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The Merchant's Tale Trivia Quiz

The classic tale by Geoffrey Chaucer.

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

Author
cerealqueen

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
291,196

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
418

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which collection of stories is "The Merchant's Tale" a part of? Hint

The London Stories

The Canterbury Tales

The Somerset Stories

The Norfolk Notes

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Question 2 of 10

2. How old is the character of January? Hint

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Question 3 of 10

3. One of January's brothers is called Justinus. What is the name of his other brother? Hint

Placebo

Pluto

March

Frank

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Question 4 of 10

4. January becomes blind in the course of the poem. Which character decides to grant his sight back? Hint

Proserpina

Pluto

May

Damian

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Question 5 of 10

5. Who writes letters to May? Hint

Damian

January

Placebo

Proserpina

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Question 6 of 10

6. What type of fruit does May tell January she wants to climb up the tree and get? Hint

Pear

Banana

Apple

Berries

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Question 7 of 10

7. What does May actually want to do up the tree? Hint

consummate her lustful relationship with Damian

eat mangoes from the tree

jump off it

look at the birds

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which adjective is repeatedly used to describe May? Hint

young

sexy

beautiful

fresh

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which of the following is a characteristic of a fabliaux tale? Hint

intervention of gods

old wife, young husband

cuckholded husband

happy ending

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Question 10 of 10

10. A framing device is used in the form of a dream sequence.

True

False

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which collection of stories is "The Merchant's Tale" a part of?

Answer: The Canterbury Tales

Written by Chaucer in the 14th Century, "The Canterbury Tales" is a collection of stories contained inside a frame tale and told by various pilgrims on a pilgrimage from Southwark to Canterbury.

2. How old is the character of January?

Answer: 60

He is described as a 60-year-old knight from the town of Pavie, in Lombardy.

3. One of January's brothers is called Justinus. What is the name of his other brother?

Answer: Placebo

January asks Justinus and Placebo for their advice on marriage. The two brothers have differing views - Placebo encourages January to get married whereas Justinus suggests that he does not marry. January decides to take Placebo's advice.

4. January becomes blind in the course of the poem. Which character decides to grant his sight back?

Answer: Pluto

Pluto and Proserpina argue - Pluto condemns women's morality and decides that he will grant January his sight back. In defence of women, Proserpina grants May the ability to talk her way out of the situation.

5. Who writes letters to May?

Answer: Damian

Damian is a squire in January's court. He falls in love with May at first sight!

6. What type of fruit does May tell January she wants to climb up the tree and get?

Answer: Pear

May tells January she wants a pear from the tree and January, old, blind, and therefore unable to reach, stoops to allow May to climb onto his back to climb up.

7. What does May actually want to do up the tree?

Answer: consummate her lustful relationship with Damian

Damian is waiting up the tree; it has been said that this is symbolic of the forbidden fruit story in Genesis.

8. Which adjective is repeatedly used to describe May?

Answer: fresh

This becomes ironic as the poem unfolds - 'fresh' is used to mean innocent and pure, however May has an affair with Damian thus proving her lack of innocence.

9. Which of the following is a characteristic of a fabliaux tale?

Answer: cuckholded husband

Some critics claim 'The Merchant's Tale' is a fabliau - a short metrical tale made popular in medieval France by professional storytellers. Fabliaux are characterised by vivid detail and are usually comic, coarse, and often cynical, especially in their treatment of women.

10. A framing device is used in the form of a dream sequence.

Answer: False

There is a framing device, however it is in the form of the Merchant introducing the tale. He begins the poem by telling the audience his own experiences and goes on to tell January's story.

Source: Author cerealqueen

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