1. Chaucer and the Middle Ages test review
Spring 2012

2. The test is scantron with two discussion questions.
The scantron questions will be true false, multiple choice, matching, and fill-in-the-blank.

3. What should you study? The worksheet from the unit introduction
Background notes on Chaucer and his writing
Class notes on the pilgrims (from the PowerPoints)
Questions about “The Pardoner’s Tale”

4. The test questions will be very similar to the ones on this PowerPoint.
This PowerPoint is on Mrs. Bodenmann’s fairhopehs.com page under “presentations.”

5. ____________ is the rigid social system or structure that governed England in the early medieval era.
feudalism

6. is “Epicurus’ very son,” famous for his hospitality and his generosity with food
Franklin

7. ____________ is a system of ideals and codes of behavior that governed knights and gentlewomen.
chivalry

8. carries a pillow case (and other false relics) said to be a piece of the Virgin Mary’s veil
Pardoner

9. True or false: at the beginning of his tale the Pardoner states that “money is the root of all evil.”
False (he says “Greed is the root of all evil.”)

10. _______ is an important Italian source for The Canterbury Tales.
Boccaccio’s Decameron

11. follows “chivalry, truth, honor, generousness, and courtesy” and has “never said a boorish thing” in his life
Knight

12. True or false: all of the pilgrims in “The General Prologue” are upper class.

13. Geoffrey Chaucer was born into a _______-class family.
middle

14. has beautiful manners and several small dogs; strains to “counterfeit a courtly kind of grace”
Nun

15. The ______ limited the king’s power and became the basis for English constitutional law.
Magna Carta

16. True or false: Chaucer never left England.

17. diagnoses patients using astrology; loves gold
Doctor

18. The Canterbury Tales was written in this language:
Middle English

19. True or False: In the Middle Ages, people who lived in different parts of England often could not understand each others’ speech because of the different versions of Middle English they spoke.
True

20. The one hundred most commonly used words in Modern English come from this language:
Old English

21. has been to Jerusalem three times; is “skilled in wandering by the way”
Wife of Bath

22. ________ brought about the first feelings of national identity in England.
Hundred Years’ War

23. has terrible sores on the face and loves to eat garlic and onions; only speaks Latin when drunk; values power over people
Summoner

24. In the Middle Ages the upper class in England spoke this language:
French

25. True or False: All three of the rioters are dead at the end of “The Pardoner’s Tale.”

26. This pilgrim rode at the very end of the group of pilgrims, probably so that he can keep an eye on everyone
Reeve

27. The vernacular language in England in the Middle Ages was
Middle English

28. wears a beautiful, red-and-white embroidered gown and gets very little sleep at night
Squire

29. __________ became the most popular type of literature in medieval England.
Romance

30. loves hunting; has nice clothes, horses, and dogs; “was he to leave the world upon the shelf?”
Monk

31. The entertainment value of Chaucer’s stories was called (in Middle English) ___________ .
solace

32. a “great stout fellow” with a wart on his nose who plays the bagpipes and cheats his customers
Miller

33. The lesson taught by Chaucer’s stories was called (in Middle English) _________.
sentence

34. “Children were afraid when he appeared,” and he accepts bribes
Summoner

35. Chaucer used this literary device to write the Canterbury Tales:
Frame story

36. This pilgrim sings an offertory very well and displays false relics
Pardoner

37. works with apothecaries to maximize profits
Doctor

38. practices what he preaches; is a good shepherd
Parson

39. A journey undertaken to show religious devotion is called _________ .
pilgrimage

40. skinny; loves books more than anything; is very single-minded and serious
Clerk

41. has married off many young women and paid them money to keep quiet about it
Friar

42. knows remedies for the pains of love; is skilled at making cloth
Wife of Bath

43. These works of art, found in churches, helped teach Bible stories to illiterate people:
Stained glass windows

44. can sweet talk a poor widow out of her last penny, but prefers hanging out with the rich people
Friar

45. What was built between 1070-1180?
First English cathedral

46. knows all the good hiding places along the coast of Europe; steals wine
Skipper

47. embezzles from his ‘boss’ and is wealthy, though he does not have high social status
Reeve

48. In medieval England the upper class’s ancestors came from _________ .
France

49. enjoys telling dirty stories, fighting, and breaking down doors with his head
Miller

50. is very interested in controlling the people around him, including his boss
Reeve

51. This event occurred in October of the year 1066
Norman Invasion or Conquest

52. This person weathers storms and ignores “the nicer rules of conscience”
Skipper

53. Chaucer tells us that the ______ has come on the pilgrimage to give thanks to God.
Knight

54. True or false: the nun and monk should follow vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

55. The ____ is very proud of his knowledge and feels he has prestige because of his job.
Knight

56. True or false: The Knight, Parson, and Friar are considered Chaucer’s perfect pilgrims.

57. Bonus information:
The Squire, Monk, and Clerk will not be on the test!