Unit I – Lesson 1: Geoffrey Chaucer – The Book of the Duchess

Unit I – Lesson 1: Geoffrey Chaucer – The Book of the Duchess

(As per revised PGTRB syllabus)

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🧾 Quick Overview:

• Author: Geoffrey Chaucer
• Title: The Book of the Duchess
• Written: c. 1368–1372
• Genre: Dream vision, elegy
• Occasion: Mourning the death of Blanche, Duchess of Lancaster
• Commissioned by: John of Gaunt (her husband)
• Themes: Grief, love, loss, courtly love, memory, poetic consolation
• Form: Rhyming couplets in octosyllabic meter
• Language: Middle English

The Book of the Duchess

- Geoffrey Chaucer

THE PROEM

I have gret wonder, be this lighte,

How that I live, for day ne nighte

I may nat slepe wel nigh noght,

I have so many an ydel thoght

Purely for defaute of slepe

That, by my trouthe, I take no kepe

Of no−thing, how hit cometh or goth,

Ne me nis no−thing leef nor loth.

Al is y−liche good to me −−

Ioye or sorowe, wherso hyt be −−

For I have feling in no−thinge,

But, as it were, a mased thing,

Alway in point to falle a−doun;

For sorwful imaginacioun

Is alway hoolly in my minde.

And wel ye wite, agaynes kynde

Hit were to liven in this wyse;

For nature wolde nat suffyse

To noon erthely creature

Not longe tyme to endure

Withoute slepe, and been in sorwe;

And I ne may, ne night ne morwe,

Slepe; and thus melancolye

And dreed I have for to dye,

Defaute of slepe and hevinesse

Hath sleyn my spirit of quiknesse,

That I have lost al lustihede.

Suche fantasies ben in myn hede

So I not what is best to do. But men myght axe me, why soo

I may not slepe, and what me is?

But natheles, who aske this

Leseth his asking trewely.

My−selven can not telle why

The sooth; but trewely, as I gesse,

I holde hit be a siknesse

That I have suffred this eight yere,

And yet my bote is never the nere;

For ther is phisicien but oon,

That may me hele; but that is doon.

Passe we over until eft;

That wil not be, moot nede be left;

Our first matere is good to kepe.

So whan I saw I might not slepe,

Til now late, this other night,

Upon my bedde I sat upright

And bad oon reche me a book,

A romaunce, and he hit me took

To rede and dryve the night away;

For me thoghte it better play

Then playen either at chesse or tables.

And in this boke were writen fables

That clerkes hadde, in olde tyme,

And other poets, put in ryme

To rede, and for to be in minde

Whyl men loved the lawe of kinde.

This book ne spak but of such thinges,

Of quenes lyves, and of kinges,

And many othere thinges smale.

Amonge al this I fond a tale

That me thoughte a wonder thing.

This was the tale: There was a king

That hight Seys, and hadde a wyf,

The beste that mighte bere lyf;

And this quene hight Alcyone.

So hit befel, therafter sone,

This king wolde wenden over see.

To tellen shortly, whan that he

Was in the see, thus in this wyse,

Soche a tempest gan to ryse

That brak hir mast, and made it falle,

And clefte her ship, and dreinte hem alle,

That never was founden, as it telles,

Bord ne man, ne nothing elles.

Right thus this king Seys loste his lyf.

Now for to speken of his wife: −−

This lady, that was left at home,

Hath wonder, that the king ne come

Hoom, for hit was a longe terme.

Anon her herte gan to erme; And for that hir thoughte evermo

Hit was not wel he dwelte so,

She longed so after the king

That certes, hit were a pitous thing

To telle hir hertely sorwful lyf

That hadde, alas! this noble wyfe;

For him she loved alderbest.

Anon she sente bothe eest and west

To seke him, but they founde nought.

`Alas!' quoth she, `that I was wrought!

And wher my lord, my love, be deed?

Certes, I nil never ete breed,

I make a−vowe to my god here,

But I mowe of my lord here!'

Such sorwe this lady to her took

That trewely I, which made this book,

Had swich pite and swich rowthe

To rede hir sorwe, that, by my trowthe,

I ferde the worse al the morwe

After, to thenken on her sorwe.

So whan she coude here no word

That no man mighte fynde hir lord,

Ful ofte she swouned, and saide `Alas!'

For sorwe ful nigh wood she was,

Ne she coude no reed but oon;

But doun on knees she sat anoon,

And weep, that pite was to here.

`A! mercy! swete lady dere!'

Quod she to Iuno, hir goddesse;

`Help me out of this distresse,

And yeve me grace my lord to see

Sone, or wite wher−so he be,

Or how he fareth, or in what wyse,

And I shal make you sacrifyse,

And hoolly youres become I shal

With good wil, body, herte, and al;

And but thou wilt this, lady swete,

Send me grace to slepe, and mete

In my slepe som certeyn sweven,

Wher−through that I may knowen even

Whether my lord be quik or deed.'

With that word she heng doun the heed,

And fil a−swown as cold as ston;

Hir women caught her up anon,

And broghten hir in bed al naked,

And she, forweped and forwaked,

Was wery, and thus the dede sleep

Fil on hir, or she toke keep,

Through Iuno, that had herd hir bone,

That made hir to slepe sone;

For as she prayde, so was don, In dede; for Iuno, right anon,

Called thus her messagere

To do her erande, and he com nere.

Whan he was come, she bad him thus:

`Go bet,' quod Iuno, `to Morpheus,

Thou knowest hym wel, the god of sleep;

Now understond wel, and tak keep.

Sey thus on my halfe, that he

Go faste into the grete see,

And bid him that, on alle thing,

He take up Seys body the king,

That lyth ful pale and no−thing rody.

Bid him crepe into the body,

Aud do it goon to Alcyone

The quene, ther she lyth alone,

And shewe hir shortly, hit is no nay,

How hit was dreynt this other day;

And do the body speke so

Right as hit was wont to do,

The whyles that hit was on lyve.

Go now faste, and hy thee blyve!'

This messager took leve and wente

Upon his wey, and never ne stente

Til he com to the derke valeye

That stant bytwene roches tweye,

Ther never yet grew corn ne gras,

Ne tree, ne nothing that ought was,

Beste, ne man, ne nothing elles,

Save ther were a fewe welles

Came renning fro the cliffes adoun,

That made a deedly sleping soun,

And ronnen doun right by a cave

That was under a rokke y−grave

Amid the valey, wonder depe.

Ther thise goddes laye and slepe,

Morpheus, and Eclympasteyre,

That was the god of slepes heyre,

That slepe and did non other werk.

This cave was also as derk

As helle pit over−al aboute;

They had good leyser for to route

To envye, who might slepe beste;

Some henge hir chin upon hir breste

And slepe upright, hir heed y−hed,

And some laye naked in hir bed,

And slepe whyles the dayes laste.

This messager come flying faste,

And cryed, `O ho! awake anon!'

Hit was for noght; ther herde him non.

`Awak!' quod he, `who is, lyth there?'

And blew his horn right in hir ere, And cryed `awaketh!' wonder hye.

This god of slepe, with his oon ye

Cast up, axed, `who clepeth there?'

`Hit am I,' quod this messagere;

`Iuno bad thou shuldest goon' −−

And tolde him what he shulde doon

As I have told yow here−tofore;

Hit is no need reherse hit more;

And wente his wey, whan he had sayd.

Anon this god of slepe a−brayd

Out of his slepe, and gan to goon,

And did as he had bede him doon;

Took up the dreynte body sone,

And bar hit forth to Alcyone,

His wif the quene, ther−as she lay,

Right even a quarter before day,

And stood right at hir beddes fete,

And called hir, right as she hete,

By name, and sayde, `my swete wyf,

Awak! let be your sorwful lyf!

For in your sorwe there lyth no reed;

For certes, swete, I nam but deed;

Ye shul me never on lyve y−see.

But good swete herte, look that ye

Bury my body, at whiche a tyde

Ye mowe hit finde the see besyde;

And far−wel, swete, my worldes blisse!

I praye god your sorwe lisse;

To litel whyl our blisse lasteth!'

With that hir eyen up she casteth,

And saw noght; `A!' quod she, `for sorwe!'

And deyed within the thridde morwe.

But what she sayde more in that swow

I may not telle yow as now,

Hit were to longe for to dwelle;

My first matere I wil yow telle,

Wherfor I have told this thing

Of Alcione and Seys the king.

For thus moche dar I saye wel,

I had be dolven everydel,

And deed, right through defaute of sleep,

If I nad red and taken keep

Of this tale next before:

And I wol telle yow wherfore:

For I ne might, for bote ne bale,

Slepe, or I had red this tale

Of this dreynte Seys the king,

And of the goddes of sleping.

Whan I had red this tale wel

And over−loked hit everydel,

Me thoughte wonder if hit were so; For I had never herd speke, or tho,

Of no goddes that coude make

Men for to slepe, ne for to wake;

For I ne knew never god but oon.

And in my game I sayde anoon −−

And yet me list right evel to pleye −−

`Rather then that I shulde deye

Through defaute of sleping thus,

I wolde yive thilke Morpheus,

Or his goddesse, dame Iuno,

Or som wight elles, I ne roghte who −−

To make me slepe and have som reste −−

I wil yive him the alder−beste

Yift that ever he aboode his lyve,

And here on warde, right now, as blyve;

If he wol make me slepe a lyte,

Of downe of pure dowves whyte

I wil yive him a fether−bed,

Rayed with golde, and right wel cled

In fyn blak satin doutremere,

And many a pilow, and every bere

Of clothe of Reynes, to slepe softe;

Him thar not nede to turnen ofte.

And I wol yive him al that falles

To a chambre; and al his halles

I wol do peynte with pure golde,

And tapite hem ful many folde

Of oo sute; this shal he have,

Yf I wiste wher were his cave,

If he can make me slepe sone,

As did the goddesse Alcione.

And thus this ilke god, Morpheus,

May winne of me mo fees thus

Than ever he wan; and to Iuno,

That is his goddesse, I shal so do,

I trow that she shal holde her payd.'

I hadde unneth that word y−sayd

Right thus as I have told hit yow,

That sodeynly, I niste how,

Swich a lust anoon me took

To slepe, that right upon my book

I fil aslepe, and therwith even

Me mette so inly swete a sweven,

So wonderful, that never yit

I trowe no man hadde the wit

To conne wel my sweven rede;

No, not Ioseph, withoute drede,

Of Egipte, he that redde so

The kinges meting Pharao,

No more than coude the leste of us;

Ne nat scarsly Macrobeus, (He that wroot al thavisioun

That he mette, Kyng Scipioun,

The noble man, the Affrican −−

Swiche marvayles fortuned than)

I trowe, a−rede my dremes even.

Lo, thus hit was, this was my sweven.

THE DREAM

Me thoughte thus: −− that hit was May,

And in the dawning ther I lay,

Me mette thus, in my bed al naked: −−

I loked forth, for I was waked

With smale foules a gret hepe,

That had affrayed me out of slepe

Through noyse and swetnesse of hir song;

And, as me mette, they sate among,

Upon my chambre−roof withoute,

Upon the tyles, al a−boute,

And songen, everich in his wise,

The moste solempne servyse

By note, that ever man, I trowe,

Had herd; for som of hem song lowe,

Som hye, and al of oon acorde.

To telle shortly, at oo worde,

Was never y−herd so swete a steven,

But hit had be a thing of heven; −−

So mery a soun, so swete entunes,

That certes, for the toune of Tewnes,

I nolde but I had herd hem singe,

For al my chambre gan to ringe

Through singing of hir armonye.

For instrument nor melodye

Was nowher herd yet half so swete,

Nor of acorde half so mete;

For ther was noon of hem that feyned

To singe, for ech of hem him peyned

To finde out mery crafty notes;

They ne spared not hir throtes.

And, sooth to seyn, my chambre was

Ful wel depeynted, and with glas

Were al the windowes wel y−glased,

Ful clere, and nat an hole y−crased,

That to beholde hit was gret Ioye.

For hoolly al the storie of Troye

Was in the glasing y−wroght thus,

Of Ector and of king Priamus, Of Achilles and king Lamedon,

Of Medea and of Iason,

Of Paris, Eleyne, and Lavyne.

And alle the walles with colours fyne

Were peynted, bothe text and glose,

Of al the Romaunce of the Rose.

My windowes weren shet echon,

And through the glas the sunne shon

Upon my bed with brighte bemes,

With many glade gilden stremes;

And eek the welken was so fair,

Blew, bright, clere was the air,

And ful atempre, for sothe, hit was;

For nother cold nor hoot hit nas,

Ne in al the welken was a cloude.

And as I lay thus, wonder loude

Me thoughte I herde an hunte blowe

Tassaye his horn, and for to knowe

Whether hit were clere or hors of soune.

I herde goinge, up and doune,

Men, hors, houndes, and other thing;

And al men speken of hunting,

How they wolde slee the hert with strengthe,

And how the hert had, upon lengthe,

So moche embosed,I not now what.

Anon−right, whan I herde that,

How that they wolde on hunting goon,

I was right glad, and up anoon;

I took my hors, and forth I wente

Out of my chambre; I never stente

Til I com to the feld withoute.

Ther overtook I a gret route

Of huntes and eek of foresteres,

With many relayes and lymeres,

And hyed hem to the forest faste,

And I with hem; −− so at the laste

I asked oon, ladde a lymere: −−

`Say, felow, who shal hunten here'

Quod I, and he answerde ageyn,

`Sir, themperour Octovien,'

Quod he, `and is heer faste by.'

`A goddes halfe, in good tyme,' quod I,

`Go we faste!' and gan to ryde.

Whan we came to the forest−syde,

Every man dide, right anoon,

As to hunting fil to doon.

The mayster−hunte anoon, fot−hoot,

With a gret horne blew three moot

At the uncoupling of his houndes.

Within a whyl the hert y−founde is,

Y−halowed, and rechased faste Longe tyme; and so at the laste,

This hert rused and stal away

Fro alle the houndes a prevy way.

The houndes had overshote hem alle,

And were on a defaute y−falle;

Therwith the hunte wonder faste

Blew a forloyn at the laste.

I was go walked fro my tree,

And as I wente, ther cam by me

A whelp, that fauned me as I stood,

That hadde y−folowed, and coude no good.

Hit com and creep to me as lowe,

Right as hit hadde me y−knowe,

Hild doun his heed and Ioyned his eres,

And leyde al smothe doun his heres.

I wolde han caught hit, and anoon

Hit fledde, and was fro me goon;

And I him folwed, and hit forth wente

Doun by a floury grene wente

Ful thikke of gras, ful softe and swete,

With floures fele, faire under fete,

And litel used, hit seemed thus;

For bothe Flora and Zephirus,

They two that make floures growe,

Had mad hir dwelling ther, I trowe;

For hit was, on to beholde,

As thogh the erthe envye wolde

To be gayer than the heven,

To have mo floures, swiche seven

As in the welken sterres be.

Hit had forgete the povertee

That winter, through his colde morwes,

Had mad hit suffren, and his sorwes;

Al was forgeten, and that was sene.

For al the wode was waxen grene,

Swetnesse of dewe had mad it waxe.

Hit is no need eek for to axe

Wher ther were many grene greves,

Or thikke of trees, so ful of leves;

And every tree stood by him−selve

Fro other wel ten foot or twelve.

So grete trees, so huge of strengthe,

Of fourty or fifty fadme lengthe,

Clene withoute bough or stikke,

With croppes brode, and eek as thikke −−

They were nat an inche a−sonder −−

That hit was shadwe over−al under;

And many an hert and many an hinde

Was both before me and bihinde.

Of founes, soures, bukkes, does

Was ful the wode, and many roes, And many squirelles that sete

Ful hye upon the trees, and ete,

And in hir maner made festes.

Shortly, hit was so ful of bestes,

That thogh Argus, the noble countour,

Sete to rekene in his countour,

And rekened with his figures ten −−

For by tho figures mowe al ken,

If they be crafty, rekene and noumbre,

And telle of every thing the noumbre −−

Yet shulde he fayle to rekene even

The wondres, me mette in my sweven.

But forth they romed wonder faste

Doun the wode; so at the laste

I was war of a man in blak,

That sat and had y−turned his bak

To an oke, an huge tree.

`Lord,' thoghte I, `who may that be?

What ayleth him to sitten here?'

Anoon−right I wente nere;

Than fond I sitte even upright

A wonder wel−faringe knight −−

By the maner me thoughte so −−

Of good mochel, and yong therto,

Of the age of four and twenty yeer.

Upon his berde but litel heer,

And he was clothed al in blakke.

I stalked even unto his bakke,

And ther I stood as stille as ought,

That, sooth to saye, he saw me nought,

For−why he heng his heed adoune.

And with a deedly sorwful soune

He made of ryme ten vers or twelve

Of a compleynt to him−selve,

The moste pite, the moste rowthe,

That ever I herde; for, by my trowthe,

Hit was gret wonder that nature

Might suffren any creature

To have swich sorwe, and be not deed.

Ful pitous, pale, and nothing reed,

He sayde a lay, a maner song,

Withoute note, withoute song,

And hit was this; for wel I can

Reherse hit; right thus hit began. −−

`I have of sorwe so grete woon,

That Ioye gete I never noon,

Now that I see my lady bright,

Which I have loved with al my might,

Is fro me dedd, and is a−goon.

And thus in sorwe lefte me alone.

`Allas, o deeth! what ayleth thee, That thou noldest have taken me,

`Whan that thou toke my lady swete?

That was so fayr, so fresh, so free,

So good, that men may wel y−see

`Of al goodnesse she had no mete!' −−

Whan he had mad thus his complaynte,

His sorowful herte gan faste faynte,

And his spirites wexen dede;

The blood was fled, for pure drede,

Doun to his herte, to make him warm −−

For wel hit feled the herte had harm −−

To wite eek why hit was a−drad,

By kinde, and for to make hit glad;

For hit is membre principal

Of the body; and that made al

His hewe chaunge and wexe grene

And pale, for no blood was sene

In no maner lime of his.

Anoon therwith whan I saw this,

He ferde thus evel ther he sete,

I wente and stood right at his fete,

And grette him, but he spak noght,

But argued with his owne thoght,

And in his witte disputed faste

Why and how his lyf might laste;

Him thoughte his sorwes were so smerte

And lay so colde upon his herte;

So, through his sorwe and hevy thoght,

Made him that he ne herde me noght;

For he had wel nigh lost his minde,

Thogh Pan, that men clepe god of kinde,

Were for his sorwes never so wrooth.

But at the laste, to sayn right sooth,

He was war of me, how I stood

Before him, and dide of myn hood,

And grette him, as I best coude.

Debonairly, and no−thing loude,

He sayde, `I prey thee, be not wrooth,

I herde thee not, to sayn the sooth,

Ne I saw thee not, sir, trewely.'

`A! goode sir, no fors,' quod I,

`I am right sory if I have ought

Destroubled yow out of your thought;

For−yive me if I have mis−take.'

`Yis, thamendes is light to make,'

Quod he, `for ther lyth noon ther−to;

Ther is no−thing missayd nor do,'

Lo! how goodly spak this knight,

As it had been another wight;

He made it nouther tough ne queynte

And I saw that, and gan me aqueynte With him, and fond him so tretable,

Right wonder skilful and resonable,

As me thoghte, for al his bale.

Anoon−right I gan finde a tale

To him, to loke wher I might ought

Have more knowing of his thought.

`Sir,' quod I, `this game is doon;

I holde that this hert be goon;

Thise huntes conne him nowher see.'

`I do no fors therof,' quod he,

`My thought is ther−on never a del.'

`By our lord,' quod I, `I trow yow wel,

Right so me thinketh by your chere.

But, sir, oo thing wol ye here?

Me thinketh, in gret sorwe I yow see;

But certes, good sir, yif that ye

Wolde ought discure me your wo,

I wolde, as wis god help me so,

Amende hit, yif I can or may;

Ye mowe preve hit by assay.

For, by my trouthe, to make yow hool,

I wol do al my power hool;

And telleth me of your sorwes smerte,

Paraventure hit may ese your herte,

That semeth ful seke under your syde.'

With that he loked on me asyde,

As who sayth, `Nay, that wol not be.'

`Graunt mercy, goode frend,' quod he,

`I thanke thee that thou woldest so,

But hit may never the rather be do,

No man may my sorwe glade,

That maketh my hewe to falle and fade,

And hath myn understonding lorn,

That me is wo that I was born!

May noght make my sorwes slyde,

Nought the remedies of Ovyde;

Ne Orpheus, god of melodye,

Ne Dedalus, with playes slye;

Ne hele me may phisicien,

Noght Ypocras, ne Galien;

Me is wo that I live houres twelve;

But who so wol assaye him−selve

Whether his herte can have pite

Of any sorwe, lat him see me.

I wrecche, that deeth hath mad al naked

Of alle blisse that ever was maked,

Y−worthe worste of alle wightes,

That hate my dayes and my nightes;

My lyf, my lustes be me lothe,

For al welfare and I be wrothe.

The pure deeth is so my fo Thogh I wolde deye, hit wolde not so;

For whan I folwe hit, hit wol flee;

I wolde have hit, hit nil not me.

This is my peyne withoute reed,

Alway deinge and be not deed,

That Sesiphus, that lyth in helle,

May not of more sorwe telle.

And who so wiste al, be my trouthe,

My sorwe, but he hadde routhe

And pite of my sorwes smerte,

That man hath a feendly herte.

For who so seeth me first on morwe

May seyn, he hath y−met with sorwe;

For I am sorwe and sorwe is I.

`Allas! and I wol telle the why;

My song is turned to pleyning,

And al my laughter to weping,

My glade thoghtes to hevinesse,

In travaile is myn ydelnesse

And eek my reste; my wele is wo,

My goode is harm, and ever−mo

In wrathe is turned my pleying,

And my delyt in−to sorwing.

Myn hele is turned into seeknesse,

In drede is al my sikernesse.

To derke is turned al my light,

My wit is foly, my day is night,

My love is hate, my sleep waking,

My mirthe and meles is fasting,

My countenaunce is nycete,

And al abaved wher−so I be,

My pees, in pleding and in werre;

Allas! how mighte I fare werre?

`My boldnesse is turned to shame,

For fals Fortune hath pleyd a game

Atte ches with me, allas! the whyle!

The trayteresse fals and ful of gyle,

That al behoteth and no−thing halt,

She goth upryght and yet she halt,

That baggeth foule and loketh faire,

The dispitouse debonaire,

That scorneth many a creature!

An ydole of fals portraiture

Is she, for she wil sone wryen;

She is the monstres heed y−wryen,

As filth over y−strawed with floures;

Hir moste worship and hir flour is

To lyen, for that is hir nature;

Withoute feyth, lawe, or mesure.

She is fals; and ever laughinge

With oon eye, and that other wepinge. That is broght up, she set al doun.

I lykne hir to the scorpioun,

That is a fals, flateringe beste;

For with his hede he maketh feste,

But al amid his flateringe

With his tayle he wol stinge,

And envenyme; and so wol she.

She is thenvyouse charite

That is ay fals, and seemeth wele,

So turneth she hir false whele

Aboute, for it is no−thing stable,

Now by the fyre, now at table;

Ful many oon hath she thus y−blent;

She is pley of enchauntement,

That semeth oon and is not so,

The false theef! what hath she do,

Trowest thou? By our lord, I wol thee seye.

Atte ches with me she gan to pleye;

With hir false draughtes divers

She stal on me, and took my fers.

And whan I saw my fers aweye,

Alas! I couthe no lenger playe,

But seyde, "Farewel, swete, y−wis,

And farwel al that ever ther is!"

Therwith Fortune seyde, "Chek here!"

And "Mate!" in mid pointe of the chekkere

With a poune erraunt, allas!

Ful craftier to pley she was

Than Athalus, that made the game

First of the ches: so was his name.

But God wolde I had ones or twyes

Y−koud and knowe the Ieupardyes

That coude the Grek Pithagores!

I shulde have pleyd the bet at ches,

And kept my fers the bet therby;

And thogh wherto? for trewely,

I hold that wish nat worth a stree!

Hit had be never the bet for me.

For Fortune can so many a wyle,

Ther be but fewe can hir begyle,

And eek she is the las to blame;

My−self I wolde have do the same,

Before god, hadde I been as she;

She oghte the more excused be.

For this I say yet more therto,

Hadde I be god and mighte have do

My wille, whan she my fers caughte,

I wolde have drawe the same draughte.

For, also wis god yive me reste,

I dar wel swere she took the beste!

`But through that draughte I have lorn My blisse; allas! that I was born!

For evermore, I trowe trewly,

For al my wil, my lust hoolly

Is turned; but yet what to done?

Be oure lord, hit is to deye sone;

For no−thing I ne leve it noght,

But live and deye right in this thoght.

There nis planete in firmament,

Ne in air, ne in erthe, noon element,

That they ne yive me a yift echoon

Of weping, whan I am aloon.

For whan that I avyse me wel,

And bethenke me every−del,

How that ther lyth in rekening,

In my sorwe for no−thing;

And how ther leveth no gladnesse

May gladde me of my distresse,

And how I have lost suffisance,

And therto I have no plesance,

Than may I say, I have right noght.

And whan al this falleth in my thoght,

Allas! than am I overcome!

For that is doon is not to come!

I have more sorowe than Tantale.'

And whan I herde him telle this tale

Thus pitously, as I yow telle,

Unnethe mighte I lenger dwelle,

Hit dide myn hert so moche wo.

`A! good sir!' quod I, `say not so!

Have som pite on your nature

That formed yow to creature,

Remembre yow of Socrates;

For he ne counted nat three strees

Of noght that Fortune coude do.`

`No,' quod he, `I can not so.'

`Why so? good sir! parde!' quod I;

`Ne say noght so, for trewely,

Thogh ye had lost the ferses twelve,

And ye for sorwe mordred your−selve,

Ye sholde be dampned in this cas

By as good right as Medea was,

That slow hir children for Iason;

And Phyllis als for Demophon

Heng hir−self, so weylaway!

For he had broke his terme−day

To come to hir. Another rage

Had Dydo, quene eek of Cartage,

That slow hir−self for Eneas

Was fals; a whiche a fool she was!

And Ecquo dyed for Narcisus.

Nolde nat love hir; and right thus Hath many another foly don.

And for Dalida died Sampson,

That slow him−self with a pilere.

But ther is noon a−lyve here

Wolde for a fers make this wo!'

`Why so?' quod he; `hit is nat so,

Thou woste ful litel what thou menest;

I have lost more than thow wenest.'

`Lo, sir, how may that be?' quod I;

`Good sir, tel me al hoolly

In what wyse, how, why, and wherfore

That ye have thus your blisse lore,'

`Blythly,' quod he, `com sit adoun,

I telle thee up condicioun

That thou hoolly, with al thy wit,

Do thyn entent to herkene hit.'

`Yis, sir.' `Swere thy trouthe ther−to.'

`Gladly.' `Do than holde her−to!'

`I shal right blythly, so god me save,

Hoolly, with al the witte I have,

Here yow, as wel as I can,'

`A goddes half!' quod he, and began: −−

`Sir,' quod he, `sith first I couthe

Have any maner wit fro youthe,

Or kyndely understonding

To comprehende, in any thing,

What love was, in myn owne wit,

Dredeles, I have ever yit

Be tributary, and yiven rente

To love hoolly with goode entente,

And through plesaunce become his thral,

With good wil, body, herte, and al.

Al this I putte in his servage,

As to my lorde, and dide homage;

And ful devoutly prayde him to,

He shulde besette myn herte so,

That it plesaunce to him were,

And worship to my lady dere.

`And this was longe, and many a yeer

Or that myn herte was set o−wher,

That I did thus, and niste why;

I trowe hit cam me kindely.

Paraunter I was therto most able

As a whyt wal or a table;

For hit is redy to cacche and take

Al that men wil therin make,

Wher−so so men wol portreye or peynte,

Be the werkes never so queynte.

`And thilke tyme I ferde so

I was able to have lerned tho,

And to have coud as wel or better, Paraunter, other art or letter.

But for love cam first in my thought,

Therfore I forgat hit nought.

I chees love to my firste craft,

Therfor hit is with me y−laft.

Forwhy I took hit of so yong age,

That malice hadde my corage

Nat that tyme turned to no−thing

Through to mochel knowleching.

For that tyme youthe, my maistresse,

Governed me in ydelnesse;

For hit was in my firste youthe,

And tho ful litel good I couthe,

For al my werkes were flittinge,

And al my thoghtes varyinge;

Al were to me y−liche good,

That I knew tho; but thus hit stood.

`Hit happed that I cam on a day

Into a place, ther I say,

Trewly, the fayrest companye

Of ladies that ever man with ye

Had seen togedres in oo place.

Shal I clepe hit hap other grace

That broght me ther? nay, but Fortune,

That is to lyen ful comune,

The false trayteresse, pervers,

God wolde I coude clepe hir wers!

For now she worcheth me ful wo,

And I wol telle sone why so.

`Among thise ladies thus echoon,

Soth to seyn, I saw ther oon

That was lyk noon of al the route;

For I dar swere, withoute doute,

That as the someres sonne bright

Is fairer, clere, and hath more light

Than any planete, is in heven,

The mone, or the sterres seven,

For al the worlde so had she

Surmounted hem alle of beaute,

Of maner and of comlinesse,

Of stature and wel set gladnesse,

Of goodlihede so wel beseye −−

Shortly, what shal I more seye?

By god, and by his halwes twelve,

It was my swete, right al hir−selve!

She had so stedfast countenaunce,

So noble port and meyntenaunce.

And Love, that had herd my bone,

Had espyed me thus sone,

That she ful sone, in my thoght,

As helpe me god, so was y−caught So sodenly, that I ne took

No maner reed but at hir look

And at myn herte; for−why hir eyen

So gladly, I trow, myn herte seyen,

That purely tho myn owne thoght

Seyde hit were bet serve hir for noght

Than with another to be wel.

And hit was sooth, for, everydel,

I wil anoon−right telle thee why.

I saw hir daunce so comlily,

Carole and singe so swetely,

Laughe and pleye so womanly,

And loke so debonairly,

So goodly speke and so frendly,

That certes, I trow, that evermore

Nas seyn so blisful a tresore.

For every heer upon hir hede,

Soth to seyn, hit was not rede,

Ne nouther yelw, ne broun hit nas;

Me thoghte, most lyk gold hit was.

And whiche eyen my lady hadde!

Debonair, goode, glade, and sadde,

Simple, of good mochel, noght to wyde;

Therto hir look nas not a−syde,

Ne overthwert, but beset so wel,

Hit drew and took up, everydel,

Alle that on hir gan beholde.

Hir eyen semed anoon she wolde

Have mercy; fooles wenden so;

But hit was never the rather do.

Hit nas no countrefeted thing,

It was hir owne pure loking,

That the goddesse, dame Nature,

Had made hem opene by mesure,

And close; for, were she never so glad,

Hir loking was not foly sprad,

Ne wildely, thogh that she pleyde;

But ever, me thoght, hir eyen seyde,

"By god, my wrathe is al for−yive!"

`Therwith hir liste so wel to live,

That dulnesse was of hir a−drad.

She nas to sobre ne to glad;

In alle thinges more mesure

Had never, I trowe, creature.

But many oon with hir loke she herte,

And that sat hir ful lyte at herte,

For she knew no−thing of her thoght;

But whether she knew, or knew hit noght,

Algate she ne roghte of hem a stree!

To gete hir love no ner was he

That woned at home, than he in Inde; The formest was alway behinde.

But goode folk, over al other,

She loved as man may do his brother;

Of whiche love she was wonder large,

In skilful places that bere charge.

`Which a visage had she ther−to!

Allas! myn herte is wonder wo

That I ne can discryven hit!

Me lakketh bothe English and wit

For to undo hit at the fulle;

And eek my spirits be so dulle

So greet a thing for to devyse.

I have no wit that can suffyse

To comprehenden hir beaute;

But thus moche dar I seyn, that she

Was rody, fresh, and lyvely hewed;

And every day hir beaute newed.

And negh hir face was alder−best;

For certes, Nature had swich lest

To make that fair, that trewly she

Was hir cheef patron of beautee,

And cheef ensample of al hir werke,

And moustre; for, be hit never so derke,

Me thinketh I see hir ever−mo.

And yet more−over, thogh alle tho

That ever lived were not a−lyve,

They ne sholde have founde to discryve

In al hir face a wikked signe;

For hit was sad, simple, and benigne.

`And which a goodly, softe speche

Had that swete, my lyves leche!

So frendly, and so wel y−grounded,

Up al resoun so wel y−founded,

And so tretable to alle gode,

That I dar swere by the rode,

Of eloquence was never founde

So swete a sowninge facounde,

Ne trewer tonged, ne scorned lasse,

Ne bet coude hele; that, by the masse,

I durste swere, thogh the pope hit songe,

That ther was never yet through hir tonge

Man ne woman gretly harmed;

As for hir, ther was al harm hid;

Ne lasse flatering in hir worde,

That purely, hir simple recorde

Was founde as trewe as any bonde,

Or trouthe of any mannes honde.

Ne chyde she coude never a del,

That knoweth al the world ful wel.

`But swich a fairnesse of a nekke

Had that swete that boon nor brekke Nas ther non sene, that mis−sat.

Hit was whyt, smothe, streght, and flat,

Withouten hole; and canel−boon,

As by seming, had she noon.

Hir throte, as I have now memoire,

Semed a round tour of yvoire,

Of good gretnesse, and noght to grete.

`And gode faire Whyte she hete,

That was my lady name right.

She was bothe fair and bright,

She hadde not hir name wrong.

Right faire shuldres, and body long

She hadde, and armes; every lith

Fattish, flesshy, not greet therwith;

Right whyte handes, and nayles rede,

Rounde brestes; and of good brede

Hyr hippes were, a streight flat bake.

I knew on hir non other lak

That al hir limmes nere sewing,

In as fer as I had knowing.

`Therto she coude so wel pleye,

Whan that hir liste, that I dar seye,

That she was lyk to torche bright,

That every man may take of light

Ynogh, and hit hath never the lesse.

`Of maner and of comlinesse

Right so ferde my lady dere;

For every wight of hir manere

Might cacche ynogh, if that he wolde,

If he had eyen hir to beholde.

For I dar sweren, if that she

Had among ten thousand be,

She wolde have be, at the leste,

A cheef mirour of al the feste,

Thogh they had stonden in a rowe,

To mennes eyen coude have knowe.

For wher−so men had pleyd or waked,

Me thoghte the felawship as naked

Withouten hir, that saw I ones,

As a coroune withoute stones.

Trewly she was, to myn ye,

The soleyn fenix of Arabye,

For ther liveth never but oon;

Ne swich as she ne know I noon.

`To speke of goodnesse; trewly she

Had as moche debonairte

As ever had Hester in the bible

And more, if more were possible.

And, soth to seyne, therwith−al

She had a wit so general,

So hool enclyned to alle gode, That al hir wit was set, by the rode,

Withoute malice, upon gladnesse;

Therto I saw never yet a lesse

Harmul, than she was in doing.

I sey nat that she ne had knowing

What harm was; or elles she

Had coud no good, so thinketh me.

`And trewly, for to speke of trouthe,

But she had had, hit had be routhe.

Therof she had so moche hir del −−

And I dar seyn and swere hit wel −−

That Trouthe him−self, over al and al,

Had chose his maner principal

In hir, that was his resting−place.

Ther−to she hadde the moste grace,

To have stedfast perseveraunce,

And esy, atempre governaunce,

That ever I knew or wiste yit;

So pure suffraunt was hir wit.

And reson gladly she understood,

Hit folowed wel she coude good.

She used gladly to do wel;

These were hir maners every−del.

`Therwith she loved so wel right,

She wrong do wolde to no wight;

No wight might do hir no shame,

She loved so wel hir owne name.

Hir luste to holde no wight in honde;

Ne, be thou siker, she nolde fonde

To holde no wight in balaunce,

By half word ne by countenaunce,

But−if men wolde upon hir lye;

Ne sende men in−to Walakye,

To Pruyse, and in−to Tartarye,

To Alisaundre, ne in−to Turkye,

And bidde him faste, anoon that he

Go hoodles to the drye see,

And come hoom by the Carrenare;

And seye, "Sir, be now right ware

That I may of yow here seyn

Worship, or that ye come ageyn!'

She ne used no suche knakkes smale.

`But wherfor that I telle my tale?

Right on this same, as I have seyd,

Was hoolly al my love leyd;

For certes, she was, that swete wyf,

My suffisaunce, my lust, my lyf,

Myn hap, myn hele, and al my blisse,

My worldes welfare, and my lisse,

And I hires hoolly, everydel.'

`By our lord,' quod I, `I trowe yow wel! Hardely, your love was wel beset,

I not how ye mighte have do bet.'

`Bet? ne no wight so wel!' quod he.

`I trowe hit, sir,' quod I, `parde!'

`Nay, leve hit wel!' `Sir, so do I;

I leve yow wel, that trewely

Yow thoghte, that she was the beste,

And to beholde the alderfaireste,

Who so had loked hir with your eyen.'

`With myn? Nay, alle that hir seyen

Seyde and sworen hit was so.

And thogh they ne hadde, I wolde tho

Have loved best my lady fre,

Thogh I had had al the beautee

That ever had Alcipyades,

And al the strengthe of Ercules,

And therto had the worthinesse

Of Alisaundre, and al the richesse

That ever was in Babiloyne,

In Cartage, or in Macedoyne,

Or in Rome, or in Ninive;

And therto al−so hardy be

As was Ector, so have I Ioye,

That Achilles slow at Troye −−

And therfor was he slayn also

In a temple, for bothe two

Were slayn, he and Antilegius,

And so seyth Dares Frigius,

For love of hir Polixena −−

Or ben as wys as Minerva,

I wolde ever, withoute drede,

Have loved hir, for I moste nede!

"Nede!" nay, I gabbe now,

Noght "nede", and I wol telle how,

For of good wille myn herte hit wolde,

And eek to love hir I was holde

As for the fairest and the beste.

`She was as good, so have I reste,

As ever was Penelope of Grece,

Or as the noble wyf Lucrece,

That was the beste −− he telleth thus,

The Romayn Tytus Livius −−

She was as good, and no−thing lyke,

Thogh hir stories be autentyke;

Algate she was as trewe as she.

`But wherfor that I telle thee

Whan I first my lady say?

I was right yong, the sooth to sey,

And ful gret need I hadde to lerne;

Whan my herte wolde yerne

To love, it was a greet empryse. But as my wit coude best suffyse,

After my yonge childly wit,

Withoute drede, I besette hit

To love hir in my beste wise,

To do hir worship and servyse

That I tho coude, be my trouthe,

Withoute feyning outher slouthe;

For wonder fayn I wolde hir see.

So mochel hit amended me,

That, whan I saw hir first a−morwe,

I was warished of al my sorwe

Of al day after, til hit were eve;

Me thoghte no−thing mighte me greve,

Were my sorwes never so smerte.

And yit she sit so in myn herte,

That, by my trouthe, I nolde noghte,

For al this worlde, out of my thoght

Leve my lady; no, trewly!'

`Now, by my trouthe, sir,' quod I,

`Me thinketh ye have such a chaunce

As shrift withoute repentaunce.'

`Repentaunce! nay, fy,' quod he;

`Shulde I now repente me

To love? nay, certes, than were I wel

Wers than was Achitofel,

Or Anthenor, so have I Ioye,

The traytour that betraysed Troye,

Or the false Genelon,

He that purchased the treson

Of Rowland and of Olivere.

Nay, why! I am a−lyve here

I nil foryete hir never−mo.'

`Now, goode sir,' quod I right tho,

`Ye han wel told me her−before.

It is no need reherse hit more

How ye sawe hir first, and where;

But wolde ye telle me the manere,

To hir which was your firste speche −−

Therof I wolde yow be−seche −−

And how she knewe first your thoght,

Whether ye loved hir or noght,

And telleth me eek what ye have lore;

I herde yow telle her−before.'

`Ye,' seyde he,`thow nost what thou menest;

I have lost more than thou wenest.'

`What los is that, sir?' quod I tho;

`Nil she not love yow? Is hit so?

Or have ye oght y−doon amis,

That she hath left yow? is hit this?

For goddes love, telle me al.'

`Before god,' quod he, `and I shal. I saye right as I have seyd,

On hir was al my love leyd;

And yet she niste hit never a del

Noght longe tyme, leve hit wel.

For be right siker, I durste noght

For al this worlde telle hir my thoght,

Ne I wolde have wratthed hir, trewely.

For wostow why? she was lady

Of the body; she had the herte,

And who hath that, may not asterte.

`But, for to kepe me fro ydelnesse,

Trewly I did my besinesse

To make songes, as I best coude,

And ofte tyme I song hem loude;

And made songes a gret del,

Al−thogh I coude not make so wel

Songes, ne knowe the art al,

As coude Lamekes sone Tubal,

That fond out first the art of songe;

For, as his brothers hamers ronge

Upon his anvelt up and doun,

Therof he took the firste soun;

But Grekes seyn, Pictagoras,

That he the firste finder was

Of the art; Aurora telleth so,

But therof no fors, of hem two.

Algates songes thus I made

Of my feling, myn herte to glade;

And lo! this was the alther−firste,

I not wher that hit were the werst. −−

"Lord, hit maketh myn herte light,

Whan I thenke on that swete wight

That is so semely on to see;

And wisshe to god hit might so be,

That she wolde holde me for hir knight,

My lady, that is so fair and bright!" −−

`Now have I told thee, sooth to saye,

My firste song. Upon a daye

I bethoghte me what wo

And sorwe that I suffred tho

For hir, and yet she wiste hit noght,

Ne telle hir durste I nat my thoght.

`Allas!' thoghte I, `I can no reed;

And, but I telle hir, I nam but deed;

And if I telle hir, to seye sooth,

I am a−dred she wol be wrooth;

Allas! what shal I thanne do?"

`In this debat I was so wo,

Me thoghte myn herte braste a−tweyn!

So atte laste, soth to sayn,

I me bethoghte that nature Ne formed never in creature

So moche beaute, trewely,

And bounte, withouten mercy.

`In hope of that, my tale I tolde,

With sorwe, as that I never sholde;

For nedes, and, maugree my heed,

I moste have told hir or be deed.

I not wel how that I began,

Ful evel rehersen hit I can;

And eek, as helpe me god with−al,

I trowe hit was in the dismal,

That was the ten woundes of Egipte;

For many a word I over−skipte

In my tale, for pure fere

Lest my wordes mis−set were.

With sorweful herte, and woundes dede,

Softe and quaking for pure drede

And shame, and stinting in my tale

For ferde, and myn hewe al pale,

Ful ofte I wex bothe pale and reed;

Bowing to hir, I heng the heed;

I durste nat ones loke hir on,

For wit, manere, and al was gon.

I seyde "mercy!" and no more;

Hit nas no game, hit sat me sore.

`So atte laste, sooth to seyn,

Whan that myn herte was come ageyn,

To telle shortly al my speche,

With hool herte I gan hir beseche

That she wolde be my lady swete;

And swor, and gan hir hertely hete

Ever to be stedfast and trewe,

And love hir alwey freshly newe,

And never other lady have,

And al hir worship for to save

As I best coude; I swor hir this −−

"For youres is al that ever ther is

For evermore, myn herte swete!

And never false yow, but I mete,

I nil, as wis god helpe me so!"

`And whan I had my tale y−do,

God wot, she acounted nat a stree

Of al my tale, so thoghte me.

To telle shortly as hit is,

Trewly hir answere, hit was this;

I can not now wel counterfete

Hir wordes, but this was the grete

Of hir answere: she sayde, "nay"

Al−outerly. Allas! that day

The sorwe I suffred, and the wo!

That trewly Cassandra, that so Bewayled the destruccioun.

Of Troye and of Ilioun,

Had never swich sorwe as I tho.

I durste no more say therto

For pure fere, but stal away;

And thus I lived ful many a day;

That trewely, I hadde no need

Ferther than my beddes heed

Never a day to seche sorwe;

I fond hit redy every morwe,

For−why I loved hir in no gere.

`So hit befel, another yere,

I thoughte ones I wolde fonde

To do hir knowe and understonde

My wo; and she wel understood

That I ne wilned thing but good,

And worship, and to kepe hir name

Over al thing, and drede hir shame,

And was so besy hir to serve; −−

And pite were I shulde sterve,

Sith that I wilned noon harm, y−wis.

So whan my lady knew al this,

My lady yaf me al hoolly

The noble yift of hir mercy,

Saving hir worship, by al weyes;

Dredles, I mene noon other weyes.

And therwith she yaf me a ring;

I trowe hit was the firste thing;

But if myn herte was y−waxe

Glad, that is no need to axe!

As helpe me god, I was as blyve,

Reysed, as fro dethe to lyve,

Of alle happes the alder−beste,

The gladdest and the moste at reste.

For trewely, that swete wight,

Whan I had wrong and she the right,

She wolde alwey so goodely

For−yeve me so debonairly.

In alle my youthe, in alle chaunce,

She took me in hir governaunce.

`Therwith she was alway so trewe,

Our Ioye was ever y−liche newe;

Our hertes wern so even a payre,

That never nas that oon contrayre

To that other, for no wo.

For sothe, y−liche they suffred tho

Oo blisse and eek oo sorwe bothe;

Y−liche they were bothe gladde and wrothe;

Al was us oon, withoute were.

And thus we lived ful many a yere

So wel, I can nat telle how.' `Sir,' quod I, `where is she now?'

`Now!' quod he, and stinte anoon.

Therwith he wex as deed as stoon,

And seyde, `allas! that I was bore,

That was the los, that her−before

I tolde thee, that I had lorn.

Bethenk how I seyde her−beforn,

"Thou wost ful litel what thou menest;

I have lost more than thou wenest" −−

God wot, allas! right that was she!'

`Allas! sir, how? what may that be?'

`She is deed!' `Nay!' `Yis, by my trouthe!'

`Is that your los? By god, hit is routhe!'

And with that worde, right anoon,

They gan to strake forth; al was doon,

For that tyme, the hert−hunting.

With that, me thoghte, that this king

Gan quikly hoomward for to ryde

Unto a place ther besyde,

Which was from us but a lyte,

A long castel with walles whyte,

Be seynt Iohan! on a riche hil,

As me mette; but thus it fil.

Right thus me mette, as I yow telle,

That in the castel was a belle,

As hit had smiten houres twelve. −−

Therwith I awook my−selve,

And fond me lying in my bed;

And the book that I had red,

Of Alcyone and Seys the king,

And of the goddes of sleping,

I fond it in myn honde ful even.

Thoghte I, `this is so queynt a sweven,

That I wol, be processe of tyme,

Fonde to putte this sweven in ryme

As I can best'; and that anoon. −−

This was my sweven; now hit is doon.

Explicit the Boke of the Duchesse.

A Detailed Summary of Geoffrey Chaucer's The Book of the Duchess

The Book of the Duchess, written by Geoffrey Chaucer around 1368, is a pivotal work in English literature, serving as an elegy for Blanche of Lancaster, the deceased wife of Chaucer’s patron, John of Gaunt. The poem is a dream vision that explores themes of loss, grief, and consolation, structured in two main parts: the narrator's waking experience and a lengthy dream.

The Proem: Insomnia, Grief, and the Tale of Ceyx and Alcyone

The poem opens with the narrator, who is suffering from profound, debilitating insomnia. He has not slept well for eight years and is overwhelmed by a melancholic numbness. To pass the time and distract himself from his suffering, he asks a servant for a book.

He receives a book containing ancient fables and legends, including the story of Ceyx and Alcyone. The tale recounts the tragic loss of King Ceyx, who drowns in a sudden shipwreck while traveling overseas. His wife, Queen Alcyone, is consumed by worry and grief. She prays desperately to the goddess Juno to reveal her husband's fate.

Juno takes pity on Alcyone and dispatches her messenger to Morpheus, the god of sleep. The messenger finds Morpheus deep within a dark, lifeless cave where he and his counterparts perpetually sleep. Juno commands Morpheus to retrieve Ceyx’s drowned body and present it to Alcyone. Morpheus complies, appearing before the queen as her dead husband. Ceyx’s spectral form confirms his death and asks Alcyone to arrange for his burial. Overwhelmed by the vision and the truth, Alcyone dies of sorrow within three days.

The narrator, reflecting on the tale, relates Alcyone's overwhelming grief and sleeplessness to his own condition. He half-jokingly vows to reward Morpheus with a luxurious feather bed if the god can grant him the gift of sleep. Immediately upon making this wish, the narrator falls asleep and begins to dream.

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The Dream: The Hunt and the Black Knight

The narrator's dream begins on a glorious May morning. He is awakened by the beautiful singing of birds. He notes the elaborate decoration of his chamber walls and windows, depicting scenes from the Trojan War and the Romaunce of the Rose.

He hears the sounds of a royal hunt led by "themperour Octovien." He joins the hunters, but the main quarry—a deer—escapes, leaving the hunters at a loss. As the narrator wanders away from the main hunting party, a small, friendly puppy (a whelp) approaches him. The whelp leads him deeper into a lush, idyllic forest.

The narrator discovers a young man, dressed entirely in black, sitting alone against an oak tree. The man is clearly overcome with sorrow and is reciting a mournful complaint about his profound sadness and the loss of his beloved lady.

The narrator approaches the knight and attempts to console him. The knight, absorbed in his grief, initially ignores the narrator but eventually acknowledges his presence. The narrator offers to listen to the knight's sorrows, believing that sharing his grief might ease his heart.

The Knight's Tale of Loss and Love

The knight explains his despair, initially framing his experience as a game of chess against Fortune. He describes Fortune as a false, deceptive creature who played a cunning game and captured his most valuable piece, his "fers" (queen). The narrator dismisses this as a trivial loss, citing classical figures who endured greater misfortunes.

The knight corrects the narrator, revealing that his loss is far deeper than a mere game. He then shifts to a detailed recounting of his love story. He describes his beloved lady as a paragon of virtue, wisdom, beauty, and steadfastness. He praises her eyes, her speech, her grace, and her unmatched character, calling her "the soleyn fenix of Arabye" (the unique phoenix of Arabia), emphasizing her singularity and perfection.

He recalls his early devotion to her, his long service, and the agonizing process of declaring his love. Initially, she rejected him, causing him great distress. After a year, however, she accepted him, granting him a ring and allowing him to serve her. Their love was mutual, and their hearts were perfectly matched, providing him with immense joy and spiritual well-being.

The Revelation and Awakening

The narrator, deeply moved by the story, asks the knight where this extraordinary lady is now. The knight's demeanor shifts abruptly; he turns as pale as stone and replies, "She is deed!" This revelation clarifies the knight's intense grief and the meaning of his "lost fers."

As the knight reveals the death of his lady, the dream narrative collapses. The hunt concludes, and the knight rides away toward a "long castel with walles whyte." The narrator immediately awakens, finding himself in his own bed, still holding the book about Ceyx and Alcyone.

Reflecting on the dream, the narrator finds it so strange and meaningful that he decides to put the entire vision into rhyme, concluding the poem.

 

1. What kind of poem is The Book of the Duchess?
A) Heroic epic
B) Satirical prose
C) Dream vision elegy ✅
D) Religious allegory
➡️ The poem presents the narrator's dream as a response to personal and poetic grief.

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2. Whose death inspired The Book of the Duchess?
A) Chaucer’s wife
B) Queen Philippa
C) Blanche, Duchess of Lancaster ✅
D) Edward III
➡️ The poem commemorates Blanche, wife of John of Gaunt.

---

3. Who likely commissioned The Book of the Duchess?
A) Geoffrey Chaucer
B) King Richard II
C) John Gower
D) John of Gaunt ✅
➡️ Blanche’s husband, Duke of Lancaster, likely requested it.

---

4. What condition afflicts the narrator at the start of the poem?
A) Blindness
B) Lovesickness
C) Sleeplessness (insomnia) ✅
D) Madness
➡️ He is troubled by long-lasting insomnia.

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5. What does the narrator read before falling asleep?
A) The Bible
B) A book of war strategies
C) A romance about King Ceyx and Queen Alcyone ✅
D) A court document
➡️ The tale of Alcyone's grief prepares him emotionally for the dream.

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6. In the dream, the narrator finds himself in a:
A) Dungeon
B) Garden or forest ✅
C) Courtroom
D) Cathedral
➡️ A peaceful landscape symbolizes the dream world.

---

7. Which animal appears in the dreamscape and leads to the knight?
A) A raven
B) A hart (deer) ✅
C) A dog
D) A unicorn
➡️ A hunting party chasing a hart leads him deeper into the forest.

---

8. Who does the narrator meet and converse with in the dream?
A) A philosopher
B) A black knight ✅
C) A bishop
D) A child
➡️ The knight symbolizes John of Gaunt and expresses his grief.

---

9. The black knight is grieving for:
A) His homeland
B) A lost sword
C) His lady, “White” ✅
D) His crown
➡️ “White” is a poetic name for Blanche.

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10. What literary technique is central to The Book of the Duchess?
A) Frame narrative
B) Dramatic monologue
C) Allegorical dream vision ✅
D) Free verse narration
➡️ The poem follows a dream-within-a-narrative pattern.

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11. The tale of Ceyx and Alcyone is an example of:
A) Classical allusion ✅
B) Modern commentary
C) Political satire
D) Theological debate
➡️ Chaucer draws from Ovid’s Metamorphoses.

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12. What does the knight say happened to his lady?
A) She married another
B) She died ✅
C) She betrayed him
D) She disappeared
➡️ He reveals his grief in indirect, poetic language.

---

13. The tone of the knight’s monologue is mostly:
A) Joyful
B) Hopeful
C) Mournful ✅
D) Angry
➡️ He expresses deep sorrow and confusion.

---

14. What color symbolizes the knight’s sorrow?
A) Red
B) Green
C) Black ✅
D) White
➡️ His black garments mark his mourning.

---

15. What happens at the end of the poem?
A) The knight vanishes
B) The narrator wakes up ✅
C) A battle starts
D) The lady reappears
➡️ The dream ends suddenly and the narrator reflects.

---

16. Chaucer's narrator expresses what reaction to the knight’s story?
A) Amusement
B) Confusion
C) Sympathy ✅
D) Disbelief
➡️ He is moved by the knight’s expression of grief.

---

17. The knight compares Blanche to:
A) The moon
B) Venus
C) A perfect rose and pearl ✅
D) A lion
➡️ Courtly metaphors are used for her beauty and virtue.

---

18. The forest in the dream serves as a:
A) Symbol of chaos
B) Political map
C) Pastoral and allegorical setting ✅
D) Mythical prison
➡️ It represents the dream world and emotional depth.

---

19. What is a major theme of the poem?
A) National identity
B) Court politics
C) Love and irrecoverable loss ✅
D) Christian redemption
➡️ The poem meditates on mourning and memory.

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20. What genre influenced Chaucer in this work?
A) Satirical comedy
B) Courtly romance and French allegory ✅
C) Religious drama
D) Travel literature
➡️ Especially the French Roman de la Rose tradition.

---

21. The poem begins with:
A) A dream
B) A philosophical debate
C) The narrator's real-world lament about sleeplessness ✅
D) A wedding
➡️ Before entering the dream, he laments his condition.

---

22. The poem ends with what poetic structure?
A) A moral epilogue
B) An abrupt awakening ✅
C) A resolution of grief
D) A battle
➡️ The dream ends without a full closure.

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23. The lady “White” represents:
A) Queen Anne
B) Blanche of Lancaster ✅
C) Queen Isabella
D) Lady Margaret
➡️ “White” is the symbolic stand-in for Blanche.

---

24. Which line best expresses poetic consolation?
A) “I cry for vengeance”
B) “God gives and God takes” ✅
C) “None shall live but me”
D) “Woe to the world”
➡️ The knight finds some solace in divine order.

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25. Chaucer’s use of Middle English in the poem is:
A) Random
B) Formal and courtly ✅
C) Informal and slang-filled
D) Mocking and cruel
➡️ The style suits a courtly audience with elegant tone.

26. The knight’s beloved is described as “White” to symbolize:
A) Royalty
B) Wisdom
C) Purity and innocence ✅
D) Magic
➡️ “White” reflects Blanche’s spiritual and moral purity.

---

27. The name “Blanche” itself is derived from:
A) Latin
B) French ✅
C) Old English
D) Celtic
➡️ It means “white” in French, reinforcing the symbolic name.

---

28. The hunt in the dream represents:
A) Political conflict
B) The knight’s struggle with loss ✅
C) The queen’s power
D) Pagan rituals
➡️ Symbolizes inner emotional pursuit and confusion.

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29. Which literary tradition does The Book of the Duchess strongly reflect?
A) Renaissance tragedy
B) Italian sonnet tradition
C) Medieval French allegory ✅
D) Classical epic
➡️ Chaucer was influenced by Roman de la Rose and other allegories.

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30. Which classical figure is invoked in the tale of Alcyone?
A) Zeus
B) Morpheus ✅
C) Hera
D) Bacchus
➡️ Morpheus is the god of dreams who brings the dead king’s message.

---

31. The tale of Ceyx and Alcyone parallels:
A) Spenser’s Epithalamion
B) The knight’s mourning of his lost love ✅
C) The Queen’s coronation
D) Chaucer’s dream of becoming a poet
➡️ Both are tales of grieving for a lost spouse.

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32. In the knight’s metaphor, he compares himself to a:
A) Shipwrecked sailor
B) Loser in a chess game ✅
C) Blind man
D) Crippled knight
➡️ He says he lost his “queen” in a game of chess—symbolizing Blanche.

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33. Chaucer’s narrator serves as:
A) A prophet
B) A rival lover
C) A listener and recorder of grief ✅
D) A messenger from the king
➡️ He listens sympathetically to the knight’s story.

---

34. The use of a dream vision allowed Chaucer to:
A) Satirize politics
B) Avoid censorship
C) Express emotional truths allegorically ✅
D) Insert historical events
➡️ It gives freedom to explore grief symbolically.

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35. Which best describes the knight’s view of love?
A) Everlasting but tragic ✅
B) Fleeting and cruel
C) Political and strategic
D) Childish and vain
➡️ He praises her deeply but laments his loss endlessly.

---

36. The “Black Knight” is named for:
A) His criminal acts
B) His lost armor
C) His clothing and mourning status ✅
D) His enemies’ taunts
➡️ His black dress mirrors his grief.

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37. The dream landscape can be described as:
A) Hellish and dark
B) Urban and political
C) Idyllic and forested ✅
D) Castle-like
➡️ It is filled with birds, trees, and natural beauty.

---

38. The knight’s grief is intensified by:
A) Guilt over infidelity
B) The lack of sympathy from others
C) The perfection of his lost love ✅
D) His exile
➡️ He idealizes Blanche, deepening his sorrow.

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39. Chaucer’s Book of the Duchess is considered:
A) A war narrative
B) A comic parody
C) His first major poem ✅
D) A translation of Virgil
➡️ It marks his emergence as a serious poet.

---

40. The dream vision structure was popular because:
A) It was legally required
B) It avoided religion
C) It allowed moral and symbolic exploration ✅
D) It was easier to write
➡️ Dreams could carry allegory, moral teaching, and emotional symbolism.

---

41. What interrupts the knight's long speech?
A) A messenger
B) A song
C) The narrator waking up ✅
D) Blanche’s ghost
➡️ The dream ends suddenly as the narrator awakens.

---

42. The dreamer’s inability to sleep at the start may symbolize:
A) Physical illness
B) Creative anxiety
C) Shared human sorrow and restlessness ✅
D) Joyful tension
➡️ Sleeplessness reflects emotional disquiet.

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43. Chaucer describes birds and nature at length to:
A) Show off his vocabulary
B) Delay the narrative
C) Create contrast with the knight’s grief ✅
D) Praise English weather
➡️ The joyful surroundings highlight the sorrow within.

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44. “I have of sorrow so great store” is an example of:
A) Hyperbole ✅
B) Understatement
C) Pun
D) Irony
➡️ The knight uses strong expressions to convey his overwhelming sadness.

---

45. What does the chess metaphor suggest?
A) The knight was betrayed
B) Blanche was a rival
C) Love is a game of chance and fate ✅
D) Blanche made a mistake
➡️ He “lost his queen” in a symbolic game of life and love.

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46. Chaucer’s language in this poem is:
A) Plain prose
B) Strict legal English
C) Middle English with courtly elegance ✅
D) Latin-based only
➡️ It reflects aristocratic and poetic decorum of the time.

---

47. “Of all my joye and all my blisse” is an expression of:
A) Fulfillment
B) Bitterness
C) Total loss ✅
D) Rebellion
➡️ He declares Blanche as the source of all happiness, now gone.

---

48. The primary emotional movement of the poem is from:
A) Hope to victory
B) Anger to action
C) Grief to recognition ✅
D) Joy to revenge
➡️ The knight comes to terms with his sorrow.

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49. The poem is written in:
A) Blank verse
B) Iambic pentameter
C) Rhymed octosyllabic couplets ✅
D) Prose
➡️ A common meter in Chaucer’s early poetic works.

---

50. Chaucer blends personal insight with:
A) Courtly culture and classical tradition ✅
B) Military history
C) Religious doctrine
D) Political analysis
➡️ He draws from classical stories and aristocratic themes to craft meaning.

51. What poetic device is used when the knight says “I lost my queen”?
A) Personification
B) Irony
C) Metaphor ✅
D) Simile
➡️ He equates losing his wife to losing a queen in chess—symbolic metaphor.

---

52. What does the knight praise most about Blanche?
A) Her wealth
B) Her politics
C) Her gentleness and virtue ✅
D) Her knowledge of war
➡️ He admires her purity, kindness, and courtly qualities.

---

53. The dream setting can be interpreted as:
A) A battlefield
B) The unconscious mind processing grief ✅
C) A real English forest
D) A religious cathedral
➡️ The allegorical forest represents emotional exploration.

---

54. The phrase “love-longing” in the poem refers to:
A) Spiritual desire
B) Sensual appetite
C) Courtly and emotional yearning ✅
D) Political ambition
➡️ Common in courtly love tradition—deep emotional longing.

---

55. The contrast between the cheerful forest and the sorrowful knight serves to:
A) Mock the knight
B) Confuse the reader
C) Emphasize emotional isolation ✅
D) Praise the King
➡️ The lively world around him contrasts his deep internal grief.

---

56. Chaucer includes references to books and reading to show:
A) His political opinions
B) His social class
C) The narrator’s scholarly and introspective nature ✅
D) The narrator’s anger at fate
➡️ The poem opens with the narrator reading a tale of loss.

---

57. What aspect of Blanche is idealized most by the knight?
A) Her voice and laughter
B) Her modesty and virtue ✅
C) Her cooking
D) Her bravery in battle
➡️ He portrays her as the model of feminine courtliness.

---

58. How does the knight learn about Blanche’s death in the poem?
A) A messenger tells him
B) A dream
C) He reveals it slowly in conversation ✅
D) She returns as a ghost
➡️ His speech unfolds his loss indirectly and poetically.

---

59. The “Black Knight” image is rooted in which literary tradition?
A) Renaissance sonnet
B) Medieval chivalric romance ✅
C) Greek tragedy
D) Norse saga
➡️ He is a classic romantic figure of sorrow and loyalty.

---

60. The chess game metaphor suggests that:
A) Love is a calculated battle ✅
B) Blanche was his opponent
C) The narrator is a bad player
D) Blanche cheated
➡️ It reflects how love can be a game of skill and fate.

---

61. Chaucer uses which narrative style in the poem?
A) Third-person omniscient
B) First-person dream vision ✅
C) Direct speech only
D) Objective reporting
➡️ The narrator speaks from personal experience.

---

62. The knight's long lament emphasizes the theme of:
A) Poverty
B) Loyalty in love ✅
C) Royal injustice
D) Family conflict
➡️ His grief is grounded in undying love and devotion.

---

63. The knight’s sorrow becomes a lesson in:
A) Vengeance
B) Social duty
C) Noble suffering and constancy ✅
D) Political loss
➡️ Courtly love values loyal suffering in the face of loss.

---

64. In the poem, the narrator’s role is mainly to:
A) Solve a mystery
B) Record a confession
C) Observe and empathize ✅
D) Preach
➡️ He listens carefully to the knight’s grief.

---

65. Chaucer wrote The Book of the Duchess likely to:
A) Satirize John of Gaunt
B) Avoid taxes
C) Honor the late Duchess and earn patronage ✅
D) Attack the Church
➡️ It was a respectful, possibly commissioned tribute.

---

66. The knight recalls Blanche’s manner of speaking as:
A) Rough and blunt
B) Loud and humorous
C) Gentle and graceful ✅
D) Foreign and unclear
➡️ Her speech reflects ideal womanhood in courtly love.

---

67. “Alceste” is mentioned in the poem as a symbol of:
A) Deceit
B) Classical mourning
C) Wifely virtue and sacrifice ✅
D) Victory in war
➡️ Drawn from classical legend, Alceste embodies ideal womanhood.

---

68. The story of Alcyone is told early in the poem to:
A) Distract the narrator
B) Make the narrator laugh
C) Foreshadow the dream’s themes of grief ✅
D) Teach about war
➡️ It mirrors the theme of mourning a beloved spouse.

---

69. What effect does the dream have on the narrator by the end?
A) He becomes angry
B) He laughs at the knight
C) He wakes with a deeper understanding of grief ✅
D) He forgets the story
➡️ Though he does not fully interpret it, he feels moved.

---

70. The knight calls Blanche “day” and himself “night” to symbolize:
A) Race
B) Class difference
C) Joy and sorrow ✅
D) Heaven and earth
➡️ Her brightness contrasts his darkness and mourning.

---

71. What kind of rhyme scheme does Chaucer employ?
A) ABBA
B) Rhyme royal
C) Rhymed couplets (AA BB CC...) ✅
D) Blank verse
➡️ Octosyllabic rhyming couplets form the poem’s structure.

---

72. Blanche is repeatedly associated with:
A) Fire
B) Light, whiteness, and purity ✅
C) The sea
D) Thunderstorms
➡️ Her name and imagery link her to light and virtue.

---

73. How does Chaucer blend literary sources in the poem?
A) He copies word for word
B) He mixes French romance and classical mythology ✅
C) He uses only biblical stories
D) He ignores tradition
➡️ The poem draws from both Ovid and French allegory.

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74. The knight’s language is:
A) Bitter and cynical
B) Formal and lyrical ✅
C) Mocking
D) Angry
➡️ His speech is elegant, structured, and poetic.

---

75. The Book of the Duchess contributed to Chaucer’s reputation as:
A) A dramatist
B) England’s first novelist
C) A court poet of emotional depth ✅
D) A preacher
➡️ The poem earned him literary recognition and court favor.

76. The dream vision allows Chaucer to:
A) Hide his identity
B) Escape real-life responsibilities
C) Explore grief through symbolism ✅
D) Tell a war story
➡️ The dream format creates space for allegory and emotion.

---

77. The knight's statement “She was as good as she was fair” emphasizes:
A) Political power
B) Physical strength
C) Inner virtue matching outer beauty ✅
D) Religious devotion
➡️ A common courtly ideal: beauty joined with goodness.

---

78. The narrative begins with a lament about:
A) The weather
B) Lost money
C) Sleeplessness and sorrow ✅
D) War in France
➡️ The narrator is troubled by insomnia and vague grief.

---

79. The poem uses classical references to give:
A) Authentic historical setting
B) Comic relief
C) Elevated tone and literary richness ✅
D) Local English pride
➡️ Mythological allusions enrich the poem’s emotional weight.

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80. Chaucer’s tone toward the knight is:
A) Mocking
B) Judgmental
C) Respectful and sympathetic ✅
D) Competitive
➡️ The narrator listens with compassion.

---

81. The phrase “To whom shall I complaine?” reflects:
A) Legal distress
B) Grammatical confusion
C) The loneliness of grief ✅
D) A court case
➡️ The knight feels emotionally isolated after his loss.

---

82. The birds at the beginning of the dream symbolize:
A) War horns
B) Disruption
C) Natural harmony and joy ✅
D) Tragedy
➡️ Their song contrasts the grief at the heart of the poem.

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83. The narrator’s decision to write his dream serves to:
A) Mock dreams
B) Preserve court records
C) Transform grief into poetic expression ✅
D) Avoid speaking aloud
➡️ Writing becomes a form of processing sorrow.

---

84. The knight’s grief is expressed mostly through:
A) Angry outbursts
B) Political speeches
C) Extended monologue ✅
D) Comic scenes
➡️ He speaks at length about his pain and memory.

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85. The poem’s Middle English style includes words like:
A) “Yclept” and “swich” ✅
B) “Therefore” and “however”
C) Latin grammar
D) Modern slang
➡️ These are typical of Chaucer’s poetic diction.

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86. The mourning knight represents:
A) The narrator’s lost brother
B) A generic figure
C) John of Gaunt in allegorical form ✅
D) A merchant
➡️ He stands in for Blanche’s husband.

---

87. The repetition of symbols like whiteness and light helps to:
A) Weaken the meaning
B) Emphasize themes of purity and loss ✅
C) Confuse the reader
D) Reflect court corruption
➡️ Reinforces the ideal image of the lost lady.

---

88. How does the narrator respond after waking?
A) He forgets everything
B) He is angry
C) He decides to write the dream down ✅
D) He blames himself
➡️ He transforms the dream into poetic memory.

---

89. The dream’s sudden end implies:
A) That dreams cannot be trusted
B) That the narrator was bored
C) That grief and sleep are fragile ✅
D) That the knight was cured
➡️ The emotional journey is incomplete but powerful.

---

90. Chaucer’s use of rhyme and meter adds:
A) Confusion
B) Legal authority
C) Musicality and emotional flow ✅
D) Historical detail
➡️ Rhyme supports the lyrical tone of mourning.

---

91. The poem uses courtly love traditions to:
A) Mock the king
B) Honor spiritual purity
C) Express idealized mourning ✅
D) Create comedy
➡️ Chivalric love informs the knight’s devotion.

---

92. The narrator calls himself a “man of no delight,” showing:
A) Personal grief mirroring the knight’s ✅
B) Hatred of music
C) Joy at the dream
D) Hunger
➡️ Both narrator and knight suffer emotional pain.

---

93. The setting of a forest suggests:
A) Legal turmoil
B) A divine church
C) A symbolic space for emotional exploration ✅
D) The royal estate
➡️ Dream visions often use forests as inner landscapes.

---

94. Chaucer’s vocabulary in the poem is:
A) Entirely Latin
B) Rich in French-influenced Middle English ✅
C) Germanic only
D) Slang-filled
➡️ French courtly influence is seen in both sound and sense.

---

95. One literary influence on the poem is:
A) Milton’s Paradise Lost
B) Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy ✅
C) Homer’s Iliad
D) Beowulf
➡️ Themes of suffering, fate, and consolation link to Boethius.

---

96. The knight’s grief remains unresolved because:
A) He seeks revenge
B) He is forgotten
C) Love’s loss cannot be fully healed ✅
D) He becomes king
➡️ Mourning is endless in courtly love tradition.

---

97. “This lady bright, that I have lost” expresses:
A) Anger
B) Shock
C) Clarity and finality in grief ✅
D) Joy in remembering
➡️ He names the loss clearly and mournfully.

---

98. The narrator serves as a vehicle for:
A) Military instruction
B) Satirical humor
C) Emotional empathy and poetic preservation ✅
D) Legal complaint
➡️ He bears witness to the knight’s sorrow.

---

99. “Whan I see her not now” reveals:
A) Hope
B) Imagination
C) Painful absence ✅
D) Fear
➡️ He mourns her physical and emotional absence.

---

100. The Book of the Duchess is ultimately a:
A) Comic fantasy
B) Political manifesto
C) Poetic elegy blending personal grief with public tribute ✅
D) Religious sermon
➡️ It honors Blanche through dream, metaphor, and verse.

Points to recall again:

Section 1: The Proem and the Narrator’s Condition (Lines 1–50)

1. The narrator begins the poem in a state of: A) Joy and health B) Sleeplessness and melancholy C) Anger and confusion D) Fear and panic
• Answer: B) Sleeplessness and melancholy
• Reason: The narrator states, "I may nat slepe wel nigh noght" and mentions "melancolye" and "dreed."
2. The narrator attributes his sleeplessness primarily to: A) A difficult journey B) "Ydel thoght" (idle thoughts) C) A physical injury D) The absence of a loved one
• Answer: B) "Ydel thoght" (idle thoughts)
• Reason: Lines 4-5 state, "I have so many an ydel thoght Purely for defaute of slepe."
3. How long has the narrator suffered from this "siknesse" (sickness)? A) One year B) Eight years C) Two years D) Since childhood
• Answer: B) Eight years
• Reason: Line 38 notes, "I have suffred this eight yere."
4. The narrator believes that living without sleep is "agaynes kynde" (against nature). (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Line 16 states, "And wel ye wite, agaynes kynde Hit were to liven in this wyse."
5. The narrator claims only one "phisicien" (physician) can heal him, but says "that is doon" (that is finished/gone). (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 41-42: "For ther is phisicien but oon, That may me hele; but that is doon."
6. To pass the time, the narrator asks for: A) A game of chess B) A romance book C) A musical instrument D) A map
• Answer: B) A romance book
• Reason: Line 51: "And bad oon reche me a book, A romaunce."
7. The narrator says reading the book was better entertainment than playing chess or tables. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Line 54: "For me thoghte it better play Then playen either at chesse or tables."

Section 2: The Tale of Ceyx and Alcyone (Lines 51–180)

8. The book contained fables and poems by ancient clerks and poets. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 56-58: "And in this boke were writen fables That clerkes hadde, in olde tyme, And other poets, put in ryme."
9. The tale that the narrator found was about King Seys (Ceyx) and Queen Alcyone. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 68-71: "There was a king That hight Seys... And this quene hight Alcyone."
10. King Seys was killed by: A) A shipwreck during a tempest B) A rival king C) An illness D) A hunting accident
• Answer: A) A shipwreck during a tempest
• Reason: Lines 77-80: "Soche a tempest gan to ryse... clefte her ship, and dreinte hem alle."
11. Alcyone’s heart began to "erme" (ache) because the king had been gone a long time. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Line 104: "Anon her herte gan to erme."
12. What vow did Alcyone make regarding eating? A) She vowed to eat only bread. B) She vowed never to eat bread until she heard of her lord. C) She vowed to eat only fruit. D) She vowed to fast for 40 days.
• Answer: B) She vowed never to eat bread until she heard of her lord.
• Reason: Lines 115-117: "Certes, I nil never ete breed... But I mowe of my lord here!'"
13. To whom did Alcyone pray for help out of her distress? A) Morpheus B) Juno C) Venus D) Jupiter
• Answer: B) Juno
• Reason: Line 128: "Quod she to Iuno, hir goddesse; `Help me out of this distresse."
14. What did Alcyone ask for if she could not see her lord, "or wite wher−so he be" (know where he is)? A) To die B) To have a dream (sweven) in her sleep to know his fate C) To be turned into a bird D) To lose her memory
• Answer: B) To have a dream (sweven) in her sleep to know his fate
• Reason: Lines 138-140: "Send me grace to slepe, and mete In my slepe som certeyn sweven, Wher−through that I may knowen even Whether my lord be quik or deed."
15. Alcyone fell "a−swown as cold as ston" after her prayer. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Line 142: "And fil a−swown as cold as ston."
16. How did Alcyone finally fall into a "dede sleep"? A) She was put to sleep by her women. B) She was exhausted ("forweped and forwaked") and granted sleep by Juno. C) She took a sleeping potion. D) A messenger sang to her.
• Answer: B) She was exhausted ("forweped and forwaked") and granted sleep by Juno.
• Reason: Lines 149-152: "And she, forweped and forwaked, Was wery... Through Iuno, that had herd hir bone."
17. Juno sent her "messagere" (messenger) to whom? A) Alcyone B) The sea C) Morpheus D) Jupiter
• Answer: C) Morpheus
• Reason: Line 163: "Go bet,' quod Iuno, to Morpheus."
18. Ceyx's body was described as "ful pale and no−thing rody" (not red/ruddy). (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Line 167: "That lyth ful pale and no−thing rody."
19. Morpheus was instructed to "creep into the body" of Ceyx and make it speak. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 171-176: "Bid him crepe into the body... And do the body speke so Right as hit was wont to do."

Section 3: The Messenger and Morpheus's Cave (Lines 181-290)

20. The messenger arrived at a "derke valeye" located: A) In a sunny meadow B) Between two rocks C) On a cliff overlooking the sea D) Near a castle
• Answer: B) Between two rocks
• Reason: Lines 183-184: "The derke valeye That stant bytwene roches tweye."
21. The valley contained no corn, grass, trees, beasts, or men. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 185-188: "Ther never yet grew corn ne gras, Ne tree, ne nothing that ought was, Beste, ne man, ne nothing elles."
22. What created a "deedly sleping soun" in the valley? A) A strong wind B) Wells running from the cliffs C) The gods' snoring D) The messenger's footsteps
• Answer: B) Wells running from the cliffs
• Reason: Lines 189-190: "Save ther were a fewe welles Came renning fro the cliffes adoun, That made a deedly sleping soun."
23. The gods of sleep found in the cave were Morpheus and: A) Jupiter B) Eclympasteyre C) Neptune D) Apollo
• Answer: B) Eclympasteyre
• Reason: Lines 193-194: "Morpheus, and Eclympasteyre, That was the god of slepes heyre."
24. The cave was described as "as derk As helle pit." (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Line 196: "This cave was also as derk As helle pit over−al aboute."
25. The messenger had to blow his horn in the gods' ear to wake them. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Line 209: "And blew his horn right in hir ere."
26. Morpheus retrieved Ceyx’s body and brought it to Alcyone's bed at what time? A) Midnight B) Right even a quarter before day C) Noon D) Sunset
• Answer: B) Right even a quarter before day
• Reason: Line 224: "Right even a quarter before day."
27. What did Ceyx’s apparition tell Alcyone about his fate? A) He was lost at sea. B) He was "but deed" (only dead) and she would never see him alive again. C) He was coming home soon. D) He had been rescued by sailors.
• Answer: B) He was "but deed" (only dead) and she would never see him alive again.
• Reason: Lines 228-230: "For certes, swete, I nam but deed; Ye shul me never on lyve y−see."
28. Alcyone died of sorrow within the "thridde morwe" (third morning) after the vision. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Line 240: "And deyed within the thridde morwe."
29. The narrator claims he would have died from lack of sleep if he hadn't read the tale of Ceyx and Alcyone. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 248-249: "I had be dolven everydel, And deed, right through defaute of sleep."
30. The narrator was surprised by the tale because he had never heard of gods who could make people sleep or wake. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 260-261: "Of no goddes that coude make Men for to slepe, ne for to wake."
31. What specific gift did the narrator joke he would give Morpheus for granting him sleep? A) A golden ship B) A sack of jewels C) A feather-bed of pure white doves' down D) A feast
• Answer: C) A feather-bed of pure white doves' down
• Reason: Lines 274-275: "I wil yive him a fether−bed, Of downe of pure dowves whyte."
32. Immediately after his joking offer, the narrator: A) Fell asleep upon his book B) Received a response from Morpheus C) Woke up from his insomnia D) Was visited by Juno
• Answer: A) Fell asleep upon his book
• Reason: Lines 290-292: "Swich a lust anoon me took To slepe, that right upon my book I fil aslepe."

Section 4: The Dream: May Morning and the Hunt (Lines 291-465)

33. The narrator’s dream vision begins in May. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Line 295: "Me thoughte thus: −− that hit was May."
34. What awakened the narrator in his dream? A) A loud trumpet B) A great group of "smale foules" (small birds) C) The sun shining D) The master hunter's horn
• Answer: B) A great group of "smale foules" (small birds)
• Reason: Lines 298-299: "I was waked With smale foules a gret hepe."
35. The windows of the narrator's dream chamber were glazed with scenes depicting: A) The story of Troy B) The battle of Hastings C) The life of King Arthur D) The tale of Alcyone
• Answer: A) The story of Troy
• Reason: Line 328: "For hoolly al the storie of Troye Was in the glasing y−wroght thus."
36. The walls of the chamber were painted with the story of: A) The Aeneid B) The Bible C) The Romaunce of the Rose D) The hunt
• Answer: C) The Romaunce of the Rose
• Reason: Line 335: "Of al the Romaunce of the Rose."
37. The narrator was awoken to the sound of a hunt led by "themperour Octovien." (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 361-364: "I herde an hunte blowe... 'Sir, themperour Octovien,' Quod he."
38. The hunt was for a "hert" (hart/deer). (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Line 356: "How they wolde slee the hert with strengthe."
39. The hounds lost the scent of the deer and "were on a defaute y−falle." (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Line 379: "And were on a defaute y−falle."
40. What animal did the narrator encounter after he walked away from the hunt? A) A wild beast B) A friendly whelp (puppy) C) A squirrel D) A deer
• Answer: B) A friendly whelp (puppy)
• Reason: Line 388: "A whelp, that fauned me as I stood."
41. The whelp led the narrator to a path full of flowers and grass. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 405-408: "Doun by a floury grene wente Ful thikke of gras, ful softe and swete, With floures fele."
42. The deities Flora and Zephirus are mentioned as having made their dwelling there, causing the flowers to grow. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 411-412: "For bothe Flora and Zephirus... Had mad hir dwelling ther."
43. The trees in the wood were described as standing how far apart? A) Ten to twelve feet B) Only an inch apart C) Fifty feet D) Very close together
• Answer: A) Ten to twelve feet
• Reason: Line 433: "Fro other wel ten foot or twelve."
44. The trees were so thick that they created "shadwe over−al under." (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Line 445: "That hit was shadwe over−al under."
45. The narrator suggests that Argus, the "noble countour" (reckoner), could not count the animals in the wood. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 456-463: "That thogh Argus, the noble countour... Yet shulde he fayle to rekene even The wondres, me mette in my sweven."

Section 5: The Encounter with the Black Knight (Lines 466-600)

46. What was the narrator aware of as he walked down the wood? A) A man in black sitting under an oak tree. B) The sounds of a trumpet. C) A squirrel eating. D) The Emperor Octovien.
• Answer: A) A man in black sitting under an oak tree.
• Reason: Lines 468-472: "I was war of a man in blak, That sat and had y−turned his bak To an oke, an huge tree."
47. The Knight was described as being around what age? A) Thirty B) Forty C) Four and twenty yeer D) Fifty
• Answer: C) Four and twenty yeer
• Reason: Line 484: "Of the age of four and twenty yeer."
48. The Knight was clothed entirely in black. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Line 486: "And he was clothed al in blakke."
49. The Knight was hanging his head down and made a complaint ("lay") of "ten vers or twelve" with a "deedly sorwful soune." (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 496-499: "For−why he heng his heed adoune. And with a deedly sorwful soune He made of ryme ten vers or twelve Of a compleynt to him−selve."
50. The main subject of the Knight’s lay was: A) His defeat in battle B) The death of his lady C) His loss of wealth D) The failure of the hunt
• Answer: B) The death of his lady
• Reason: Lines 519-521: "Now that I see my lady bright... Is fro me dedd, and is a−goon."
51. The narrator notes that the Knight’s complaint was the most pitiful he had ever heard, noting it was a wonder that Nature could allow such sorrow without the Knight dying. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 500-507: "The moste pite, the moste rowthe, That ever I herde... Hit was gret wonder that nature Might suffren any creature To have swich sorwe, and be not deed."
52. After his complaint, the Knight’s blood fled to his heart because the heart "had harm," making his complexion pale and "grene." (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 530-536: "The blood was fled... Doun to his herte... His hewe chaunge and wexe grene And pale."
53. Why did the Knight initially not hear the narrator approach and greet him? A) He was asleep. B) He was arguing with his own thoughts and had almost lost his mind. C) The narrator was too quiet. D) The Knight was deaf.
• Answer: B) He was arguing with his own thoughts and had almost lost his mind.
• Reason: Lines 546-550: "He spak noght, But argued with his owne thoght... Made him that he ne herde me noght."
54. The Knight responded to the narrator in a "goodly" and "debonairly" manner, without being "tough ne queynte." (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 568-571: "Debonairly, and no−thing loude, He sayde... He made it nouther tough ne queynte."
55. The narrator offered to do what for the Knight to make him "hool" (whole)? A) Give him money B) Find a physician C) Do "al my power hool" to amend his sorrow D) Help him find the stag
• Answer: C) Do "al my power hool" to amend his sorrow
• Reason: Lines 612-614: "For, by my trouthe, to make yow hool, I wol do al my power hool."

Section 6: The Knight’s Lament and the Chess Allegory (Lines 601-780)

56. The Knight tells the narrator that no man can "glade" (make happy) his sorrow. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Line 620: "No man may my sorwe glade."
57. The Knight states that his sorrow is so profound that remedies of Ovid, Orpheus, or Dedalus cannot heal him. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 628-630: "Nought the remedies of Ovyde; Ne Orpheus... Ne Dedalus."
58. The Knight says he is "Alway deinge and be not deed" (Always dying and not dead). (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Line 648: "Alway deinge and be not deed."
59. The Knight states that he has more sorrow than Sisyphus, who is in hell. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Line 650: "That Sesiphus, that lyth in helle, May not of more sorwe telle."
60. The Knight declares that he is sorrow itself, saying, "I am sorwe and sorwe is I." (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Line 660: "For I am sorwe and sorwe is I."
61. The Knight states that his laughter is turned into: A) Anger B) Weeping C) Silence D) Joy
• Answer: B) Weeping
• Reason: Line 663: "And al my laughter to weping."
62. The Knight blames his misfortune on: A) A battle B) A sickness C) Fals Fortune D) The weather
• Answer: C) Fals Fortune
• Reason: Line 683: "For fals Fortune hath pleyd a game Atte ches with me."
63. The Knight describes Fortune as a "trayteresse fals and ful of gyle." (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Line 685: "The trayteresse fals and ful of gyle."
64. The Knight compares Fortune to a scorpion because it flatters with its head but stings and poisons with its tail. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 706-711: "I lykne hir to the scorpioun... For with his hede he maketh feste, But al amid his flateringe With his tayle he wol stinge, And envenyme."
65. What specific piece did Fortune steal from the Knight during the game of chess? A) A pawn B) A rook C) A king D) His "fers" (queen)
• Answer: D) His "fers" (queen)
• Reason: Line 724: "She stal on me, and took my fers."
66. Fortune said "Chek here!" and "Mate!" after taking the Knight's fers. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 730-731: "Therwith Fortune seyde, 'Chek here!' And 'Mate!'"
67. The Knight states that Fortune was more cunning at chess than Athalus, who invented the game. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 738-740: "Ful craftier to pley she was Than Athalus, that made the game First of the ches."
68. The Knight claims he has more sorrow than Tantalus. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Line 788: "I have more sorowe than Tantale."
69. The narrator suggests the Knight should remember Socrates, who did not care about what Fortune could do. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 794-796: "Remembre yow of Socrates; For he ne counted nat three strees Of noght that Fortune coude do."
70. The narrator cautions the Knight against self-destruction, citing the examples of Medea and Dido, who killed themselves for love. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 805-812 mention Medea, Dido, and Phyllis who killed themselves for sorrow or love.
71. The Knight argues that the narrator knows little about what he has lost, saying, "I have lost more than thou wenest." (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 836-837: "Ye,' seyde he,`thow nost what thou menest; I have lost more than thou wenest.'"

Section 7: The Knight's Description of His Lady (Lines 840-1290)

72. The Knight agrees to tell his story on the condition that the narrator listens with "al thy wit" and attention. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 847-849: "I telle thee up condicioun That thou hoolly, with al thy wit, Do thyn entent to herkene hit."
73. The Knight states that he has been "tributary" and a "thral" to love since his youth. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 861-863: "Be tributary, and yiven rente To love hoolly with goode entente, And through plesaunce become his thral."
74. The Knight compares himself in his youth to a "whyt wal or a table" (tabula rasa), ready to be marked. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Line 877: "Paraunter I was therto most able As a whyt wal or a table."
75. How did the Knight first encounter his lady? A) He saw her in a dream. B) He met her at a tournament. C) He saw her in a company of ladies at a gathering. D) He met her at a hunt.
• Answer: C) He saw her in a company of ladies at a gathering.
• Reason: Lines 910-913: "Hit happed that I cam on a day Into a place, ther I say, Trewly, the fayrest companye Of ladies."
76. The Knight describes his lady as surpassing all others in beauty, like the "someres sonne bright" surpasses other planets. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 940-943: "That as the someres sonne bright Is fairer, clere, and hath more light Than any planete, is in heven."
77. The Knight was captured by love "so sodenly" upon seeing her. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Line 961: "As helpe me god, so was y−caught So sodenly."
78. The lady's hair color was described as most like: A) Brown B) Red C) Gold D) Yellow
• Answer: C) Gold
• Reason: Line 990: "Me thoghte, most lyk gold hit was."
79. The Knight describes his lady's eyes as "Debonair, goode, glade, and sadde" (serious). (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 991-992: "And whiche eyen my lady hadde! Debonair, goode, glade, and sadde."
80. The Knight states that his lady had "more mesure" (moderation) in all things than any other creature. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Line 1018: "In alle thinges more mesure Had never, I trowe, creature."
81. The Knight claims that his lady loved "goode folk, over al other." (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 1033-1034: "But goode folk, over al other, She loved as man may do his brother."
82. The Knight claims his wit is insufficient to describe his lady's beauty. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Line 1045: "Me lakketh bothe English and wit For to undo hit at the fulle."
83. The Knight describes his lady's face as "Rody, fresh, and lyvely hewed." (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Line 1056: "Was rody, fresh, and lyvely hewed."
84. The Knight states that Nature made the lady's face as her "cheef ensample" (chief example) and "moustre" (model). (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 1064-1065: "And cheef ensample of al hir werke, And moustre."
85. The lady’s speech was described as "so frendly, and so wel y−grounded, Up al resoun so wel y−founded." (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 1076-1077: "So frendly, and so wel y−grounded, Up al resoun so wel y−founded."
86. The Knight claims that no one was ever "gretly harmed" through his lady's tongue. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 1087-1088: "That ther was never yet through hir tonge Man ne woman gretly harmed."
87. What was the lady’s name? A) Alcyone B) Whyte C) Hester D) Fortune
• Answer: B) Whyte
• Reason: Line 1109: "And gode faire Whyte she hete, That was my lady name right."
88. The Knight compared his lady to a "torche bright" that provides light to others without having less itself. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 1121-1124: "That she was lyk to torche bright, That every man may take of light Ynogh, and hit hath never the lesse."
89. The Knight described his lady as the "soleyn fenix of Arabye" (sole phoenix of Arabia) because only one of her kind lives. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 1146-1147: "Trewly she was, to myn ye, The soleyn fenix of Arabye, For ther liveth never but oon."
90. The Knight compares his lady's goodness to Hester in the bible. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Line 1152: "Had as moche debonairte As ever had Hester in the bible."
91. The Knight asserts that "Trouthe him−self" had chosen the lady as his resting place. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 1172-1175: "Trouthe him−self... Had chose his maner principal In hir, that was his resting−place."
92. The lady did not use "knakkes smale" (little tricks) like sending men on impossible journeys to far lands. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 1198-1206 describe how she "ne used no suche knakkes smale" like sending men to Walakye or Tartary.
93. The Knight describes his lady as his "suffisaunce, my lust, my lyf" and "al my blisse." (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 1210-1211: "My suffisaunce, my lust, my lyf, Myn hap, myn hele, and al my blisse."
94. The Knight compares his lady's virtue to Penelope of Greece and the noble wife Lucrece. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 1238-1240: "She was as good... As ever was Penelope of Grece, Or as the noble wyf Lucrece."
95. The Knight claims that seeing his lady first thing in the morning "warished" (cured) him of all sorrow for the entire day. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 1257-1258: "I was warished of al my sorwe Of al day after."
96. The Knight stated he would never repent of loving his lady. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 1272-1273: "Repentaunce! nay, fy,' quod he; Shulde I now repente me To love? nay, certes.'"
97. **The Knight mentions figures like Achitofel, Anthenor, and Genelon as examples of: ** A) Wise men B) Traitors C) Great lovers D) Successful kings
• Answer: B) Traitors
• Reason: Lines 1276-1282 describe Anthenor as "The traytour that betraysed Troye" and Genelon who "purchased the treson."
98. The Knight states that his lady "niste hit never a del" (did not know it at all) about his love for a long time. (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Lines 1300-1301: "And yet she niste hit never a del Noght longe tyme."
99. The Knight made songs to keep himself from "ydelnesse" (idleness). (True/False)
• Answer: True
• Reason: Line 1310: "Trewly I did my besinesse To make songes."
100. The Knight claims that his initial confession of love was made with a "sorweful herte," "quaking for pure drede," and "shame." (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 1386-1388: "With sorweful herte... Softe and quaking for pure drede And shame."
101. The lady's initial response to the Knight's declaration of love was "nay." (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 1414: "Of hir answere: she sayde, 'nay' Al−outerly."
102. The Knight compares his sorrow after her rejection to that of Cassandra bewailing the destruction of Troy. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 1416-1420: "That trewely Cassandra... Had never swich sorwe as I tho."
103. What did the lady give the Knight when she finally accepted his love "another yere" (another year) later? A) A portrait B) A ring C) A horse D) A sum of money * Answer: B) A ring * Reason: Line 1449: "And therwith she yaf me a ring."
104. The Knight states that their hearts were "so even a payre" (so well-matched) and never contrary to each other. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 1464-1466: "Our hertes wern so even a payre, That never nas that oon contrayre To that other, for no wo."

Section 8: The Revelation and Awakening (Lines 1291-End)

105. When the narrator asks where the lady is, the Knight turns "as deed as stoon" (as dead as stone). (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 1477: "Therwith he wex as deed as stoon."
106. The Knight reveals that his lady is: A) Alive and well B) Dead C) In another country D) Married to another man * Answer: B) Dead * Reason: Line 1489: "'She is deed!'"
107. What happened immediately after the Knight revealed his lady's death? A) The narrator woke up. B) The hunting finished ("al was doon") and the hunters rode away. C) A storm began. D) The Knight began to cry uncontrollably. * Answer: B) The hunting finished ("al was doon") and the hunters rode away. * Reason: Lines 1493-1495: "They gan to strake forth; al was doon, For that tyme, the hert−hunting."
108. The Knight and hunters rode toward a "long castel with walles whyte." (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 1500: "A long castel with walles whyte."
109. The narrator awoke from his dream when a castle bell struck "houres twelve" (twelve o'clock). (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 1505: "As hit had smiten houres twelve. −− Therwith I awook my−selve."
110. The narrator found the book of Alcyone and Seys still in his hand when he awoke. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 1508-1510: "And the book that I had red... I fond it in myn honde ful even."
111. The narrator resolves to put the dream into rhyme. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 1515-1516: "Fonde to putte this sweven in ryme As I can best."

Section 9: Comprehensive Details from the Poem

112. The narrator compares his state of sleeplessness to that of a "mased thing" (dazed thing) always about to fall down. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 11: "But, as it were, a mased thing, Alway in point to falle a−doun."
113. The narrator feels that "slepe" and "melancolye" have "sleyn" (slain) his "spirit of quiknesse." (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 25-27: "And thus melancolye... Hath sleyn my spirit of quiknesse."
114. The book the narrator reads contains "quenes lyves, and of kinges." (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 63: "This book ne spak but of such thinges, Of quenes lyves, and of kinges."
115. King Seys was the best king that ever lived. (True/False) * Answer: False * Reason: Line 70 says his wife, Alcyone, was "The beste that mighte bere lyf."
116. The narrator expressed pity when reading Alcyone's sorrow, saying, "I ferde the worse al the morwe After, to thenken on her sorwe." (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 117-120: "I ferde the worse al the morwe After, to thenken on her sorwe."
117. Alcyone promised Juno "sacrifyse" and that she would become wholly hers with "good wil, body, herte, and al." (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 134-136: "And I shal make you sacrifyse, And hoolly youres become I shal With good wil, body, herte, and al."
118. The messenger was commanded to tell Morpheus to take Ceyx's body and "do the body speke so Right as hit was wont to do." (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 176-177: "And do the body speke so Right as hit was wont to do."
119. The gods of sleep in the cave were sleeping upright and some lay naked in their bed. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 200-203: "Some henge hir chin upon hir breste And slepe upright... And some laye naked in hir bed."
120. When Ceyx's apparition appeared, he stood "right at hir beddes fete" and called Alcyone by name. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 225-226: "And stood right at hir beddes fete, And called hir, right as she hete, By name."
121. The narrator’s chamber in the dream was decorated with stained glass windows that depicted: A) The story of Troy, including Hector, King Priamus, Achilles, and Jason. B) The story of Rome. C) The life of King Seys and Queen Alcyone. D) The history of Britain. * Answer: A) The story of Troy, including Hector, King Priamus, Achilles, and Jason. * Reason: Lines 328-333: "For hoolly al the storie of Troye Was in the glasing y−wroght thus, Of Ector and of king Priamus, Of Achilles and king Lamedon, Of Medea and of Iason."
122. The narrator was glad to join the hunt after hearing the sound of the horn. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 358: "Anon−right, whan I herde that... I was right glad, and up anoon."
123. The master hunter blew "three moot" (three blasts) at the uncoupling of his hounds. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 369: "With a gret horne blew three moot At the uncoupling of his houndes."
124. The whelp that found the narrator "fauned" (fawned) on him and "creep to me as lowe." (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 388-391: "A whelp, that fauned me as I stood... Hit com and creep to me as lowe, Right as hit hadde me y−knowe."
125. The forest was described as having forgotten the poverty and sorrows brought by winter. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 423-425: "Hit had forgete the povertee That winter... Had mad hit suffren, and his sorwes; Al was forgeten."
126. The trees were described as "so huge of strengthe" and forty or fifty fathoms in length. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 437-438: "So grete trees, so huge of strengthe, Of fourty or fifty fadme lengthe."
127. The Knight's face was described as "Ful pitous, pale, and nothing reed." (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 509: "Ful pitous, pale, and nothing reed."
128. The Knight claims he is "Alway deinge and be not deed" (Always dying and not dead). (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 648: "Alway deinge and be not deed."
129. The Knight states that he is "sorwe and sorwe is I." (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 660: "For I am sorwe and sorwe is I."
130. The Knight states that his "glade thoghtes" (glad thoughts) have turned to "hevinesse" (heaviness/sorrow). (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 665: "My glade thoghtes to hevinesse."
131. The Knight describes Fortune as an "ydole of fals portraiture." (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 697: "An ydole of fals portraiture Is she."
132. Fortune is described as "ever laughinge With oon eye, and that other wepinge." (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 704-705: "She is fals; and ever laughinge With oon eye, and that other wepinge."
133. The Knight claims that Fortune is like "thenvyouse charite" (envious charity) that seems good but is false. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 712-713: "She is thenvyouse charite That is ay fals, and seemeth wele."
134. The Knight states that Fortune "stal on me, and took my fers" (queen) at chess. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 724-725: "She stal on me, and took my fers."
135. The Knight says that when Fortune took his fers, he said, "Farewel, swete, y−wis, And farwel al that ever ther is!" (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 728-729: "But seyde, 'Farewel, swete, y−wis, And farwel al that ever ther is!'"
136. The Knight says that Fortune used a "poune erraunt" (wandering pawn) to deliver the checkmate. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 733: "With a poune erraunt, allas!"
137. The narrator compares the Knight's situation to Medea, who "slow hir children for Iason" (slew her children for Jason). (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 805-807: "By as good right as Medea was, That slow hir children for Iason."
138. The Knight insists that the narrator knows little of his loss, stating, "I have lost more than thow wenest." (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 837: "I have lost more than thow wenest."
139. The Knight claims that he has been "tributary" (subject) to love since his youth and became its "thral" (slave). (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 861-863: "Be tributary... To love hoolly... And through plesaunce become his thral."
140. The Knight compares himself in youth to a "whyt wal or a table" (tabula rasa), ready to be painted or portrayed. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 877-880: "As a whyt wal or a table; For hit is redy to cacche and take Al that men wil therin make."
141. The Knight states that he saw the "fayrest companye Of ladies" in one place when he first saw his lady. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 912-913: "Trewly, the fayrest companye Of ladies that ever man with ye Had seen togedres in oo place."
142. The Knight states that his lady surpassed all others in beauty and stature, like the summer sun surpasses the stars. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 940-943: "That as the someres sonne bright Is fairer... Than any planete, is in heven."
143. The Knight was captured by love "So sodenly" that he took no advice but from his heart and her look. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 961-964: "So sodenly, that I ne took No maner reed but at hir look And at myn herte."
144. The lady's eyes were described as "Debonair, goode, glade, and sadde" (serious). (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 992: "Debonair, goode, glade, and sadde."
145. The Knight states that his lady's looking was not "countrefeted" (counterfeited) but her "owne pure loking" made by Dame Nature. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 1007-1009: "Hit nas no countrefeted thing, It was hir owne pure loking, That the goddesse, dame Nature."
146. The Knight claims that no one had "more mesure" (moderation) in all things than his lady. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 1018: "In alle thinges more mesure Had never, I trowe, creature."
147. The lady was described as having a "rody, fresh, and lyvely hewed" face. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 1056: "Was rody, fresh, and lyvely hewed."
148. The Knight states that Nature made the lady's face as her "cheef ensample" (chief example). (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 1064: "And cheef ensample of al hir werke."
149. The lady's neck was compared to a "round tour of yvoire" (ivory tower). (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 1104: "Semed a round tour of yvoire."
150. The Knight confirms that his lady's name was "Whyte" and she "Hadde not hir name wrong." (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 1109-1111: "And gode faire Whyte she hete, That was my lady name right. She was bothe fair and bright, She hadde not hir name wrong."
151. The Knight compares his lady to a "torche bright" because she provided light to others without having less herself. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 1121-1124: "That she was lyk to torche bright, That every man may take of light Ynogh, and hit hath never the lesse."
152. The Knight states that she was the "soleyn fenix of Arabye" (sole phoenix of Arabia) because "ther liveth never but oon" (only one of her kind). (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 1146-1147: "Trewly she was... The soleyn fenix of Arabye, For ther liveth never but oon."
153. The Knight states that "Trouthe him−self" (Truth itself) had chosen the lady as his "resting−place." (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 1175: "In hir, that was his resting−place."
154. The lady did not use "knakkes smale" (little tricks) or send men on wild journeys to places like Walakye, Pruyse, or Tartary. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 1198-1206 describe her not using "suche knakkes smale" like sending men to these far lands.
155. The Knight describes his lady as his "suffisaunce, my lust, my lyf" and "al my blisse." (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 1210-1211: "My suffisaunce, my lust, my lyf, Myn hap, myn hele, and al my blisse."
156. The Knight compares his lady's virtue to Penelope of Greece and Lucrece. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 1238-1240: "She was as good... As ever was Penelope of Grece, Or as the noble wyf Lucrece."
157. The Knight claims that seeing his lady first thing in the morning "warished" (cured) him of all sorrow for the entire day. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 1257-1258: "I was warished of al my sorwe Of al day after."
158. The Knight's first song expressed his desire that his lady would "holde me for hir knight." (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 1342: "That she wolde holde me for hir knight."
159. The Knight decided to tell his lady his love because he thought "nature Ne formed never in creature So moche beaute... And bounte, withouten mercy." (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 1368-1371: "I me bethoghte that nature Ne formed never in creature So moche beaute, trewely, And bounte, withouten mercy."
160. When the Knight first confessed his love, he was "quaking for pure drede And shame." (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 1388: "Softe and quaking for pure drede And shame."
161. The lady’s initial answer to the Knight's declaration of love was "nay." (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 1414: "Of hir answere: she sayde, 'nay' Al−outerly."
162. When the lady finally accepted the Knight's love "another yere" later, she gave him a ring. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 1449: "And therwith she yaf me a ring."
163. The Knight states that when she accepted him, he was "Reysed, as fro dethe to lyve" (raised as if from death to life). (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 1453: "Reysed, as fro dethe to lyve."
164. The Knight describes their hearts as being "so even a payre" and always in harmony. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 1464-1466: "Our hertes wern so even a payre, That never nas that oon contrayre To that other, for no wo."
165. The Knight revealed that the lady was the "los" (loss) he had previously told the narrator about. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 1479: "That was the los, that her−before I tolde thee, that I had lorn."
166. The Knight's final words in the dialogue confirm that the lady is dead. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 1489: "'She is deed!'"
167. The narrator awoke when a bell in the castle struck "houres twelve." (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 1505: "As hit had smiten houres twelve. −− Therwith I awook my−selve."
168. The narrator found the book of Alcyone and Seys still in his hand when he awoke. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 1508-1510: "And the book that I had red... I fond it in myn honde ful even."
169. The narrator resolves to put the "queynt a sweven" (strange dream) into rhyme. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 1515-1516: "Fonde to putte this sweven in ryme As I can best."
170. The narrator notes that the dream was so wonderful that he believes no one, not even Joseph of Egypt, could interpret it. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 295-300: "So wonderful, that never yit I trowe no man hadde the wit To conne wel my sweven rede; No, not Ioseph."
171. The Knight's sorrow was so great that the narrator states it was a wonder that Nature could suffer any creature to have such sorrow and "be not deed." (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 506-508: "Hit was gret wonder that nature Might suffren any creature To have swich sorwe, and be not deed."
172. The Knight is described as "Alway deinge and be not deed" (Always dying and not dead). (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 648: "Alway deinge and be not deed."
173. The Knight's song is turned to "pleyning" (lamenting) and his laughter to "weping" (weeping). (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 662-663: "My song is turned to pleyning, And al my laughter to weping."
174. The Knight states that his love is turned to hate, his sleep to waking, and his mirth to fasting. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 676-678: "My love is hate, my sleep waking, My mirthe and meles is fasting."
175. The Knight states that Fortune "is the monstres heed y−wryen" (the monster's head disguised). (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 699: "She is the monstres heed y−wryen."
176. The Knight states that Fortune's "moste worship" is to lie. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 702-703: "Hir moste worship and hir flour is To lyen, for that is hir nature."
177. The Knight describes Fortune as a "fals, flateringe beste" (false, flattering beast). (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 707: "That is a fals, flateringe beste."
178. Fortune delivered "Chek" and "Mate" to the Knight with a "poune erraunt" (wandering pawn). (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 731-733: "And 'Mate!' in mid pointe of the chekkere With a poune erraunt."
179. The Knight states that he holds his wish to know the "Ieupardyes" (jeopardies/risks) of the game not worth a "stree" (straw) because Fortune can beguile anyone. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 749-751: "I hold that wish nat worth a stree! Hit had be never the bet for me. For Fortune can so many a wyle, Ther be but fewe can hir begyle."
180. The Knight excuses Fortune, stating that he would have done the same thing if he were her. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 753: "My−self I wolde have do the same, Before god, hadde I been as she."
181. The Knight asserts, "I dar wel swere she took the beste!" (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 761: "I dar wel swere she took the beste!"
182. The Knight claims he has more sorrow than Tantalus. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 788: "I have more sorowe than Tantale."
183. The narrator argues that the Knight should remember Socrates, who "ne counted nat three strees" (did not care) about what Fortune could do. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 795: "For he ne counted nat three strees Of noght that Fortune coude do."
184. The Knight states that he was a "thral" (slave) to love with "good wil, body, herte, and al." (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 864: "With good wil, body, herte, and al."
185. The Knight was so suddenly captured by love that he did not take "No maner reed" (no advice) but relied on her look and his heart. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 963-965: "I ne took No maner reed but at hir look And at myn herte."
186. The Knight states that his lady's hair was most like gold. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 990: "Me thoghte, most lyk gold hit was."
187. The lady's eyes were made by Dame Nature to open "by mesure" (with moderation). (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 1010: "Had made hem opene by mesure."
188. The Knight claims that his lady's speech was so "tretable" (tractable) and "wel y−founded" (well-founded) upon reason. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 1076-1078: "So frendly, and so wel y−grounded, Up al resoun so wel y−founded, And so tretable to alle gode."
189. The Knight states that his lady was "so wel" loved right that "She wrong do wolde to no wight." (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 1184-1185: "Therwith she loved so wel right, She wrong do wolde to no wight."
190. The Knight claims that his lady "Ne chyde she coude never a del" (could never scold a bit). (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 1098: "Ne chyde she coude never a del."
191. The Knight states that his lady was the "soleyn fenix of Arabye." (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 1146: "The soleyn fenix of Arabye."
192. The Knight compares his lady to Hester and Lucrece for her goodness and faithfulness. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 1152 and 1240: "As ever had Hester in the bible," "Or as the noble wyf Lucrece."
193. The Knight stated that he was "warished" (cured) of his sorrow for the day whenever he saw his lady in the morning. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 1257-1258: "I was warished of al my sorwe Of al day after."
194. The Knight asserts that he will never repent of loving his lady, even comparing himself favorably to traitors like Achitofel. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 1272-1275: "Shulde I now repente me To love? nay, certes, than were I wel Wers than was Achitofel."
195. The lady initially rejected the Knight, and he compares his sorrow to Cassandra bewailing the destruction of Troy. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 1414-1418: "She sayde, 'nay'... That trewely Cassandra... Had never swich sorwe as I tho."
196. When the lady finally accepted the Knight, she gave him "the noble yift of hir mercy" and a ring. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 1446-1449: "My lady yaf me al hoolly The noble yift of hir mercy... And therwith she yaf me a ring."
197. The Knight states that their hearts were "so even a payre" and always in perfect harmony. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 1464-1466: "Our hertes wern so even a payre, That never nas that oon contrayre To that other."
198. The Knight's sorrow is revealed when he states that his lady is "deed" (dead). (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 1489: "'She is deed!'"
199. The narrator wakes up from the dream when a bell strikes twelve in the castle. (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Line 1505: "As hit had smiten houres twelve. −− Therwith I awook my−selve."
200. The narrator resolves to put the dream into rhyme because it was "so queynt a sweven" (such a strange dream). (True/False) * Answer: True * Reason: Lines 1513-1516: "Thoghte I, 'this is so queynt a sweven, That I wol... Fonde to putte this sweven in ryme As I can best.'"

Quiz:

Section 1: The Proem & The Narrator's Condition (Lines 1-96)

1.      What is the direct consequence of the narrator's "defaute of slepe" (lack of sleep)? A. He becomes angry at everyone. B. He takes no "kepe" (heed) of anything. C. He writes poetry all night. D. He develops a fever.

o    Answer: B. He takes no "kepe" (heed) of anything.

o    Reason: Lines 5-7 state, "for defaute of slepe... I take no kepe Of no-thing."

2.      How does the narrator describe his emotional state, where joy and sorrow are the same to him? A. He is angry and bitter. B. He has "feling in no-thinge." C. He is full of "lustihede" (vigor). D. He is overwhelmed with excitement.

o    Answer: B. He has "feling in no-thinge."

o    Reason: Line 11 says, "For I have feling in no-thinge," indicating his emotional numbness.

3.      The narrator fears he might die from what specific combination of afflictions? A. Old age and sickness. B. A broken heart and grief. C. Lack of sleep and "hevinesse" (sadness). D. A hunting accident and a fall.

o    Answer: C. Lack of sleep and "hevinesse" (sadness).

o    Reason: Lines 25-26: "Defaute of slepe and hevinesse Hath sleyn my spirit."

4.      Why does the narrator refuse to tell the reader the true reason for his sleeplessness? A. He has forgotten the reason. B. He believes no one would understand. C. He says anyone who asks "Leseth his asking trewely" (wastes his question). D. He is sworn to secrecy.

o    Answer: C. He says anyone who asks "Leseth his asking trewely" (wastes his question).

o    Reason: Lines 34-35 state that anyone asking why he can't sleep wastes their time asking.

5.      The narrator mentions a "phisicien but oon" (only one physician) who could heal him. This is most likely a metaphor for: A. A famous doctor in London. B. The god of sleep, Morpheus. C. His lost love or lady. D. The King of England.

o    Answer: C. His lost love or lady.

o    Reason: This is a classic courtly love trope, where only the beloved lady holds the cure for the lover's suffering.

6.      What activity does the narrator choose over playing "chesse or tables" to pass the night? A. Writing a letter. B. Praying. C. Reading a "romaunce." D. Singing a song.

o    Answer: C. Reading a "romaunce."

o    Reason: Lines 51-55 state he chose a book, a romance, because it was "better play" than chess or tables.

7.      The book the narrator reads contains tales of: A. Knights and dragons. B. Merchants and their travels. C. "Quenes lyves, and of kinges." D. The creation of the world.

o    Answer: C. "Quenes lyves, and of kinges."

o    Reason: Line 63 specifies the book's contents were about the lives of queens and kings.

8.      The specific tale that catches the narrator's attention is about which royal couple? A. Tristan and Isolde. B. King Arthur and Guinevere. C. King Seys and Queen Alcyone. D. Orpheus and Eurydice.

o    Answer: C. King Seys and Queen Alcyone.

o    Reason: Lines 68-71 introduce the main characters of the tale he reads: "There was a king That hight Seys, and hadde a wyf... And this quene hight Alcyone."

Section 2: The Tale of Ceyx and Alcyone (Lines 97-290)

9.      After King Seys drowns at sea, what is Alcyone’s initial reaction to his long absence? A. She becomes angry and remarries. B. She is filled with "wonder" (anxious bewilderment) and her heart begins to "erme" (grieve). C. She sends her navy to find him. D. She immediately assumes he is dead.

o    Answer: B. She is filled with "wonder" (anxious bewilderment) and her heart begins to "erme" (grieve).

o    Reason: Lines 102-104 describe her "wonder, that the king ne come Hoom" and how her "herte gan to erme."

10.  What does Alcyone vow to "my god here" that she will never do until she hears news of her lord? A. Leave the castle. B. Sleep in her bed. C. "Ete breed" (eat bread). D. Speak to her handmaidens.

o    Answer: C. "Ete breed" (eat bread).

o    Reason: Line 115: "Certes, I nil never ete breed, I make a-vowe to my god here."

11.  Overcome with sorrow and unable to find her lord, Alcyone is described as "ful nigh wood." What does "wood" mean in this context? A. Silent. B. Wooden or stiff. C. Mad or insane. D. Hopeful.

o    Answer: C. Mad or insane.

o    Reason: "Wood" is Middle English for mad or frantic, fitting her extreme grief.

12.  In her prayer to Juno, what is Alcyone’s primary request? A. To receive great wealth. B. To have vengeance on the sea. C. To see her lord soon or know his fate. D. To be granted a peaceful death.

o    Answer: C. To see her lord soon or know his fate.

o    Reason: Lines 131-133: "Help me out of this distresse, And yeve me grace my lord to see Sone, or wite wher-so he be."

13.  If she cannot see him, what alternative does Alcyone ask Juno to grant her in her sleep? A. A dream of great riches. B. A dream that she becomes a goddess. C. A "certeyn sweven" (a certain dream) to reveal if he is "quik or deed." D. A dreamless, peaceful sleep.

o    Answer: C. A "certeyn sweven" (a certain dream) to reveal if he is "quik or deed."

o    Reason: Lines 138-141 detail her request for a dream to learn if her lord is alive or dead.

14.  How does Juno respond to Alcyone’s prayer? A. She ignores it completely. B. She appears to Alcyone herself. C. She sends a storm to punish the sailors. D. She calls her messenger to go to Morpheus.

o    Answer: D. She calls her messenger to go to Morpheus.

o    Reason: Lines 160-163: "Iuno, right anon, Called thus her messagere To do her erande... Go bet,' quod Iuno, to Morpheus'."

15.  What is Morpheus explicitly instructed to do with the body of King Seys? A. Give it a proper burial at sea. B. Bring it back to life. C. "Crepe into the body" and make it speak to Alcyone. D. Preserve it in his cave.

o    Answer: C. "Crepe into the body" and make it speak to Alcyone.

o    Reason: Lines 171-172: "Bid him crepe into the body, Aud do it goon to Alcyone."

16.  The "derke valeye" where Morpheus dwells is characterized by: A. An abundance of life and nature. B. A complete absence of life, sound, and light. C. The sound of loud, crashing waterfalls. D. Many animals sleeping peacefully.

o    Answer: B. A complete absence of life, sound, and light.

o    Reason: Lines 185-188 state "never yet grew corn ne gras, Ne tree... Beste, ne man, ne nothing elles."

17.  What is the only sound present in Morpheus's valley? A. The snoring of the gods. B. The whisper of the wind. C. A "deedly sleping soun" from running wells. D. The messenger's horn.

o    Answer: C. A "deedly sleping soun" from running wells.

o    Reason: Lines 191-192 describe the wells making a "deedly sleping soun."

18.  How does Juno's messenger finally manage to wake the god of sleep? A. By shouting his name repeatedly. B. By shaking him awake. C. By blowing his horn "right in hir ere." D. By delivering a magical incantation.

o    Answer: C. By blowing his horn "right in hir ere."

o    Reason: Line 209: "And blew his horn right in hir ere, And cryed `awaketh!' wonder hye."

19.  When the apparition of Seys appears to Alcyone, what is his final piece of advice? A. To remarry and be happy. B. To pray to the gods for his soul. C. To "Bury my body" which can be found by the sea. D. To avenge his death.

o    Answer: C. To "Bury my body" which can be found by the sea.

o    Reason: Lines 233-234: "But good swete herte, look that ye Bury my body, at whiche a tyde Ye mowe hit finde the see besyde."

20.  What is Alcyone’s fate after seeing the vision of her dead husband? A. She lives a long life of sorrow. B. She becomes a priestess of Juno. C. She travels the world in his memory. D. She "deyed within the thridde morwe" (died within the third day).

o    Answer: D. She "deyed within the thridde morwe" (died within the third day).

o    Reason: Line 240 explicitly states she died on the third morning.

21.  Why does the narrator find the story of Ceyx and Alcyone so significant for his own condition? A. It teaches him about sailing. B. It gives him hope for finding love. C. He claims he would have "deed, right through defaute of sleep" if he hadn't read it. D. It makes him fear the gods.

o    Answer: C. He claims he would have "deed, right through defaute of sleep" if he hadn't read it.

o    Reason: Lines 248-251 state that he would have been "dolven everydel, And deed... If I nad red and taken keep Of this tale."

22.  What humorous bargain does the narrator propose to Morpheus or Juno? A. He will build them a temple for a night's sleep. B. He will give them a magnificent feather-bed if they make him sleep. C. He will write a poem in their honor for a cure. D. He will offer them his wealth for an end to his sorrow.

o    Answer: B. He will give them a magnificent feather-bed if they make him sleep.

o    Reason: Lines 274-282 describe his offer of a feather-bed made of dove feathers, gold, and satin.

23.  What happens immediately after the narrator makes his offer to the gods of sleep? A. He feels a sudden pain. B. The book disappears. C. A "lust anoon me took To slepe" and he falls asleep on his book. D. A god appears before him.

o    Answer: C. A "lust anoon me took To slepe" and he falls asleep on his book.

o    Reason: Lines 290-292 describe the sudden urge to sleep that overcame him right after his words.

Section 3: The Dream Begins (Lines 291-444)

24.  The narrator's dream is set in which month? A. April. B. May. C. June. D. December.

o    Answer: B. May.

o    Reason: Line 295 clearly states, "Me thoughte thus: -- that hit was May."

25.  What sound awakens the narrator within his dream? A. The sound of a trumpet. B. The "swetnesse" of the song of a "gret hepe" of small birds. C. The voice of his lady. D. The crashing of waves.

o    Answer: B. The "swetnesse" of the song of a "gret hepe" of small birds.

o    Reason: Lines 298-300: "I was waked With smale foules a gret hepe, That had affrayed me out of slepe Through noyse and swetnesse of hir song."

26.  The narrator claims the birds' song was more beautiful than anything, and he wouldn't have missed it for: A. A thousand pounds of gold. B. The "toune of Tewnes." C. The kingdom of France. D. A magical sword.

o    Answer: B. The "toune of Tewnes."

o    Reason: Lines 314-315: "That certes, for the toune of Tewnes, I nolde but I had herd hem singe."

27.  The windows of the narrator's dream chamber are decorated with the story of: A. The Roman Empire. B. The Bible. C. The legend of King Arthur. D. The "storie of Troye."

o    Answer: D. The "storie of Troye."

o    Reason: Line 328 specifies, "For hoolly al the storie of Troye Was in the glasing y-wroght thus."

28.  What famous literary work was painted on the walls of the chamber? A. Ovid's Metamorphoses. B. The Aeneid. C. The Romaunce of the Rose. D. The Consolation of Philosophy.

o    Answer: C. The Romaunce of the Rose.

o    Reason: Line 335 states the walls were painted with "al the Romaunce of the Rose."

29.  What sound interrupts the peaceful morning and prompts the narrator to get up? A. A lady crying for help. B. A church bell. C. An "hunte blowe" (a hunter's horn). D. The sound of battle.

o    Answer: C. An "hunte blowe" (a hunter's horn).

o    Reason: Lines 353-354: "Me thoughte I herde an hunte blowe Tassaye his horn."

30.  The hunt is being led by which famous historical figure? A. Julius Caesar. B. Charlemagne. C. Alexander the Great. D. "Themperour Octovien" (The Emperor Octavian/Augustus).

o    Answer: D. "Themperour Octovien" (The Emperor Octavian/Augustus).

o    Reason: Line 364 identifies the leader of the hunt as Emperor Octavian.

31.  What happens to the "hert" (deer) that is the object of the hunt? A. It is caught by the narrator. B. It is slain by the Emperor. C. It "rused and stal away" from the hounds. D. It leads the hunters to a magical cave.

o    Answer: C. It "rused and stal away" from the hounds.

o    Reason: Lines 376-377: "This hert rused and stal away Fro alle the houndes a prevy way."

32.  When the hounds lose the trail, the hunter blows a "forloyn." What is a forloyn? A. A signal to celebrate the catch. B. A call for reinforcements. C. A specific horn blast indicating the quarry is lost. D. A horn blast to end the hunt for the day.

o    Answer: C. A specific horn blast indicating the quarry is lost.

o    Reason: A forloyn is a term from venery (hunting) for the signal blown when the hounds have lost the scent.

33.  After the hunt is stalled, what creature approaches the narrator and leads him away? A. A white deer. B. A talking bird. C. A "whelp, that fauned me as I stood." D. A black horse.

o    Answer: C. A "whelp, that fauned me as I stood."

o    Reason: Lines 388-389 describe the friendly puppy that approaches him.

34.  The whelp leads the narrator down a path into a beautiful forest. Which two mythological figures are said to have made their dwelling there? A. Jupiter and Juno. B. Venus and Mars. C. Flora and Zephirus. D. Apollo and Diana.

o    Answer: C. Flora and Zephirus.

o    Reason: Lines 411-412 credit Flora (goddess of flowers) and Zephirus (the west wind) with the beauty of the place.

35.  The forest is described as being so full of animals that even who would "fayle to rekene even" their number? A. King Solomon. B. Aristotle. C. "Argus, the noble countour." D. Euclid.

o    Answer: C. "Argus, the noble countour."

o    Reason: Lines 456-463 state that even the mythological all-seeing Argus, imagined as a reckoner, could not count them all.

Section 4: The Encounter with the Black Knight (Lines 445-744)

36.  As he wanders, the narrator becomes "war of a man in blak" sitting with his back to what? A. A riverbank. B. A large boulder. C. "An oke, an huge tree." D. A flowering bush.

o    Answer: C. "An oke, an huge tree."

o    Reason: Lines 471-472 describe the man in black sitting with his back to a huge oak tree.

37.  How old does the Knight appear to be? A. A young boy. B. "Of the age of four and twenty yeer." C. A middle-aged man. D. An old, gray-haired man.

o    Answer: B. "Of the age of four and twenty yeer."

o    Reason: Line 484 gives his specific age as twenty-four.

38.  What is the Knight doing when the narrator first observes him? A. Sharpening his sword. B. Sleeping. C. Reading a book. D. Reciting a "compleynt" or "lay" of great sorrow.

o    Answer: D. Reciting a "compleynt" or "lay" of great sorrow.

o    Reason: Lines 498-502 describe him making a rhyme of "a compleynt to him-selve, The moste pite, the moste rowthe."

39.  In his initial short song, what is the Knight's lament? A. That he has lost his kingdom. B. That his "lady bright... Is fro me dedd." C. That he is poor and friendless. D. That he failed in the hunt.

o    Answer: B. That his "lady bright... Is fro me dedd."

o    Reason: Lines 519-521 are a direct quote of his lament for his dead lady.

40.  What physical effect does the Knight's sorrow have on him after he sings his lay? A. He begins to laugh hysterically. B. His "hewe chaunge and wexe grene And pale." C. He falls into a deep sleep. D. He draws his sword.

o    Answer: B. His "hewe chaunge and wexe grene And pale."

o    Reason: Lines 539-540 describe his color changing to green and pale from the rush of blood to his heart.

41.  Why does the Knight not hear the narrator's first greeting? A. He is deaf. B. The narrator speaks too softly. C. The sound of the forest is too loud. D. He is lost in thought, arguing "with his owne thoght."

o    Answer: D. He is lost in thought, arguing "with his owne thoght."

o    Reason: Lines 546-550 explain that the Knight was so consumed by his "hevy thoght" that he didn't hear.

42.  How does the narrator propose to help the Knight? A. By giving him gold. B. By taking him to a physician. C. By offering to "Amende hit, yif I can or may" if the Knight will share his woe. D. By singing a cheerful song.

o    Answer: C. By offering to "Amende hit, yif I can or may" if the Knight will share his woe.

o    Reason: Lines 610-612 show the narrator offering to amend the Knight's sorrow if he is able.

43.  The Knight claims his sorrow cannot be cured by the remedies of Ovid, the music of Orpheus, or the craft of whom? A. Vulcan. B. Daedalus. C. Homer. D. Virgil.

o    Answer: B. Daedalus.

o    Reason: Line 630 mentions "Ne Dedalus, with playes slye" as being unable to heal him.

44.  The Knight makes the definitive statement about his identity and his emotional state by saying: A. "I am the king of this land." B. "I am a friend to the emperor." C. "I am sorwe and sorwe is I." D. "I am a poet and a musician."

o    Answer: C. "I am sorwe and sorwe is I."

o    Reason: Line 660 is the famous line where the Knight personifies his grief.

45.  To what does the Knight attribute his suffering, using a famous metaphor? A. A storm at sea. B. A game of "ches" with "fals Fortune." C. A wound from a poisoned arrow. D. A fall from a great height.

o    Answer: B. A game of "ches" with "fals Fortune."

o    Reason: Lines 683-684: "For fals Fortune hath pleyd a game Atte ches with me."

46.  How is Fortune personified in the Knight's description? A. As a beautiful, kind goddess. B. As an old, wise man. C. As a "trayteresse fals and ful of gyle." D. As a powerful, just king.

o    Answer: C. As a "trayteresse fals and ful of gyle."

o    Reason: Line 685 describes Fortune as a treacherous and guileful traitor.

47.  The Knight compares Fortune to which creature that flatters with its head but stings with its tail? A. A snake. B. A bee. C. A scorpion. D. A spider.

o    Answer: C. A scorpion.

o    Reason: Lines 706-708 explicitly make this comparison: "I lykne hir to the scorpioun... with his hede he maketh feste, But... With his tayle he wol stinge."

48.  In the chess game, what crucial piece did Fortune steal from the Knight? A. His king. B. His "fers" (the queen). C. His rook (castle). D. His knight.

o    Answer: B. His "fers" (the queen).

o    Reason: Line 724: "She stal on me, and took my fers." The "fers" was the medieval precursor to the modern chess queen.

49.  After losing his "fers," what does the Knight say to Fortune, effectively resigning from life? A. "I demand a rematch." B. "You have cheated, you false thief!" C. "Farewel, swete, y-wis, And farwel al that ever ther is!" D. "I will have my revenge."

o    Answer: C. "Farewel, swete, y-wis, And farwel al that ever ther is!"

o    Reason: Lines 728-729 are his words of farewell to everything he holds dear.

50.  Who does the narrator invoke as an example of someone who was wise and did not care about Fortune's whims? A. Plato. B. Aristotle. C. Socrates. D. King Solomon.

o    Answer: C. Socrates.

o    Reason: Lines 794-796: "Remembre yow of Socrates; For he ne counted nat three strees Of noght that Fortune coude do."

51.  The narrator warns the Knight against despair by mentioning classical women like Medea, Phyllis, and Dido, who all did what? A. Became powerful queens. B. Achieved great wisdom. C. Killed themselves over a lost love. D. Fought bravely in wars.

o    Answer: C. Killed themselves over a lost love.

o    Reason: Lines 805-812 recount the suicides of these figures as a cautionary tale against extreme sorrow.

52.  How does the Knight respond to the narrator's attempt to downplay the loss of a chess piece? A. He agrees that it is a small matter. B. He weeps and cannot speak. C. He says, "Thou woste ful litel what thou menest; I have lost more than thow wenest." D. He challenges the narrator to a game of chess.

o    Answer: C. He says, "Thou woste ful litel what thou menest; I have lost more than thow wenest."

o    Reason: Lines 836-837 show the Knight correcting the narrator's misunderstanding of the gravity of his loss.

Section 5: The Knight's Tale of His Lady (Lines 848-1297)

53.  The Knight begins his story by explaining he has been a "tributary" to which allegorical figure since his youth? A. Fortune. B. Nature. C. Love. D. Reason.

o    Answer: C. Love.

o    Reason: Line 861: "Be tributary, and yiven rente To love hoolly with goode entente."

54.  To what does the Knight compare his youthful heart, ready to receive any impression? A. A lump of clay. B. A blank book. C. A "whyt wal or a table" (a white wall or writing tablet). D. An empty cup.

o    Answer: C. A "whyt wal or a table" (a white wall or writing tablet).

o    Reason: Line 877 makes this comparison, invoking the idea of a tabula rasa.

55.  The Knight describes first seeing his lady among a "companye Of ladies," and states that she surpassed them all in beauty like what? A. The moon surpasses the stars. B. A diamond surpasses other gems. C. The "someres sonne bright" surpasses any planet. D. A rose surpasses other flowers.

o    Answer: C. The "someres sonne bright" surpasses any planet.

o    Reason: Lines 940-943 draw a clear simile between her beauty and the sun's brightness.

56.  What was the name of the Knight's lady? A. Alcyone. B. Blanche. C. Eleine. D. "Gode faire Whyte."

o    Answer: D. "Gode faire Whyte."

o    Reason: Lines 1109-1110 explicitly state, "And gode faire Whyte she hete, That was my lady name right." (This is a pun on "Blanche").

57.  The Knight struggles to describe his lady's beauty, claiming he lacks what? A. The courage to speak of her. B. "Bothe English and wit." C. A pen and paper. D. Permission from the gods.

o    Answer: B. "Bothe English and wit."

o    Reason: Line 1045 is a humility topos where he claims to lack the language and intelligence to do her justice.

58.  The lady's speech is praised for being "so wel y-grounded" upon what? A. "Eloquence." B. "Al resoun" (all reason). C. "Swete" (sweetness). D. "Trouthe" (truth).

o    Answer: B. "Al resoun" (all reason).

o    Reason: Line 1077 praises her speech for being well-founded on reason.

59.  The Knight compares his lady to which unique, mythical bird? A. The griffin. B. The roc. C. The "soleyn fenix of Arabye." D. The simurgh.

o    Answer: C. The "soleyn fenix of Arabye."

o    Reason: Lines 1146-1147 use the metaphor of the solitary phoenix of Arabia to emphasize her uniqueness.

60.  The lady is said to have as much "debonairte" (graciousness) as which biblical figure? A. Eve. B. Queen of Sheba. C. Ruth. D. Hester (Esther).

o    Answer: D. Hester (Esther).

o    Reason: Line 1152 makes a direct comparison to the grace of Queen Esther from the Bible.

61.  According to the Knight, "Trouthe him-self" (Truth itself) had chosen the lady for what purpose? A. To be his messenger. B. To be his "resting-place." C. To be his queen. D. To be his scribe.

o    Answer: B. To be his "resting-place."

o    Reason: Lines 1174-1175 state that Truth had chosen her as his primary home or resting place.

62.  The Knight claims that seeing his lady in the morning had what effect on him? A. It made him want to go hunting. B. It made him feel sadder. C. He was "warished of al my sorwe" (cured of all his sorrow) for the rest of the day. D. He was inspired to write a song immediately.

o    Answer: C. He was "warished of al my sorwe" (cured of all his sorrow) for the rest of the day.

o    Reason: Lines 1257-1259 describe how seeing her cured his sorrow for the entire day.

63.  The Knight says he would rather be worse than which famous traitor from the Trojan War than repent of loving his lady? A. Sinon. B. Antenor. C. Laocoön. D. Agamemnon.

o    Answer: B. Antenor.

o    Reason: Lines 1276-1279: "Wers than was Achitofel, Or Anthenor... The traytour that betraysed Troye."

Section 6: The Courtship, Revelation, and Awakening (Lines 1298-1520)

64.  For how long did the Knight love the lady before she knew of his feelings? A. A few days. B. "Noght longe tyme" (for a long time). C. A month. D. Exactly one year.

o    Answer: B. "Noght longe tyme" (for a long time).

o    Reason: Lines 1301-1302: "And yet she niste hit never a del Noght longe tyme, leve hit wel."

65.  To keep himself from "ydelnesse," what did the Knight do? A. He practiced sword fighting. B. He went on pilgrimages. C. He did his "besinesse To make songes." D. He studied philosophy.

o    Answer: C. He did his "besinesse To make songes."

o    Reason: Lines 1310-1311 state he made songs to avoid idleness.

66.  What was the lady’s immediate answer when the Knight finally confessed his love? A. She said "yes" instantly. B. She asked for time to think. C. She "sayde, 'nay' Al-outerly." D. She laughed at him.

o    Answer: C. She "sayde, 'nay' Al-outerly."

o    Reason: Line 1414 gives her direct and complete refusal.

67.  The Knight’s sorrow at her rejection was greater than that of which mythological figure? A. Orpheus losing Eurydice. B. Achilles mourning Patroclus. C. "Cassandra, that so Bewayled the destruccioun... Of Troye." D. Oedipus at his downfall.

o    Answer: C. "Cassandra, that so Bewayled the destruccioun... Of Troye."

o    Reason: Lines 1418-1420 make this specific comparison.

68.  How long after his initial rejection did the lady finally accept him? A. The next day. B. "Another yere" (another year). C. After a few weeks. D. After he won a tournament.

o    Answer: B. "Another yere" (another year).

o    Reason: Line 1435: "So hit befel, another yere, I thoughte ones I wolde fonde To do hir knowe."

69.  When she finally accepted him, what "noble yift" did the lady give the Knight? A. The gift of a castle. B. "The noble yift of hir mercy." C. The gift of a famous horse. D. The gift of a golden sword.

o    Answer: B. "The noble yift of hir mercy."

o    Reason: Lines 1446-1447 describe her gift not as material, but as her mercy and grace.

70.  What physical object did she give him as a token of her acceptance? A. A lock of her hair. B. A "ring." C. A handkerchief. D. A book of poetry.

o    Answer: B. A "ring."

o    Reason: Line 1449: "And therwith she yaf me a ring; I trowe hit was the firste thing."

71.  How does the Knight describe the harmony of their love? A. Like a well-tuned harp. B. Like a ship sailing on a calm sea. C. Their "hertes wern so even a payre, That never nas that oon contrayre To that other." D. Like two stars orbiting each other.

o    Answer: C. Their "hertes wern so even a payre, That never nas that oon contrayre To that other."

o    Reason: Lines 1464-1466 describe their perfect, un-conflicting unity.

72.  When the narrator finally asks, "where is she now?", what is the Knight's one-word reply before revealing the truth? A. "Gone." B. "Alas." C. "Now!" D. "Listen."

o    Answer: C. "Now!"

o    Reason: Line 1476: "Sir,' quod I, where is she now?' `Now!' quod he, and stinte anoon."

73.  The Knight finally clarifies his chess metaphor by revealing the "los" (loss) he spoke of was what? A. The loss of his kingdom. B. The loss of his youth. C. The loss of a battle. D. "God wot, allas! right that was she!"

o    Answer: D. "God wot, allas! right that was she!"

o    Reason: Lines 1484-1485 explicitly connect the abstract "loss" to the person of his lady.

74.  What is the final, direct revelation the Knight makes to the narrator? A. "She left me." B. "She is in another land." C. "'She is deed!'" D. "She never loved me."

o    Answer: C. "'She is deed!'"

o    Reason: Line 1489 is the ultimate, blunt climax of their conversation.

75.  What sound from the "long castel with walles whyte" awakens the narrator from his dream? A. A trumpet blast. B. A loud shout. C. A "belle, As hit had smiten houres twelve." D. The sound of singing.

o    Answer: C. A "belle, As hit had smiten houres twelve."

o    Reason: Lines 1504-1506 describe the castle bell striking twelve, which causes him to awake.

76.  Upon waking, what does the narrator find in his hand? A. A ring. B. A feather from the dream. C. "The book that I had red, Of Alcyone and Seys the king." D. Nothing.

o    Answer: C. "The book that I had red, Of Alcyone and Seys the king."

o    Reason: Lines 1508-1510 confirm he is still holding the book he was reading before he fell asleep.

77.  What is the narrator's final resolution at the end of the poem? A. To go back to sleep. B. To find the Black Knight. C. To "putte this sweven in ryme." D. To abandon poetry forever.

o    Answer: C. To "putte this sweven in ryme."

o    Reason: The final lines (1515-1517) state his intention to turn the "queynt a sweven" (strange dream) into a poem.