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Search all of SparkNotes
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Suggestions
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A Tale of Two Cities
As You Like It
Lord of the Flies
The Book Thief
The Tempest
No Fear Shakespeare
Literature
Other Subjects
Teacher
Blog
Help
The Canterbury Tales
Geoffrey Chaucer
Study Guide
NO FEAR
Translation
Infographic
Study Guide
NO FEAR
Translation
Infographic
Summary
Plot Overview
Key Questions and Answers
What Does the Ending Mean?
Summary & Analysis
General Prologue: Introduction
General Prologue: The Knight through the Man of Law
General Prologue: The Franklin through the Pardoner
General Prologue: Conclusion
The Knight’s Tale, Parts 1–2
The Knight’s Tale, Parts 3–4
The Miller’s Prologue and Tale
The Wife of Bath’s Prologue
The Wife of Bath’s Prologue (continued)
The Wife of Bath’s Tale
The Pardoner’s Introduction, Prologue, and Tale
The Nun’s Priest’s Prologue, Tale, and Epilogue
Characters
Character List
The Knight
The Pardoner
The Wife of Bath
The Miller
The Host
Main Ideas
Themes
Plot Analysis
Protagonist
Antagonist
Setting
Motifs
Symbols
Genre
Style
Point of View
Tone
Key Facts
In
The Canterbury Tales
, do religious leaders help or hurt society?
Quotes
Important Quotes Explained
Quotes By Theme
Social Class
Corruption
Deceit
Love
Quotes By Section
General Prologue: Introduction
General Prologue: The Knight through the Man of Law
General Prologue: The Franklin through the Pardoner
General Prologue: Conclusion
The Knight’s Tale, Parts 1–2
The Knight’s Tale, Parts 3–4
The Miller’s Prologue and Tale
The Wife of Bath’s Prologue
The Wife of Bath’s Prologue (continued)
The Wife of Bath’s Tale
The Pardoner’s Introduction, Prologue, and Tale
The Nun’s Priest’s Prologue, Tale, and Epilogue
Quotes By Character
Wife of Bath
The Narrator
The Knight
The Pardoner
The Reeve
Further Study
Context
The Canterbury Tales and Pilgrimages
The Canterbury Tales as a Satire
Movie Adaptations
Full Book Quiz
Section Quizzes
General Prologue: Introduction
General Prologue: The Knight through the Man of Law
General Prologue: The Franklin through the Pardoner
General Prologue: Conclusion
The Knight's Tale, Parts 1-2
The Knight's Tale, Parts 3-4
The Miller's Prologue and Tale
The Wife of Bath's Prologue
The Wife of Bath's Prologue (continued)
The Wife of Bath's Tale
The Pardoner's Introduction, Prologue, and Tale
The Nun's Priest's Prologue, Tale, and Epilogue
Character List
Analysis of Major Characters
Themes, Motifs, and Symbols
Study Questions
Suggestions for Further Reading
Companion Texts
Writing Help
How to Write Literary Analysis
Glossary of Literary Terms
How to Cite This SparkNote
Suggested Essay Topics
Sample A+ Essay
Teacher's Handbook
Further Study
The Pardoner's Introduction, Prologue, and Tale Quiz
Further Study
The Pardoner's Introduction, Prologue, and Tale Quiz
1
of 5
Why does the Pardoner falsely claim his relics have healing powers?
So the common folk will worship him
So that he will be promoted and allowed in the Pope's inner circle
So parishioners will pay him money to be "cured"
He doesn't know the claim is fake. He truly believes he is curing people.
2
of 5
Whom do the three young rioters in the Pardoner's story want to kill and why?
A young thug who killed their friend
A parish clerk named Absalon who lectures them on their drinking
A chemist in town who secretly tried to poison all three of them
Death, because he killed a friend of theirs
3
of 5
What does the old man they meet tell them?
That they can find death in a grove under an oak tree
That there's gold under an oak tree in a grove
That they will all die within a fortnight
That they are destined for fame and fortune
4
of 5
Why do they start plotting against each other?
Because the old man starts telling them lies about each other
Because each wants a greater share of the gold they find under the tree
Because they begin to suspect one of them is going to steal all the gold
Because one of them killed the old man
5
of 5
When the youngest returns from town with wine how do all three men die?
Two of them are stabbed and the third stabs himself.
They all die of poisoned wine.
The youngest is stabbed and the other two die from poisoned wine.
The tree is hit by lightning and a giant limb crushes them.
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The Wife of Bath's Tale Quick Quiz
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The Nun's Priest's Prologue, Tale, and Epilogue Quick Quiz
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