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A Test on the Tales Trivia Quiz

A quiz for those who have read the Prologue and a reasonable selection of the tales.

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

Author
skylarb

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
116,445

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
1558

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. "The Canterbury Tales" consisted of 22 complete stories, but how many were originally planned? Hint

100

120

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. What brother of a parson is described in Chaucer's prologue to "The Canterbury Tales" as one who pays his tithes "ful faire and well"? Hint

Monk

Friar

Pardoner

Plowman

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. This pilgrim's tale contains the characters Nicholas and Absolon. Hint

The Reeve's

The Miller's

The Parson's

The Sailor's

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Which pilgrim's tale is based on one of Boccaccio's courtly romances? Hint

The Pardoner's

The Knight's

The Sailor's

The Yeoman's

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. In the prologue, we are told he was "At Alisandre." Hint

The Yeoman

The Sailor

The Knight

The Friar

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. This pilgrim, believing that the caricature of the carpenter in the Miller's tale was aimed at him, counters with his own story that mocks the arrogance of the miller. Hint

The Squire

The Sergeant

The Clerk

The Reeve

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Which pilgrim's tale contains a knight named Arveragus, a
lady named Dorigen, and a squire named Aurelie? Hint

The Miller's

The Wife of Bath's

The Monk's

The Franklin's

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. His tale tells the story of a maiden whose beauty inspires a judge to attempt to attain her through a trumped-up law suit. Hint

The Physician's

The Sailor's

The Wife of Bath's

The Miller's

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. What is the name of the rooster in the Nun's Priest's tale? Hint

Chaucer

Russell

Chanticleer

Reynard

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. The moral of his tale was: "Avarice is the root of all evil." Hint

The Parson's

The Pardoner's

The Miller's

The Banker's

Most Recent Scores

Mar 19 2024 : Guest 71: 8/10
Mar 01 2024 : andymuenz: 7/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. "The Canterbury Tales" consisted of 22 complete stories, but how many were originally planned?

Answer: 120

The tales were to be told by each of 30 pilgrims, two on the way to Becket's tomb, and two on the return journey. Two additional tales were begun but never completed.

2. What brother of a parson is described in Chaucer's prologue to "The Canterbury Tales" as one who pays his tithes "ful faire and well"?

Answer: Plowman

The Plowman also lives "in pees and perfit charitee." The Plowman and his brother the Parson are two of Chaucer's most positive characters. The monk is a "manly man" with a lust for hunting. The Pardoner is a charlatan who passes off pig's bones as Saint's relics, and the Friar is something of a womanizer.

3. This pilgrim's tale contains the characters Nicholas and Absolon.

Answer: The Miller's

This is a rather off-color story involving a na�ve carpenter, his wife, and her suitors.

4. Which pilgrim's tale is based on one of Boccaccio's courtly romances?

Answer: The Knight's

It is based on his "Il Teseida." Boccaccio wrote a collection of short stories called the "Decameron." Chaucer also modeled his "Troilus and Criseide" on a work by Boccaccio.

5. In the prologue, we are told he was "At Alisandre."

Answer: The Knight

The Knight is described as one who "loved Chivalrye."

6. This pilgrim, believing that the caricature of the carpenter in the Miller's tale was aimed at him, counters with his own story that mocks the arrogance of the miller.

Answer: The Reeve

The Reeve is described in the Prologue as "a sclendre, colerik man," and "they were adrad of him as of the deeth."

7. Which pilgrim's tale contains a knight named Arveragus, a lady named Dorigen, and a squire named Aurelie?

Answer: The Franklin's

The ruddy Franklin is described in Chaucer's Prologue as being "Epicurus owene sone."

8. His tale tells the story of a maiden whose beauty inspires a judge to attempt to attain her through a trumped-up law suit.

Answer: The Physician's

In the story, her father kills her to preserve her virginity. In the Prologue, it is said of the Physician, "For gold in physik is a cordial, therefore he loved gold in special."

9. What is the name of the rooster in the Nun's Priest's tale?

Answer: Chanticleer

The work is based on a beast fable "Reynard the Fox." Russell is the name of the fox in Chaucer's tale.

10. The moral of his tale was: "Avarice is the root of all evil."

Answer: The Pardoner's

The Pardoner tells of three men who pursue Death in order to kill him. An old man tells them they can find Death under a tree. Instead, they find a bag of gold. They end up killing each other over the gold, and thus do, in a sense, find Death.

Source: Author skylarb

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

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This quiz is part of series Literature Before 1500:

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Referenced Topics

Literature Names Geoffrey Chaucer Trees Pigs Carpenters Hunting

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