The Second Nun's Prologue and Tale Quiz

Answer: idleness

Idleness is another word for sloth. The Second Nun calls idleness ("Ydelnesse"). It is frequently referred to as acedia, which is not just someone being lazy, but all the other dangers attributed to laziness. It combines the dysfunction of a spiritual, mental, and a physical life.

It is someone who cares so little about their overall performance of their duties, by not even trying to have any spiritual goals.

Answer: Cecilia

Cecilia is a noble woman and is born a Roman. She is a devout Christian. She really doesn't want to be married and certainly doesn't want to have physical sexual contact unless that man is pure. She does want her husband and his brother to become Christians though. She talks to an angel to keep her a virgin.

Answer: white lilies

The color red denotes passion, while the color white suggests purity. As stated, the angel does not seem to have a name, but is considered her guardian angel. The angel can only be seen if the person has been baptised, chaste, and is pure of heart. Cecilia is specifically associated with white lilles, and is described as a "lily of heaven".

Answer: Valerian

On their wedding night Cecilia warns Valerian not to touch her because if he does her guardian angel will certainly kill him. Because he is not pure he cannot see the angel so he must take Cecilia's word. To see the angel he must meet up with the current Pope, who is in hiding, but nonetheless he must change for the better.

Answer: Urban I

Urban I is a Pope in hiding. He is running from the Roman leaders who likely want to kill him. He is hiding among the poor in order to avoid persecution. He talks to Valerian who allows himself to be baptised. Now he can see the guardian angel. In the story he is known as "the good man Urban".

Answer: True

The Second Nun is not named, but we do know that she is visiting with the Prioress on the pilgrimage and is in the position of chaplain. The Second Nun is the narrator of the story in telling about the life of Cecilia. She tells the story of a virgin martyr with respect to avoiding idleness.

Answer: Tiburce

Cecilia preaches to Tiburce that living the Roman life is sinful and that that is an old, false religion. Tiburce initially can see the flowers but he cannot smell them. Initially Tiburce is very afraid to see Pope Urban because he knows that the Romans want to kill the Pope, and any association to the Pope is a way to get killed too. Tiburce is told a life in Heaven is better than a life on earth anyway. Tiburce decides to get baptised.

Answer: Appian Way

Valerian has to go three miles down the Appian Way to find Pope Urban. The Appian Way is also called Via Appia, and is also known as "Queen of Roads". It served as the main path to Greece. It was started in 312 BCE by Appius Claudius Caecus. Here, Valerian reads some Christian text and decides to convert himself to Jesus Christ.

The significance of the Appian Way is that it opens up the concept of blindness into spiritual vision during one's travels in life.

Answer: Almachius

Almachius is the name of the Roman prefect who orders the death of Cecilia's husband Valerian and his brother Tiburce. He eventually tries to have Cecilia executed too. In some accounts of art, Almachius is looked upon as a representation of a pagan state. His real name is Turcius Almachius, and he is mostly known for the persecution and martyrdom of Saint Cecilia.

Answer: have her beheaded

Evidently, according to Roman law, after the third time trying to beheaded someone you cannot try it a fourth time. Eventually she dies from her neck wounds three days later. During those three days she continues to work for the Lord by preaching to save lives.

She converts many to become Christians. After she dies she leaves all of her belongings to Pope Urban so he can use them to convert her home into a church.