pilgrimage and mediated the tale-telling contest, Our Hoste, what is his name?

Answer: Harry Bailey

Harry was the proclaimed final word on whose tale would win the free dinner.

10. How did Harry decide who would tell the first tale?

Answer: Drawing straws

Most of the rest of the tales are told to 'quite' (in response, or retaliation) another which dictates the order in which they told. Tough reading, but worth it.

Source: Author dagney

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor LadyCaitriona before going online.
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