Short Questions on Geoffrey Chaucer and Sir Thomas Malory

Q When was Geoffrey Chaucer born?

Geoffrey Chaucer was born in 1343 or 1344.

Q Which famous work is Chaucer best known for?

Chaucer is best known for his work "The Canterbury Tales."

Q In which language did Chaucer primarily write?

Chaucer primarily wrote in Middle English.

Q Who is the narrator of "The Canterbury Tales"?

The narrator of "The Canterbury Tales" is Chaucer himself, presenting as a character in the story.

Q What is the frame story of "The Canterbury Tales"?

"The Canterbury Tales" is framed as a pilgrimage to the shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury.

Q Which character is known for his humorous anecdotes in "The Canterbury Tales"?

The character known for his humorous anecdotes is the Miller.

Q Which literary form did Chaucer popularize in English literature?

Chaucer popularized the use of the iambic pentameter and heroic couplets in English poetry.

Q Who is the main character in Chaucer's poem "Troilus and Criseyde"?

The main characters in "Troilus and Criseyde" are Troilus, a Trojan prince, and Criseyde, a daughter of the Trojan priest.

Q Which influential noblewoman was Chaucer associated with?

Chaucer was associated with the Countess of Pembroke, Katherine Swynford.

Q When did Chaucer pass away?

Geoffrey Chaucer passed away in 1400.

Q What is Geoffrey Chaucer's most famous work?

Chaucer's most famous work is "The Canterbury Tales."

Q What position did Chaucer hold in the English government?

Chaucer held various positions, including customs officer, justice of the peace, and member of Parliament.

Q Which language did Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales" help popularize?

"The Canterbury Tales" helped popularize the English language.

Q Which pilgrimage is the focus of "The Canterbury Tales"?

"The Canterbury Tales" revolves around a pilgrimage to the shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury.

Q How many tales were originally planned for "The Canterbury Tales"?

Chaucer planned for each pilgrim to tell four stories, resulting in a total of 120 tales. However, he only completed 24.

Q Give examples of nonalliterative verse romances of Geoffrey Chaucer?

 Two important nonalliterative verse romances of Geoffrey Chaucer are Troilus and Criseyde (1385?), a tale of the fatal course of a noble love and The Knight's Tale (1382?.

Q. What are the source of Geoffrey Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde and The Knight's Tale?

Troilus and Criseyde is laid in Homeric Troy and is based on Il filostrato, a romance by the 14th-century Italian author Giovanni Boccaccio;

The Knight's Tale is also based on Boccaccio.

Q Give examples of Geoffrey Chaucer’s French works.

Geoffrey Chaucer

 Chaucer translates French works or writes under French influence several secular vision poems of a semiallegorical nature. Such as ,The Book of the Duchess, The House of Fame, The Parliament of Fowls etc.

Q. How many tales are there in The Canterbury Tales?

The Canterbury Tales consists of 24 stories or parts of stories mostly in verse in almost all the medieval genres.

Q. Who is the teller of The Canterbury Tales?

 The Tales are recounted by Chaucer through the mouths of a group of pilgrims bound for Canterbury Cathedral, who were representative of most of the classes of medieval England.

Q What is Rhyme Royal? Comment on its use by Chaucer.

The Rhyme Royal Stanza  form of  using verses with seven lines of iambic pentameter with a rhyme scheme ababbcc. the name was given such Because the form was used by James I of Scotland. In practice this stanza can be constructed either as a terza rima and two couplets (a-b-a, b-b, c-c) or a quatrain and tercet (a-b-a-b, b-c-c). This allows for good deal of variety especially when the form is used in long narrative poems.

 Chaucer first used the Rhyme Royal stanza in his long poems – Troilus and Criseyde and Parliament of Fowls. He also used it for The Canterbury Tales in the Man of Law’s Tale, The Prioress Tale and the Clerks Tale and in a number of shorter lyrics.

Q. What are the subject matters of these tales?

These narratives cover the panorama of life and living. They concern a host of subjects: religious innocence, married chastity, villainous hypocrisy, female volubility—all illumined by great humor. With extraordinary artistry the stories are made to characterize their tellers.

Q Who is called “father of English poetry”?

Chaucer (1342-1400) was nicknamed as the “father of English poetry.” Chaucer wrote in the London dialect of English that later became the “literary standard.” He essentially set the course for subsequent English poets as well as he aspired to write an English poetry that could hold its own on this world stage, and he succeeded.

Sir Thomas Malory

Q When was Sir Thomas Malory born?

Sir Thomas Malory was born around 1415.

Q What is Sir Thomas Malory's most famous work?

Sir Thomas Malory's most famous work is "Le Morte d'Arthur."

Q What is the main subject matter of "Le Morte d'Arthur"?

"Le Morte d'Arthur" is a compilation of Arthurian legends and the story of King Arthur and his knights.

Q Which knight is the central figure in "Le Morte d'Arthur"?

King Arthur is the central figure in "Le Morte d'Arthur."

Q What is the significance of the Holy Grail in Malory's work?

The Holy Grail is a central element in the Arthurian legend and symbolizes spiritual purity and divine grace.

Q Which knight is known for his affair with Queen Guinevere in Malory's work?

Sir Lancelot is known for his affair with Queen Guinevere.

Q Which famous sword does Arthur obtain in "Le Morte d'Arthur"?

Arthur obtains the sword Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake.

Q What happens to Arthur at the end of "Le Morte d'Arthur"?

Arthur is mortally wounded in a battle with his son Mordred and is taken to the mystical island of Avalon to be healed.

Q Did Malory write any other works besides "Le Morte d'Arthur"?

No, "Le Morte d'Arthur" is the only known work attributed to Sir Thomas Malory.

Q When did Sir Thomas Malory pass away?

The exact date of Malory's death is uncertain, but it is believed to be around 1471.

Q What is Sir Thomas Malory's most famous work?

Malory's most famous work is "Le Morte d'Arthur."

Q What is the approximate date of the compilation of "Le Morte d'Arthur"?

"Le Morte d'Arthur" was likely compiled around 1469-1470.

Q Who is the legendary wizard featured in "Le Morte d'Arthur"?

The legendary wizard Merlin is prominently featured in "Le Morte d'Arthur."

Q What is the importance of the Round Table in Arthurian legend?

The Round Table symbolizes equality and unity among King Arthur's knights in their quest for justice and chivalry.

Q Who is King Arthur's queen in Malory's work?

King Arthur's queen is Queen Guinevere.

Q. Who composed Le morte d’Arthur and what is the theme of it?

Sir Thomas Malory carried on the tradition of Arthurian romance in his great work, Le morte d'Arthur (The Death of Arthur, 1469-1470). He loosely tied together stories of various knights of the Round Table, but most memorably of Arthur himself, of Galahad, and of the guilty love of Lancelot and Arthur's queen, Guinevere. 

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