Group C Questions from the Book "Geoffrey Chaucer" The Canterbury Tales, Penguin Classics, By Nevill CoghillVersion en ligne
TOEFL Rhetorical Questions
1
The Physician’s Tale
There was a judge named Appius who desired the daughter of Virginius. She was young and fair, and virtuous in every way. Unable to seduce her, he arranged for a false accusation to be brought against her father, claiming that she was his slave. Appius ruled that she must be taken from her family immediately.
Question:
Why does the narrator describe the false accusation in detail?
2
The Pardoner’s Prologue
“For though myself be a full vicious man,
A moral tale yet I you telle can,
Which I am wont to preache for to win.
Now hold your peace! My tale I will begin.”
Question:
Why does the Pardoner admit that he is a “vicious man” before telling his tale?
3
The Pardoner’s Tale
Paragraph:
These three rioters swore they would hunt down Death and slay him. On the way, they met an old man who said, “You’ll find him under that tree.” When they arrived, they found not Death, but gold. Their desire for the treasure grew so strong that they plotted to kill one another.
Question:
Why does the author describe the rioters’ reaction to finding gold under the tree?
4
The Pardoner’s Prologue
Paragraph:
“Radix malorum est cupiditas” is always my theme:
So may I prosper, that is what I mean.
And thus I preach against the very vice
I make my living out of—avarice.
Question:
Why does the Pardoner say he preaches against greed even though he is greedy?
5
The Pardoner’s Prologue
Paragraph:
I’ll tell you in a word what’s on my mind:
I preach for nothing but for greed of gain
And thus I draw them all to me, I plain,
By this deceit have I won year by year.
Question:
Why does the Pardoner openly admit he deceives people?
Choose one or more answers
6
The Pardoner’s Prologue
Paragraph:
For though I am a wholly vicious man
Don't think I can’t tell moral tales again.
Question:
Why does the Pardoner insist that he can tell moral tales even though he is sinful?
7
The Pardoner’s Tale
Paragraph:
Three young men were drinking in a tavern when they heard a bell clink before a corpse being carried to the grave. One of them asked what was going on, and the tavern-boy replied, “That was a friend of yours—he was killed by a thief called Death.”
Question:
Why does the narrator mention Death as if he were a person?
8
The Pardoner’s Tale
Paragraph:
They came upon a pile of gold coins under a tree. All three rejoiced, but greed overtook them. One man went to town to buy food and poison. The others plotted to kill him on his return.
Question:
Why does the author focus so much on the men’s plan to kill each other?
9
The Pardoner’s Tale
Paragraph:
They all died that day, slain by their own greed. And Death, it seemed, had waited beneath that tree, just as the old man had said.
Question:
Why does the story end with all the men dying?
10
THE PHYSICIAN’S TALE
A knight named Virginius had a daughter named Virginia, who was as beautiful as she was virtuous. Her father guarded her closely, but her fame reached the ears of Judge Appius, who burned with lust for her.
Question:
Why does the narrator describe Virginia’s beauty and virtue in the first lines?
11
Paragraph:
Appius conspired to accuse Virginius falsely, claiming Virginia was his slave. He planned to seize her under the law, using lies as weapons.
Question:
Why does the author highlight the use of the law for evil purposes?
12
Paragraph:
Virginius, seeing no way to save his daughter’s honor, asked her to choose death over shame. She agreed, and he beheaded her himself.
Question:
Why does the tale include Virginia’s agreement to die?
13
Paragraph:
The people, enraged by Appius’s abuse of power, revolted and imprisoned him. The false accuser hanged himself in shame.
Question:
Why does the story end with public justice being served?
14
THE HOST’S REACTION (after The Pardoner’s Tale)
Paragraph:
“Thou wouldest make me kiss thy old breech,
And swear it were a relic of a saint,
Though it were with thy fundament depaint!”
Question:
Why does the Host use crude imagery to describe the Pardoner’s relics?
15
Paragraph:
“Nay, thou shalt have no kiss from me, nor coin!
I’d rather cut out my own tongue.”
Question:
Why does the Host respond with such strong emotion?
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