Final Study
Guide
For the final you should have
a firm grasp of the following topics.
Please bring a blue book or paper
to write your answers.
Historical Background
- Dates of Chaucer’s life.
- Social and cultural characteristics
relevant to the Canterbury
Tales. Be able to define them
and spell them correctly.
The General Prologue
- Know the basic framework set
up in the General Prologue. Be
able to talk about the significance
of the pilgrims’ portraits,
especially those we have looked
at in detail.
The Wife of Bath ’s Tale,
the Clerk ’s Tale, the Merchant ’s
Tale, the Squire ’s Tale,
the Franklin ’s Tale, the
Physician's Tale, the Pardoner's
Tale, the Prioress's Tale, the
Tale of Sir Thopas, and the Nun's
Priest's Tale
- Know the plot and character names
of the tales.
- Be able to recognise major passages
from the tales and be able to discuss
their significance in terms of…
- The themes, commentary, social,
and philosophical issues raised
by the tales.
- Be able to refer to specific
passages in the tales in which
these themes, commentary, social,
and philosophical issues arise.
Be aware that I will
be asking for brief, but coherent
answers, which demonstrate that
you have understood the tale in Middle
English and that you know the major
themes and issues arising out of
the tales. The exam will last approximately
1 hour.
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