The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales MCQs

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Author: Nasir Iqbal | Assistant Professor of English Literature

The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales MCQs
Updated on: October 22, 2025
Estimated Reading Time: 18 min

The Canterbury Tales MCQS

1. According to the General Prologue, in which month does the pilgrimage to Canterbury begin?

A. March
B. May
C. April
D. June

C. April
The opening lines famously describe the “sweet showers of April” that inspire the pilgrimage.

2. Where do the pilgrims initially gather before starting their journey?

A. London Bridge
B. Westminster Abbey
C. Canterbury Cathedral
D. The Tabard Inn in Southwark

D. The Tabard Inn in Southwark
The Tabard Inn, run by Harry Bailey, is the starting point where the diverse group of pilgrims meets.

3. To which holy shrine are the pilgrims travelling?

A. The shrine of St. George
B. The shrine of St. Thomas a Becket
C. The tomb of St. Edmund
D. The Holy Land

B. The shrine of St. Thomas a Becket
They are traveling to Canterbury Cathedral to visit the shrine of the martyred archbishop.

4. What is the name of the Host of the Tabard Inn who proposes the storytelling game?

A. John Wyclif
B. Thomas Becket
C. Geoffrey Chaucer
D. Harry Bailey

D. Harry Bailey
Harry Bailey, the jovial and domineering innkeeper, proposes the contest and acts as its judge.
5. What is the prize for the pilgrim who tells the best story?

A. A golden cup
B. A supper at the Host’s inn paid for by the others
C. A new horse
D. Free passage to Jerusalem

B. A supper at the Host’s inn paid for by the others
The Host proposes that the winner will be treated to a free supper by all the other pilgrims.

6. How many tales was each pilgrim supposed to tell on the journey?

A. Two on the way there and two on the way back
B. One on the way there and one on the way back
C. Four on the way there and four on the way back
D. Three on the way there and three on the way back

A. Two on the way there and two on the way back
The Host’s original, ambitious plan was for each pilgrim to tell a total of four tales.

7. How many pilgrims, including Chaucer the narrator, gather at the Tabard Inn?

A. Twenty-four
B. Thirty
C. Twenty-nine
D. Twenty-six

C. Twenty-nine
The narrator states, “Wel nyne and twenty in a compaignye,” referring to the other pilgrims.

8. Based on the Host’s original proposal, how many tales was Chaucer’s ambitious scheme intended to include in total?

A. Around 120
B. 24
C. 58
D. 32

A. Around 120
With about 30 pilgrims each telling four tales, the full collection would have been massive.

9. How many tales did Chaucer actually complete before his death?

A. 20
B. 32
C. 24
D. 29

C. 24
Chaucer died before finishing his grand project, leaving behind 24 tales in various states of completion.
10. Which literary form does The Canterbury Tales exemplify by binding disconnected stories within a single story?

A. An epic poem
B. A historical chronicle
C. A tragedy
D. A collection of tales with a frame narrative

D. A collection of tales with a frame narrative
The pilgrimage itself serves as the “frame narrative” that holds all the individual stories together.

11. From which Italian author’s work, the Decameron, may Chaucer have drawn influence for the frame narrative structure?

A. Virgil
B. Dante
C. Boccaccio
D. Petrarch

C. Boccaccio
Boccaccio’s *Decameron*, which also uses a frame story for a collection of tales, was a likely influence.

12. The General Prologue is a notable example of what medieval genre that satirizes the different social classes?

A. Beast Fable
B. Chivalric Romance
C. Estates Satire
D. Fabliau

C. Estates Satire
The Prologue presents characters from the “three estates” (clergy, nobility, commoners) and satirizes them.

13. What kind of verse is predominantly used in The Canterbury Tales?

A. Heroic couplets
B. Alliterative verse
C. Rhyme Royal
D. Blank verse

A. Heroic couplets
Chaucer’s use of rhyming couplets in iambic pentameter (heroic couplets) became a standard in English poetry.

14. The pilgrims’ journey is described as a “snapshot” or “miniature” of what?

A. Religious reforms
B. Political structures
C. Economic activities
D. English social life and diversity

D. English social life and diversity
The collection of pilgrims from all walks of life creates a comprehensive portrait of medieval society.
15. Which of the following are the two prose tales found within The Canterbury Tales?

A. The Tale of Melibeus and The Parson’s Tale
B. The Clerk’s Tale and The Merchant’s Tale
C. The Friar’s Tale and The Summoner’s Tale
D. The Parson’s Tale and The Wife of Bath’s Tale

A. The Tale of Melibeus and The Parson’s Tale
These two tales, told by Chaucer himself and the Parson, are the only ones written in prose, not verse.

16. The interactions between pilgrims, such as the arguments and tale interruptions, are known as what?

A. The Prologues
B. The Links
C. The Frame Story
D. The Epilogues

B. The Links
The “links” are the narrative sections between the tales where the pilgrims argue, comment, and interact.
17. Chaucer’s pilgrims are described as both “type and individuals.” What does this mean?

A. They embody stereotypical social roles while also having individual characteristics.
B. They are historical figures disguised as fictional characters.
C. They are all exactly alike, representing one type.
D. They are purely fictional and unrealistic.

A. They embody stereotypical social roles while also having individual characteristics.
Each character represents their “estate” (a Knight, a Monk) but also has unique personal quirks.

18. What is the primary purpose of the General Prologue itself?

A. To introduce the pilgrims and their social standing, preparing for their tales.
B. To critique the religious practices of the time.
C. To outline the various literary forms to be used.
D. To present a detailed history of England.

A. To introduce the pilgrims and their social standing, preparing for their tales.
The Prologue serves as a “portrait gallery” to introduce the storytellers and their social context.

19. In his own prologue, what does the narrator (Chaucer) ask the reader’s forgiveness for?

A. The póor quality of his poetry.
B. Potentially misremembering details about the pilgrims.
C. Speaking plainly and possibly using crude language from the pilgrims’ tales.
D. The great length of the work.

C. Speaking plainly and possibly using crude language from the pilgrims’ tales.
He apologizes in advance for accurately repeating the “churlish” and bawdy tales of the lower-class pilgrims.
20. Which social class is notably absent from the pilgrimage group?

A. The clergy
B. The merchant class
C. The peasantry
D. The highest level of aristocracy (e.g., dukes, earls)

D. The highest level of aristocracy (e.g., dukes, earls)
The highest nobility (like royalty) and the lowest serfs are the two main groups not represented.

21. What is the first character described in the General Prologue?

A. The Squire
B. The Host
C. The Knight
D. The Miller

C. The Knight
Chaucer begins his portraits with the Knight, the pilgrim of the highest social standing.

22. What does the Knight’s stained fustian tunic suggest about his character?

A. He is disrespectful to the other pilgrims.
B. He is póor and cannot afford better clothes.
C. He is vain and cares only for appearances.
D. He is immediately setting off on pilgrimage after returning from war, showing his piety.

D. He is immediately setting off on pilgrimage after returning from war, showing his piety.
His stained clothes show he is humble and devout, coming straight from service to give thanks.

23. Who is the first pilgrim to tell a tale?

A. The Miller
B. The Knight
C. The Wife of Bath
D. Chaucer himself

B. The Knight
The Knight tells the first tale, a noble chivalric romance, after drawing the shortest straw.

24. What is the Squire’s relationship to the Knight?

A. His younger brother
B. His apprentice
C. His son
D. His nephew

C. His son
The Squire is the Knight’s son, a “lover and a lusty bachelor” who represents the next generation.
25. Which qualities are associated with the Squire, in addition to his knighthood skills?

A. His singing, fluting, and drawing
B. His wisdom and piety
C. His seriousness and studiousness
D. His skill in trade and commerce

A. His singing, fluting, and drawing
Unlike his father, the Squire is focused on courtly love and artistic pursuits.

26. What is the Prioress’s name?

A. Madame Eglentyne
B. Lady Alice
C. Sister Mary
D. Mother Superior

A. Madame Eglentyne
Her name, which means “sweetbrier,” suggests a delicate, romantic nature unsuited for a nun.

27. What is a notable characteristic of the Prioress’s table manners?

A. She prefers to eat alone.
B. She eats quickly and noisily.
C. She is fastidious, letting no morsel fall from her lips.
D. She shares all her food.

C. She is fastidious, letting no morsel fall from her lips.
Her delicate, affected manners show she is more concerned with courtly behavior than religious devotion.

28. The Prioress’s motto on her brooch, “Amor vincit omnia,” is ironic because:

A. It is a common motto for knights, not nuns.
B. It can mean either divine or romantic love, creating ambiguity.
C. It is written in English instead of Latin.
D. She does not believe in love.

B. It can mean either divine or romantic love, creating ambiguity.
“Love conquers all” is ambiguous, hinting at worldly romance rather than purely divine love.

29. What is a notable characteristic of the Monk, contrary to typical monastic life?

A. His poverty
B. His dedication to scholarly pursuits
C. His quiet contemplation
D. His love for hunting and fine horses

D. His love for hunting and fine horses
He ignores his vow of poverty and study, preferring the expensive, worldly pursuits of an aristocrat.
30. What is the Friar’s name?

A. Absolon
B. Huberd
C. Oswald
D. Harry

B. Huberd
Huberd is a “limiter,” a friar licensed to beg in a specific district, a role he abuses for profit.

31. The Friar is criticized for hearing confessions and giving easy penance in exchange for what?

A. Prayers
B. Gifts and money
C. Manual labor
D. Political favors

B. Gifts and money
He is corrupt, offering easy forgiveness to those who can pay, rather than those who are truly repentant.

32. How is the Merchant generally portrayed in terms of his demeanor?

A. Gloomy and pessimistic
B. Humble and quiet
C. Stately and outwardly prosperous, but secretly in debt
D. Outspoken and boastful

C. Stately and outwardly prosperous, but secretly in debt
He wears fine clothes and talks of his profits, but the narrator notes he is actually in debt.

33. What is the primary focus of the Oxford Clerk’s life?

A. Hunting
B. Trade
C. Courtly love
D. Study and books

D. Study and books
He is an impoverished student who spends any money he gets on books and learning.

34. What is the condition of the Clerk and his horse?

A. They are fat and well-fed.
B. They are thin and póorly dressed.
C. They are adorned with fine silks.
D. They are strong and ready for battle.

B. They are thin and póorly dressed.
His thin horse and threadbare cloak show he values knowledge far more than worldly possessions.
35. The Franklin is described as “Epicurus’s own son” because of his love for what?

A. Justice and law
B. Sensual pleasure, particularly food and drink
C. Philosophical debate
D. Solitude and study

B. Sensual pleasure, particularly food and drink
He is a wealthy landowner obsessed with hospitality, keeping his tables full of food and wine.

36. The five Guildsmen (Haberdasher, Carpenter, Weaver, Dyer, Tapicer) represent what part of society?

A. The land-owning aristocracy
B. The rural peasantry
C. The rising urban middle class of skilled craftsmen
D. The corrupt clergy

C. The rising urban middle class of skilled craftsmen
They are newly rich, proud of their gear, and represent the growing power of city guilds.

37. What physical ailment does the Cook have that might make his food unappetizing?

A. Póor eyesight
B. An ulcer on his shin
C. A limp
D. A missing finger

B. An ulcer on his shin
The narrator notes his excellent cooking but ironically points out a festering sore on his leg.

38. What is the Doctor of Physic’s main focus of interest, besides medicine?

A. Theology
B. Gold
C. Philosophy
D. Agriculture

B. Gold
The narrator states the Doctor “lovede gold in special,” profiting from his patients’ illnesses.

39. How many husbands has the Wife of Bath had?

A. Seven
B. One
C. Five
D. Three

C. Five
She famously boasts of her “five husbands at the church door” in her prologue.
40. What is a key theme of the Wife of Bath’s Prologue?

A. The importance of charity
B. Her arguments for female sovereignty in marriage, based on her experience
C. The history of her travels
D. Her spiritual journey

B. Her arguments for female sovereignty in marriage, based on her experience
Her entire prologue is a defense of her life and her belief that women should rule their husbands.

41. The Parson is presented as an ideal member of the clergy. What is his primary characteristic?

A. His wealth and influence
B. His ambition for promotion
C. His devoutness, poverty, and dedication to his flock
D. His love for fine clothing and hunting

C. His devoutness, poverty, and dedication to his flock
He is the first ideal character described, a truly poor but holy man who lives what he preaches.

42. Who is the Parson’s brother?

A. The Miller
B. The Reeve
C. The Ploughman
D. The Manciple

C. The Ploughman
The Parson and Ploughman are brothers, representing the ideal of spiritual and lay Christian life.

43. What musical instrument does the Miller play to lead the pilgrims out of town?

A. A flute
B. A harp
C. A trumpet
D. The bagpipes

D. The bagpipes
His playing the loud, boisterous bagpipes reflects his own vulgar and disruptive character.

44. What action does the Miller take that interrupts the Host’s plan for the tales?

A. He refuses to tell a tale.
B. He falls asleep.
C. He insists on telling his tale out of turn while drunk.
D. He argues with the Knight.

C. He insists on telling his tale out of turn while drunk.
The drunken Miller disrupts the social order, refusing to follow the Knight’s noble tale.
45. What physical characteristic is associated with the Summoner’s face?

A. Rosy cheeks
B. Pale complexion
C. Carbuncles and pimples
D. A long beard

C. Carbuncles and pimples
His grotesque, diseased face is a physical manifestation of his corrupt and lecherous soul.

46. What is the Pardoner’s profession?

A. A pilgrim leader
B. A religious reformer
C. One who sells papal indulgences and fake holy relics
D. A legal advisor

C. One who sells papal indulgences and fake holy relics
He travels the country selling “pardons” from Rome and duping villagers with fake relics.

47. What does the Pardoner frankly confess about his own character in his prologue?

A. His deep piety
B. His unwavering honesty
C. His personal avarice and use of his preaching for profit
D. His shyness

C. His personal avarice and use of his preaching for profit
He boasts that he preaches against greed (his own vice) only to make money for himself.

48. Who does the Pardoner travel with on the pilgrimage?

A. The Monk
B. The Friar
C. The Summoner
D. The Parson

C. The Summoner
He is paired with the Summoner, and they sing a “love song” together, representing total church corruption.

49. How does Chaucer portray himself as a pilgrim in the tale-telling contest?

A. As the most eloquent storyteller
B. As a strict judge
C. As a bumbling and incompetent storyteller whose tale is interrupted
D. As a silent observer

C. As a bumbling and incompetent storyteller whose tale is interrupted
The narrator “Chaucer” tells the awful, boring *Tale of Sir Thopas*, which the Host cuts short.
50. What is the Host’s reaction to Chaucer’s tale of Sir Thopas?

A. He praises its originality.
B. He asks for more.
C. He rudely interrupts it, calling it “drasty rhyming.”
D. He falls asleep.

C. He rudely interrupts it, calling it “drasty rhyming.”
Harry Bailey stops the tale, saying its “drasty” (trashy) rhymes are a waste of time.

Brief Overview

The General Prologue is the introduction to Geoffrey Chaucer‘s The Canterbury Tales. The narrator, Chaucer himself, is staying at the Tabard Inn in London. He is preparing to go on a religious pilgrimage to the shrine of Thomas Becket in Canterbury.

While at the inn, he is joined by a diverse group of 29 other pilgrims. The narrator takes time to describe each pilgrim in detail. He describes their physical appearance, their clothes, their jobs, and their personalities, often in a humorous or satirical way.

The group includes characters from every part of society. There is a noble Knight, a corrupt Friar, a worldly Prioress, a poor Parson, and a bawdy Wife of Bath, among many others. This group represents a complete cross-section of 14th-century English life.

The Host of the inn, Harry Bailly, decides to join them on the journey. He proposes a game to pass the time. He suggests that each pilgrim tell two stories on the way to Canterbury and two stories on the way back.

The Host says he will be the judge of the contest. The pilgrim who tells the best story will win a free dinner, paid for by everyone else, when they return to his inn. The pilgrims all agree to his plan, and they set off on their journey the next morning.

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