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Tho heo was therinne ido, the vrthe quakede anon,
SEINTE MARGARETE, 1, 245 (ed. Cockayne, p. 31).
CHAUCER. THE PROLOGUE AND THE LINKS
AND SPECIAL PROLOGUES.
State what you know of the two great Italian writers to whom Chaucer may be supposed to be indebted, and of their works. How do we know that Chaucer visited Italy? What was the date and what the occasion of his visit? Could he then have seen the writers referred to above?
Give a narrative of the circumstances of the Pilgrims' journey, quoting where you can the lines in which the different places on the route are named, and give and support your views as to the resting-places at night, and the number of days occupied in the journey. How do you reconcile the line
Lo heer is Depford, and it is passed prime (Reves P.) with I wol not tarien you, for it is prime, which occurs in the Squire's Tale? Explain fully the word "prime,”
3. Quote, or give the substance of the description of Chaucer himself. What tale does he tell, and what is the Host's opinion of it? Can you account for Chaucer's own tale being of the kind it is?
4. What is meant by a “measure” in versification? Of how many measures did Chaucer's verse consist ? What are masculine and feminine rhymes? In what does the cæsura consist? Select six lines from any of the passages cited in this paper, exemplifying varieties in the position of the cæsura. Accentuatë the following line so as to shew the versification :
That on his schyne a mormal hadde he. (Prol. 386.) What particular effect has the cæsura here?
5. Paraphrase the following passages so closely as to shew that you understand the full drift, as well as the meaning and grammatical construction of every word.
(a) Chaucer's Prologue, beginning “ A fewe termes” (1. 639), ending “al here red” (1. 665); ed. Morris.
Which personage is here described ?
(6) The Milleres Prologue; first 19 lines.
Discuss, with reference to the derivations, the meanings of the words : namely, avale, unnethe, quyte. Explain "unbokeled is the male,” and “Pilates voys.”
6. State the sources from which the final e arises in Chaucer, and refer all the cases in the assages given in question (5) to their proper head.
Render into Chaucer's English these sentences. The wife of Bath's tale. He was thirty winters old. I do not at all know why, but I had rather sleep, than have the best gallon of wine that is in Cheapside. 7. Explain the following lines, especially the words in italics:
Yet in oure aisshen old is fyr i-reke. (Reves P.): Give the familiar quotation answering to this, stating where it comes from.
The streem of lyf now droppeth on the chymbe,
Now good men,' quod our Hoste, ‘herkneth to me,
In youthe he made of Ceys and Alcioun. (Man of Lawes P.)
Jeupardie, nightertale, queynte, peytrel, metayn, doughty, constabil, cheere (cheere of court), abhominable.
Point out the situation of the following places:
Fynestere, Ypres, Gaunt, Lettowe, Gernade, Middelburgh, Orewelle.
CHAUCER. THE PROLOGUE TO THE CANTERBURY TALES.
THE CLERKES TALE. THE SQUYERES TALE. I. What were the chief political and religious movements in England in Chaucer's time? In what way was he connected with any of them? Are any traces of his own leanings observable in his writings?
Enumerate the personages in the party of pilgrims to Canterbury. Where did they first halt? Relate the incidents of the journey. At what period does the poem break off?
3. Give an account of the position occupied or the calling followed by a Franklin, a Frere, a Sompnour, a Manciple, a Pardoner, a Reeve, and a Sergeant-at-Law in Chaucer's time.
4. Sketch out a description of the Squire and of the Clerk of Oxenford as vividly as you can, keeping true to Chaucer's conception.
5. Point out the various significations of the final e in Chaucer with regard to nouns and adjectives, both as marking derivation and inflexion, and quote an example of every case.
6. What grammatical forms are used by Chaucer for :
7. On what principle do you suppose the metre of the Prologue to be constructed ? Quote the first twelve lines. Shew by vertical bars the metrical divisions of each line, and by a short dash the position of the cæsura.
8. Explain any grammatical peculiarities in the following lines :
In hope to stonden in his lady grace (88).
Ther as this lord was kepere of the selle (172).
9. Explain the following terms and expressions, giving the application of them and the derivation, where it is necessary : wastel breed-a for-pyned goost-a lymytour-a thikke knarrenose-thurles—flok-mel—lodemenage-a spiced conscienceQuestio quid juris—a Significavit—to Emyl-ward-dere y-nough a jane-bachelerie--throp-unnethe-chamber of parementz. Give the legend attaching to the word vernicle.
Give short explanations of the following passages :
They he were come agein out of fayrye,
Give the derivations of countré, daunger, fayre, Sergeant-atLaw, fleur-de-lys.
Relate briefly the story of Griselda. State anything you know of the works from which Chaucer obtained it. What is the general effect of the touches which he himself gives? How would you describe the metre? Whence is it taken? What other tales are written in the same ?
12. Paraphrase the following passages, and write short notes explaining the allusions, and any grammatical or other difficulties:
Another answers, and sayd, it might wel be
(Sq. Ta. Pt. i.)
CHAUCER. PROLOGUE TO CANTERBURY TALES.
MAN OF LAWES TALE.
What is the period at which the journey of Chaucer's Pilgrims is supposed to take place? What was the condition of