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The Life of Chaucer Trivia Quiz

We've all heard of "The Canterbury Tales." But what about the man behind the work?

A multiple-choice quiz by skylarb. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
skylarb

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
116,522

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
660

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Chaucer was born a commoner but mingled with the nobility. He had an eventful life, and was even captured and ransomed by the French. During what war did this happen? Hint

The Napoleonic Wars

The War of the Roses

The Hundred Years War

The Norman Conquest

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Question 2 of 10

2. Chaucer was the son of a: Hint

Slave trader

Parson

Public servant

Wine merchant

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Question 3 of 10

3. What was Chaucer's first job, as far as we know? Hint

Playwright

Arms Dealer

Scribe

Page

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Question 4 of 10

4. Chaucer traveled on diplomatic missions while a servant of King Edward. Where, besides England, did he go? Hint

France

Italy

Spain

All of These

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which of the following was _not_ a post held by Chaucer? Hint

Member of Parliament

Clerk of the Queen's Works

Knight of the Shire

Justice of the Peace

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Question 6 of 10

6. What famous person was a descendant of Chaucer's sister-in-law, Katherine Swynford? Hint

Christopher Marlowe

King Henry IV

King Henry VII

William Shakespeare

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which wife of John of Gaunt does Chaucer's "Book of the Duchess" eulogize? Hint

His first

His third

His second

All of them

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Question 8 of 10

8. This archbishop was murdered in his own cathedral in 1170. Chaucer's pilgrims are journeying to his tomb in "The Canterbury Tales." Hint

St. Jerome

Thomas Becket

Venerable Bede

St. Augustine

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Question 9 of 10

9. True or False: Chaucer wrote most of his works in Old English.

True

False

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Question 10 of 10

10. What was the name of Chaucer's scribe, about whose sloppy work he complained? Hint

Adam

Matthew

Thomas

Saul

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Chaucer was born a commoner but mingled with the nobility. He had an eventful life, and was even captured and ransomed by the French. During what war did this happen?

Answer: The Hundred Years War

This occurred in 1359, before Chaucer became a member of King Edward's personal household.

2. Chaucer was the son of a:

Answer: Wine merchant

Chaucer was born into the growing English middle-class, which was, in the Middle English period, beginning to play a profound role in public life.

3. What was Chaucer's first job, as far as we know?

Answer: Page

As a teenager, he served as a page to Elizabeth, the Countess of Ulster.

4. Chaucer traveled on diplomatic missions while a servant of King Edward. Where, besides England, did he go?

Answer: All of These

Italy was perhaps his most profitable journey, because he seems to have been much influenced by Italian literature, having modeled one of his tales and one of his major poems on writings of Boccaccio.

5. Which of the following was _not_ a post held by Chaucer?

Answer: Clerk of the Queen's Works

The correct title is "Clerk of the King's Works," which he was. A Knight of the Shire is just another title for a Member of Parliament.

6. What famous person was a descendant of Chaucer's sister-in-law, Katherine Swynford?

Answer: King Henry VII

Henry IV was descended from John of Gaunt and his wife Blanche. Katherine Swynford was John of Gaunt's third wife, and her great-great grandson became Henry VII. The couple's descendants had been specifically excluded from the throne by law, but Richmond (Henry VII) nevertheless defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, becoming King.

7. Which wife of John of Gaunt does Chaucer's "Book of the Duchess" eulogize?

Answer: His first

The duchess of Lancaster died in 1372. John of Gaunt was the son of Edward III.

8. This archbishop was murdered in his own cathedral in 1170. Chaucer's pilgrims are journeying to his tomb in "The Canterbury Tales."

Answer: Thomas Becket

Becket's martyrdom has inspired much literature, including a 20th century work by T.S. Eliot.

9. True or False: Chaucer wrote most of his works in Old English.

Answer: False

Chaucer wrote in Middle English. Old English was the language in which the epic "Beowulf" was written.

10. What was the name of Chaucer's scribe, about whose sloppy work he complained?

Answer: Adam

Chaucer wrote a humorous poem "To His Scribe Adam," complaining about the scribe's workmanship on "Troilus and Criseide."

Source: Author skylarb

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