The Knight's Tale: The Tournament

English

The Canterbury Tales: 'The Knight's Tale', Chaucer

Which three gods are represented in Theseus' amphitheatre?

Theseus doesn't think they deserve to die with honour, in battle.

Theseus honours the women he is with and believes in courtly love.

Theseus wants to make their deaths a game.

Why does Theseus stop Palamon and Arcita from killing each other in the grove and decide to hold a tournament instead.

That each knight must fight to the death.

That each knight must fight with blunted weapons.

That each knight must try not to kill the other and when injured, they must withdraw.

What does Theseus decree before the tournament begins?

The rhythm seems to make the action seem comical.

The rhythm seems to make the action seem skilful and continuous.

What effect does the alliteration of 'sharp spurs' and 'helmets hewn' have?

That he is powerful and singleminded in seeking revenge.

What does the simile “No tigress ... Whose little whelp is stolen... Is cruel to the hunter as Arcite” imply about Arcita's actions?

That he is strong and desperate to kill Arcita.

What does the simile “Nor is there a lion, wild for want of food, That of his prey desires so much the blood As Palamon the death of Arcite,” imply about Palamon's actions?

Arcita disguised himself as a Duke and called himself Pirithous.

Arcita disguised himself as a servant and called himself Philostrate.

Arcita disguised himself as the Goddess Venus.

Arcita sneaked in to Athens and hid in a grove.

How did Arcita return to Athens without being discovered by Theseus?

What behaviour is being described when Arcita offers to feed and arm Palamon before they fight?

Because of the decorated armour that they wear.

Because they attack each other with animal savagery.

When they fight, why are Palamon and Arcita described as lions, tigers and wild boars?

He doesn't want the women to have to see such savagery.

He is a chivalrous knight and he likes to watch a properly organised fight.

He is a chivalrous knight and the women beg him not to.

He wants to lock Palamon and Arcita back in the tower where they belong.

When Theseus stops the fight, why does he decide not to kill Palamon and Arcita immediately?

Palamon and Arcita must build an amphitheatre in fifty weeks.

Palamon and Arcita must gather fifty knights in one hundred weeks and return to the grove.

Palamon and Arcita must gather one hundred knights each in fifty weeks and return to the amphitheatre that Theseus will build.

Palamon and Arcita must go and pray to the gods for victory, while Theseus builds an amphitheatre in their honour.

What does Theseus say must happen before the tournament?

He prays to Diana goddess of chastity for the love of Emily.

He prays to Mars the god of love for victory in the tournament.

He prays to Mars the god of war for the love of Emily.

He prays to Venus goddess of love for the love of Emily.

Which god does Palamon pray to the night before the tournament and what does he pray for?

She prays to Diana goddess of chastity and asks to remain a maiden.

She prays to Diana the goddess of love and asks her to give neither knight victory.

She prays to Mars the god of war and asks him to save the lives of Palamon and Arcita.

She prays to Venus goddess of love and asks for the man who loves her truly to win the tournament.

Which god does Emily pray to the night before the tournament and what does she pray for?

He prays to Diana goddess of chastity and asks for victory over Palamon.

He prays to Mars the god of war and asks for victory in the tournament.

He prays to Venus goddess of love and asks for the love of Emily.

He prays to Venus goddess of wisdom and asks for to know the winner of the tournament in advance.

Which god does Arcita pray to the night before the tournament and what does he pray for?

When the gods argue over whose prayer they should grant, which god solves the argument?

The Knight's Tale: The Tournament

Lesson outcome