4. The Knight's Tale

1. Characterise the Knight.

2. To what extend does his tale grow out of his personality?

3. What literary category does this tale fall into? What are the characteristics of this genre?

4. Compare the portrait of Emily in the Knight's story with that of Alison in the Miller's. Which is the more convincing portrait? Why?

5. What are the chief merits and weaknesses of the "Knight's Tale"?

6. What is the value of classical mythology in the "Knight s Tale"? Do any specific gods and \ or goddesses influence the development of the plot? Cite examples.

7. How seriously does Chaucer intend the moral at the end of the poem?

5. The Miller’s Tale.

1. How does Chaucer combine descriptive and psychological detail to characterise the Miller?

2. Does the Miller tell his tale for any particular reason? How does this reason help to account for its structure?

3. What kind of tale is this?

4. What are the three separate and distinct motifs in the tale? How do they exemplify Chaucer s mastery of plot?

5. How would you characterise the comedy employed here? Was it suitable for the times? Was it offensive to any of the pilgrims?

6. What comments does the story make on the marriage question?

7. To what extent does his tale grow out of the Miller 's personality?

3. "The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale."

1. Pardoner's own "Prologue":

a. Just describe the basic progress or flow of the speech.

b. Is the "Prologue" a well-formed, smooth speech?

c. What does the Pardoner emphasize about his method and intent when he preaches?

2. The Pardoner's tale itself begins only at line 373. What, then, is the function of lines 175-372? What is the Pardoner doing in this long preamble and why does he need to do it?

3. Regarding the tale about the three "riotoures":

a. What is the plot of the tale?

b. What does it exemplify, if anything?

c. Is there an analogy to be made between the three riotoures' understanding of "death" and the Pardoner's understanding of his own words?

d. Does his tale reveal anything about the Pardoner?

4. In what sense is the old man's statement that the rioters can find Death under the oak tree true?

5. Why do you think the character of the old man is included in the tale? Think of

• the story of his life

• his views about Death

• his directions for finding Death

6. In the light of the Pardoner's true motives, as revealed in the "Prologue," why is the moral of this tale ironic?

7. The Wife of Bath's Tale. (Батской ткачихи)

1.Read the Prologue and characterise the Wife of Bath:

Her physical appearance:

Clothes:

Behaviour (with the other women in church, with husbands and lovers, on pilgrimages, social abilities).

2. What do you think these details tell us about her character?

3. How does Chaucer use irony to criticize the Wife of Bath?

4. Why do you think she goes on so many pilgrimages?

5 What is meant by the word WORTHY in her description? In what ways is she worthy? In what ways should her worthiness be read sceptically or satirically?

6. What is her opinion about the relative merits of virginity and the married state?

7. Which among the Canterbury pilgrims would be most suitable as the Wife of Bath's sixth husband? Which would be least suitable? Why?

8. Why does the Wife cite so many authorities for marrying more than once, or marrying at all? Is she being defensive? Making fun of the authorities?

9. What is the difference between her first three marriages and her last two? Is the last one " true love"?

10. To what extent does her tale grow out of her personality?

11. What forms of humour do you find in both the Wife of Bath's Prologue and her Tale, and what effects does Chaucer achieve through them?

12.“The Wife of Bath's Tale forms a romantic contrast with the realism of her Prologue.” Discuss.