Year 7
The Knight's Tale: The Tournament
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- In this lesson, we will explore the language used in the battle between Palamon and Arcita as the tournament begins.
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11 Questions
Reviewing your learning
Q2.
How did Arcita return to Athens without being discovered by Theseus?
Arcita disguised himself as a Duke and called himself Pirithous.
Arcita disguised himself as the Goddess Venus.
Arcita sneaked in to Athens and hid in a grove.
Q3.
What behaviour is being described when Arcita offers to feed and arm Palamon before they fight?
Courtly Love
Friendship
Heroism
What have you learned this lesson?
Q5.
When they fight, why are Palamon and Arcita described as lions, tigers and wild boars?
Because of the decorated armour that they wear.
Because they are brave and strong.
Because they are fighting over a woman.
Q6.
When Theseus stops the fight, why does he decide not to kill Palamon and Arcita immediately?
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 wants to lock Palamon and Arcita back in the tower where they belong.
Q7.
What does Theseus say must happen before the tournament?
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 go and pray to the gods for victory, while Theseus builds an amphitheatre in their honour.
Q8.
Which god does Palamon pray to the night before the tournament and what does he pray for?
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.
Q9.
Which god does Emily pray to the night before the tournament and what does she pray for?
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.
Q10.
Which god does Arcita pray to the night before the tournament and what does he pray for?
He prays to Diana goddess of chastity and asks for victory over Palamon.
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.
Q11.
When the gods argue over whose prayer they should grant, which god solves the argument?
Diana
Mars
Venus
8 Questions
Reviewing your learning
Q2.
Which three gods are represented in Theseus' amphitheatre?
Diana, Pluto and Saturn
Mars, Venus and Saturn
Saturn, Juno and Mars
Q3.
Why does Theseus stop Palamon and Arcita from killing each other in the grove and decide to hold a tournament instead.
Theseus doesn't think they deserve to die with honour, in battle.
Theseus wants to entertain his people.
Theseus wants to make their deaths a game.
What have you learned this lesson?
Q5.
What does Theseus decree before the tournament begins?
That each knight must fight to the death.
That each knight must fight unarmed.
That each knight must fight with blunted weapons.
Q6.
What effect does the alliteration of 'sharp spurs' and 'helmets hewn' have?
It make the words rhyme more clearly.
The rhythm seems to make the action seem comical.
They are in iambic pentameter.
Q7.
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 caring and motherly.
That he is terrifying.
That his armour is painted in stripes.
Q8.
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?
That he is hungry from lack of food.
That he is proud and brave.
That his helmet has a flowing mane.