Canterbury Tales Prologue Worksheet
Canterbury Tales “Prologue” Worksheet
Answer the following questions or fill in the blank:
1. What time of year provides the setting for the tales?
2. Where did the English often go in Spring during the Middle Ages? Why?
3. The Pilgrims gather in Southwark, just south of the city of ______, at the ______Inn.
4. The Knight, who is an example of someone who lives by the code of chivalry, is characterized by his ______, ______, and ______.
5. His son, the Squire, shows promise as a knight, but his main interest is ______, and he seeks to excel in order to please ______.
6. The Yeoman, who accompanies the Knight and the Squire, is a free-born worker or woodsman from their manor who fights with ______.
7. The Prioress is neat and has good manners, but her motto, which is ______, seems a bit ambiguous, and her rosary sounds a bit too ornamental.
8. The richly dressed Monk enjoys ______and is not particularly concerned with obeying the rules of his order.
9. The Friar, whose name is Hubert, enjoys the company of ______and ______, not beggars and lepers.
10. The Merchant is such an impressive businessman that no one would guess that he is in ______.
11. The Oxford Student or Clerk of Oxford spends his money on ______, not food or amusement. What Chaucer says about him is what most teachers would like: “And gladly would he ______and gladly ______.”
12. The Lawyer is very impressive but seems much ______than he really is.
13. The wealthy Franklin, who is a member of Parliament, lives in comfort and is particularly careful to have good wine and ______.
14. The Guildsmen, all prosperous tradesmen from a town, include a ______, a______, a ______, and a______.
15. They have with them a skilled Cook, who unfortunately has a(n) ______on his leg.
16. The Skipper (Shipman) is a good sailor, but he sounds rather like a ______.
17. The Physician, who uses astrology and the theory of the humors to diagnose illnesses, loves ______- because it is used in making medicines, of course!
18. “A wealthy woman….from near the city/Bath,” better known as the Wife of Bath, is a skillful ______-. (She comes from basically the same social class as the Guildsmen). She is an experienced traveler and has had five ______.
19. The Parson is truly a ______man who believes he should ______before he teaches or preaches.
20. His “brother” in Christ is the Plowman, a poor man who loves ______and loves his ______as himself, and shows it in his actions.
21. The strong, tough, stout Miller, who cheats his customers, has a bright ______beard and a ______on his nose. He rides at the ______of the group, playing his bagpipe.
22. The Manciple is the purchasing agent for one of the Inns of Court (a law school and organization of lawyers). Although his employers are qualified to manage huge estates, he manages to ______them all.
23. The Reeve, described as slender and ______, was a carpenter when he was younger. He rides at the ______of our group.
24. The Summoner (an official of the church courts, which enforced church, or canon, law with fines and punishments) is an ugly fellow whose face is ______and who can be ______.
25. The Pardoner, who carries pardons for sins and saints’ relics that are not ______, is a rascal but a skillful ______.
26. ______(number here) pilgrims, along with the priest and nun who accompany the Prioress, are on the journey.
27. The Host’s name is ______.
28. What plan does the group agree to complete on the journey? Who will be in charge of the plan? What is the prize?