It would be a good idea to examine some tales which do fall naturally into pairs, but also to consider some that do not - or perhaps, even fall into threes. This question asks you to consider the structure of the Tales, and consider whether each Tale has a pair. Useful tales to look at might include The Knight's Tale, The Merchant's Tale, The Physician's Tale, Sir Thopas, The Franklin's Tale. Look at examples which support the quotation's argument, but also remember that Chaucer includes a variety of presentations - and that there is certainly justification in the text for taking the opposing view to the quotation. This question asks you to consider the presentation of men in the Tales. 'Men in the Tales are largely depicted as idiots, blindly and foolishy adhering to outdated, impractical codes of chivalry and honour.' Do you agree? Useful tales to look at must include The Wife of Bath's Tale. Do you think the Wife is completely drawn? If so, why? If not, why not - and which character is better fleshed out?

This question asks you to compare the characterization of the Wife of Bath to any of the other characterizations in the Tales. 'The Wife of Bath is Chaucer's most completely drawn character.' Do you agree? Useful tales to look at might include: The Wife of Bath's Tale, The Miller's Tale, The Merchant's Tale, The Shipman's Tale, Melibee. Remember to begin by examining the Tale from which the question comes. This question asks you to look at the characterization and presentation of the female characters in the Tales (which could include characters within tales as well as female pilgrims). Useful tales to look at might include The Miller's Tale (suggested word: 'pryvetee'), The Wife of Bath's Tale (suggested word: 'clooth'), The Franklin's Tale (suggested word: 'trouthe'), The Shipman's Tale (suggested word: 'tail') or The Merchant's Tale (suggested word: 'corage'). You should start by highlighting all the moments in the tale that the single word appears, and talk about how its meaning changes or deepens as the tale progresses. This question asks you to follow the fortunes of a single word through any tale, and structure your argument around the repeated uses of this single word.

Useful tales to look at might include The Miller's Tale, The Merchant's Tale, The Prioress' Tale, The Manciple's Tale, The Wife of Bath's Tale.Ĭhoose one word (and its variants), and use it as a key to the interpretation of any one Tale. Remember that with a question like this, it is just as possible to disagree as to agree: just make sure you justify your answer with examples from the text. This question asks you to consider the Tales as a whole work, and to trace the theme of love conquering all throughout the work. Might 'Love Conquers All' be the moral of the Tales? The Prioress wears 'a brooch of gold ful sheene / On which ther was first write a crowned A, / And after Amor vincit omnia' (General Prologue, l.159-162).

Geoffrey chaucer the miller's tale