Choose the Letter of the Best Answer

The Age of Chivalry: Literature, Women’s Role

(pp. 367-369)

____ 1. Medieval literature glorified knighthood and chivalry in epics about heroes such as a. Xander Cage. b. Mel Gibson. c. King Arthur. d. Aragorn II.

____ 2. The Song of Roland is an epic poem about a battle that occurred during the reign of a. Henry II. b. the Duke of Brittany. c. the Count of Flanders. d. Charlemagne.

____ 3. The Song of Roland is about a battle between French knights and a. Viking invaders. b. Muslim invaders. c. Magyar invaders. d. Japanese samurai.

____ 4. What is the title of the Anglo-Saxon medieval epic set in Denmark and Sweden that we currently are reading? a. The Sword in the Stone b. Paradise Lost c. Beowulf d. Divine Comedy

____ 5. Troubadours were a. foot soldiers. b. poet-musicians. c. knights-in-training. d. noblemen.

6. What were the themes of troubadours’ compositions?

____ 7. Eleanor of Aquitane achieved her fame in part because she a. was queen of England. b. wrote The Song of Roland. c. established the first convents. d. wove the Bayeux Tapestry. ____ 8. Who was a famous son of Eleanor of Aquitane? a. King Henry VIII b. King Charles I c. King Richard the Lion-Hearted d. King William II

There was a knight, a most distinguished man, Who from the day on which he first began To ride abroad had followed chivalry, Truth, honor, generous, and courtesy. He had done nobly in sovereign’s war And ridden in battle, no man more, As well as Christian in heathen places And ever honored for his noble graces. Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales

____ 9. Which of these phrases does not characterize the knight Chaucer describes? a. a skilled fighter b. a devoted Christian c. a young man d. a well-traveled warrior

____ 10. What qualities of knighthood do you think are missing from Chaucer’s description? a. that a knight adored his chosen lady b. that a knight was of noble birth c. that a knight was a skilled warrior d. that a knight devoted himself to his heavenly Lord

____ 11. How were women viewed in feudal society? a. They were equal under the law. b. The Church considered them superior to men. c. They could vote and hold political office. d. They were considered inferior to men.

12. Read the primary source about the daily life of a noblewoman on page 368. What seem to be the major concerns in the noblewoman’s life?

13. What privileges did a noblewoman have in medieval society?

____ 14. Did the status of noblewomen improve during the Middle Ages? a. They gained power by ruling when their husbands went on Crusade. b. Their roles remained limited to the home and convent. c. They gained power by running their own convents. d. Their status improved because the Church held them in high esteem. 15. Read the primary source about the daily life of a peasant woman on page 368. What qualities would you associate with the peasant woman and the life she lived?

16. What role did peasant women play under feudalism?