Name: ________________________

Date: _______________________
The Canterbury Tales Characters On-Line
Go to: www.godecookery.com/pilgrims/pilgrims.htm
Introduction:

1.) What reason does the author give for Chaucer’s pilgrims being
extremely well-known today?

Part One:
2.) What made the years 1385-1389 “one of the darkest periods”
in Chaucer’s life?

3.) Who are the Canterbury Tales written for and about? WHY?

4.) How are the pilgrims arranged? What kind of information does
this give us about them?

5.) Where does Chaucer include himself in the group of pilgrims?

Why do you think that is?

6.) Describe the richest of the pilgrims, the Knight, and his
livelihood:

7.) Describe the poorest of the pilgrims, the Ploughman, and his
livelihood:

Part Three:
8.) How is it that the “new class” of people gain power?

9.) What was a pilgrimage and what function did it serve?

10.) Why was Canterbury a popular spot for people to take a
pilgrimage to?

11.) What characters in the Tales were real people?

12.) Where does the journey in the Tales stop? What other
information does Chaucer leave out?

Part Four:
13.) Explain the name-changes of the route the pilgrims took to
Canterbury:

14.) What symbolism did a pilgrimage have for people in Medieval

times?

15.) What is wrong with the time limit Chaucer ascribes to his
pilgrims?

16.) Explain the argument about whether or not Chaucer’s Tales

are realistic:

17.) Why is the Squire’s story left unfinished?

18.) What is supposed to still be true concerning The Canterbury

Tales?