<p>McNair’s Honors English 12 – The Canterbury Tales </p><p>“The Pardoner’s Tale” Study Questions </p><p>1. What vice does the Pardoner admit to having, even though he preaches against it? 2. Which details in the opening three lines enable the audience to form a quick opinion of the main characters? 3. What earlier line explains the reference to the “adversary” in line 79? 4. In lines 83-89, what details of the publican’s comments build the danger of the situation? 5. What lines explain the “bargain” the rioters are said to have made in line 96? What do the three rioters swear to do? 6. Who is “she” in line 136? What earlier lines give you the answer? 7. What role does the old man play in the tale? What might he represent in the tale? 8. What is ironic about the attitudes of the rioters and the old man toward Death? 9. Into what new sin does greed lead the rioters? 10. In lines1183-200, in this example of indirect characterization, what do the speaker’s words reveal about him? 11. What does the old man say the rioters will find under the tree? What do they find there? 12. What does the first rioter mean by “as in game”? Which earlier lines explain the meaning? 13. What new sin does greed lead the youngest rioter to contemplate? 14. In addition to avarice, or greed, against what sin does the tale preach in the final lines? 15. How does each rioter meet his end? Did they each deserve it? Explain. 16. All three rioters make frequent references to religion. This is ironic, since they are such evildoers. How do these references to religion connect the rioters thematically to the Pardoner who tells their tale?</p><p>“The Wife of Bath’s Tale” Study Questions </p><p>1. What does the Wife of Bath tell the Pardoner about marriage? (Pay attention to lines 10-12 and 16-17 of her Prologue) 2. What are some of the Wife’s justifications for having five husbands? 3. What would the Wife consider an ideal husband? 4. In the frame story, the Wife of Bath and the Friar have an ongoing quarrel. In what way does the Wife of Bath’s digression in lines 39-56 reflect this dispute? 5. Is the Wife’s comment that her views are “really only offered to amuse” true? What is the Wife’s attitude about recalling her past experiences? 6. “No empty-handed man can lure a bird,” said the Wife. Explain what she meant. 7. In discussing her first three husbands, the Wife says, “First to the mill is first to friend your corn.” To what is the Wife referring when she makes this statement? 8. As the Wife introduces her tale she introduces a knight. According the Wife, what misdeed did the Knight do, and what was the penalty? 10. What is the Wife’s attitude toward the fact that age has taken, as she puts it, “all my beauty and my pity”? 11. Which of the nouns best fit the Wife: pragmatist (practical thinker), dreamer, idealist, misanthrope (hater of all mankind), or misogynist (hater of women)? Explain. 12. What is the setting of the Wife’s tale? 13. Who saved the knight, and under what conditions did she let him go? 14. List some of the answers others gave the knight. 15. What is the purpose of the old woman telling the tale of Midas? 16. Who finally provided the knight with the answer that the knight gives to the queen? What promise did she extract from him in exchange? What was the answer to the Queen’s question? What did the woman require the knight in return for saving his life? 17. How does the Knight behave toward his bride that night in bed (lines 260-281)? 18. The knight kept his word and married her, but he was miserable. What options did the old woman give him? What did the knight choose? Why did the old woman promise him both beauty and fidelity? 19. What statement about social rank does Chaucer make through the old woman’s response to the knight’s criticism of her age, lack of beauty, and poverty? 20. What unconventional views (for medieval England) about marriage does the Wife of Bath have? 21. In the last paragraph what attitude does the reader see in the Wife of Bath regarding controlling husbands? Cite details to support your answer. 22. What do you think the Wife’s views are about the roles of women and men in Medieval England? 23. What is the moral of this tale? Do you agree with it? Does it apply to both men and women? 24. How does this tale reflect the character of the Wife of Bath? In your opinion, is she a true feminist? Why or why not? 25. Is the conclusion of this story satisfying? In your response, consider the knight’s crime and the outcome of his actions. </p>