Great Books III Study Questions for Assignment 23, Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales. "Prologue" and "Knight's Tale"
- When, and in what part of England, did Chaucer live? What positions did he hold during his career?
Prologue
- What is the season and the circumstance of the Tales?
- What kinds of people are in the group; that is, what classes or social orders are represented? What is the narrator's attitude toward them? (For the regular clergy, remember the Rule of St. Benedict, esp. chap. 33)
The Knight's Tale
As you think about the Knight's Tale, remember Lewis's discussion of the planets and influences, and Boethius's discussion of Fortune and Providence.
- Be able to summarize the events of each of the four parts.
- What is the question the Knight asks at the end of part one, and why is it a question at all? (what god do Arcite and Palamon serve?)
- In the several pages previous to the end of part 1, how do Arcite and Palamon each view Fortune/Providence?
- Toward the end of part 2, when Theseus relents and forgives A and P, what does he say about Love in his speech? How is this attitude related to Fortune/Providence?
- In part 3 what sorts of things are depicted in each of the three temples, those of Venus, Mars, and Diana? How is Saturn's influence described?
- To which of the three gods do Palamon, Arcite, and Emily pray, why is each god appropriate to the character who prays to him/her, and what answer do they each receive?
- In part 4, how are the three answers fulfilled?
- What is the conclusion of Theseus's final speech, and what philosophical point leads up to it? (Think of Boethius)
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