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A portrait of Chaucer by his contemporary, Thomas Hoccleve.

Author - Geoffrey Chaucer

Explore Geoffrey Chaucer’s life and works in this Specialist Books quiz, from The Canterbury Tales to his role in shaping English literature for later writers.

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Fascinating Fact:

The Canterbury Tales was written in Middle English between about 1387 and 1400 and was left unfinished at his death.

In Specialist Books, this Geoffrey Chaucer quiz looks at his major poems, his use of everyday Middle English and the lively voices of the pilgrims in The Canterbury Tales.

Key Terms

Middle English: The form of English spoken and written roughly between the late eleventh and late fifteenth centuries.
Frame narrative: A story that provides the main setting and situation for a series of shorter stories inside it.
Pilgrim: A person who travels to a holy place, often used by writers as a character on a journey.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

Who was Geoffrey Chaucer?

Geoffrey Chaucer was a fourteenth century English poet, court official and diplomat, best known today for writing The Canterbury Tales in the language spoken by many ordinary people.

What is The Canterbury Tales about?

The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories told by a group of pilgrims travelling to Canterbury, each tale revealing different voices, genres and views of medieval society.

Why is Geoffrey Chaucer important in English literature?

Chaucer is important because he showed that English, not just Latin or French, could be used for rich, complex poetry and helped shape the development of English storytelling.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

In which century was Chaucer born?

12th

13th

14th

15th

He was born around 1343 and died around 1400

2 .

What is the title of Chaucer's best-known work?

The Canterbury Tales

The Salisbury Tales

The Winchester Tales

The York Tales

The tales are told by a group of pilgrims as they travel from Southwark to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral

3 .

What is the title of the earliest of Chaucer's poems, written some time between 1369 and 1372?

The Book of the Abbess

The Book of the Countess

The Book of the Duchess

The Book of the Governess

It is thought that Chaucer wrote the poem to commemorate the death of Blanche, daughter of the Duke of Lancaster and the wife of John of Gaunt

4 .

In The Canterbury Tales, what is the name of the inn where the pilgrims meet before their journey?

The Tabard

The Talbot

The Tivoli

The Tolbooth

The inn was real. It was built in 1307 and stayed in business for over 500 years

5 .

Chaucer's father and grandfather were both what?

Bakers

Brewers

Butchers

Vintners

Geoffrey's father, John Chaucer, was a prosperous middle class man who traded imported wines

6 .

What name is now given to the language in which Chaucer worked?

Early English

Middle English

New English

Old English

Middle English was spoken from 1066 until the 15th century

7 .

Which character in The Canterbury Tales is a little deaf following a blow to the head from one of her husbands?

The Wife of Bath

The Wife of Bristol

The Wife of Dorchester

The Wife of Exeter

The Wife of Bath tales the take of a knight who is set the quest to answer the riddle "what is it that women most desire?" He succeeds in his task when he finds the answer "sovereignty over their husbands"

8 .

Which is the first of The Canterbury Tales?

The Cook's Tale

The Friar's Tale

The Knight's Tale

The Merchant's Tale

This is the tale of rivalry between the friends Palamon and Arcite for the love of Princess Emily

9 .

Which of the tale tellers has a conspicuous hairy wart?

The Coachman

The Miller

The Tailor

The Weaver

He also likes breaking down doors with his head!

10 .

Chaucer served in the English army under which king?

Henry III

Edward II

Edward III

Richard II

In 1360 Chaucer was captured during the siege of Reims and taken prisoner. Edward paid a ransom of £16 (a good deal of money at the time) for his release

Author: Tony Rennick (Art and Literature Critic)