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The Canterbury Tales Summary

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The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the late 14th century. It is one of the most famous works of English literature, and it tells the story of a group of pilgrims who travel from London to Canterbury to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket, the archbishop who was murdered in 1170.


 Along the way, the pilgrims entertain each other with stories of various genres, such as romance, comedy, tragedy, and satire. The stories reflect the diverse social backgrounds and personalities of the pilgrims, as well as the moral and religious issues of their time. The Canterbury Tales consists of a General Prologue, where the narrator introduces the pilgrims and their agreement to tell stories; 24 tales, each told by a different pilgrim; and a Retraction, where the narrator asks for forgiveness for his sins. 


However, Chaucer did not finish his plan to have each pilgrim tell four stories (two on the way to Canterbury and two on the way back), and some of the tales are incomplete or missing. Therefore, The Canterbury Tales is considered an unfinished work.


Well have this Self Examination test as they may drop in your end of semester exams 🙂 

Below are some questions to try yourself on:

...........................................................................

1. What is the name of the inn where the pilgrims gather before their journey to Canterbury?

A) The Tabard Inn

B) The Canterbury Inn

C) The Becket Inn

D) The Chaucer Inn

Answer: A


2. How many stories does each pilgrim agree to tell on the way to Canterbury and on the way back?

A) One

B) Two

C) Three

D) Four

Answer: B


3. Which pilgrim tells the first tale?

A) The Knight

B) The Miller

C) The Wife of Bath

D) The Pardoner

Answer: A


4. What is the prize for the best storyteller, according to the Host?

A) A free meal at his tavern

B) A kiss from the Prioress

C) A relic from the shrine of Thomas Becket

D) A pardon from the Pope

Answer: A


5. What genre of tale does the Miller tell?

A) A courtly romance

B) A religious legend

C) A racy fabliau

D) A moral allegory

Answer: C

...........................................................................


For more of these please keep following the blog for new posts that are shared everyday. You can also read the original text in Middle English or modern translations in electronic format by downloading it from this link. I hope you enjoy this classic masterpiece of English literature. 


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