Chaucer: Canterbury Tales

Multiple choice questions. Choose the best answer.

1. Canterbury Tales introduced all the following stylistic devices EXCEPT
   
   

   a) satire.
   b) irony.
   c) point of view.
   d) predominance of all-powerful gods.




2. Chaucer's character development is original because
   
   

   a) his characters have supernatural qualities.
   b) they are flawed.
   c) like real people, they have strengths and weaknesses.
   d) they represent people from all stratas of society.




3. Chaucer developed his Canterbury Tales using a device called
   
   

   a) a fable.
   b) the frame story.
   c) monologues.
   d) poetic narrative.




4. A pilgrim whom Chaucer describes as negligent of his duty is the
   
   

   a) Parson.
   b) Knight.
   c) Pardoner.
   d) Monk.




5. Chaucer satirizes the Monk because the Monk
   
   

   a) is too concerned with courtesy and matters of etiquette.
   b) cheats the poor peasants by selling them false religious relics.
   c) begs from wealthy people but spends no time with poor people.
   d) spends too much time hunting and too little time on religious duty.




6. Which class of society is NOT represented in Canterbury Tales?
   
   

   a) feudal
   b) urban
   c) ecclesiastical
   d) monarchy




7. When Chaucer describes the Friar as a "noble pillar of his Order", he is using
   
   

   a) irony.
   b) simile.
   c) understatement.
   d) personification.




8. That the Nun is worldly is supported by the fact that
   
   

   a) "her nose was elegant, that her eyes were glass-grey".
   b) "she used to weep if she but saw a mouse".
   c) "her mouth was very small, but soft and red".
   d) she was "pleasant and friendly in her ways".




9. The trip to Canterbury is an important plot device for Chaucer because it
   
   

   a) allows characters to meet.
   b) brings together persons of diverse social rank in a natural way.
   c) allows Chaucer a chance to make fun of the church.
   d) was a popular pilgrimage of the time




10. Which is NOT characteristic of Chaucer's style?
    
    

    a) realism
    b) vivid description
    c) irony
    d) stock (stereotyped) characters




11. In the "Prologue" to Canterbury Tales, the pilgrim who preached with a "honey tongue" to win silver from the crowd was the
    
    

    a) Friar.
    b) Summoner.
    c) Pardoner.
    d) Parson.




12. The narrator in the "Prologue" to Canterbury Tales pretends to be
    
    

    a) naive.
    b) irritable.
    c) immoral.
    d) witty.

Answer key	1. d	6. b	11. c	16. _	21. _
	2. c	7. a	12. a	17. _	22. _
	3. b	8. d	13. _	18. _	23. _
	4. d	9. b	14. _	19. _
	5. d	10. d	15. _	20. _

Compiling such a data bank is an ongoing process. Comments and contributions are appreciated by those persons who use this resource.

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