The Knight’s Tale MCQs & Summary

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman Shamil | Last updated: February 26, 2025

Summary:

“The Knight’s Tale” is the first story in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. It is a romance that explores themes of love, fate, chivalry, and honor. The tale follows two Theban knights, Palamon and Arcite, who are imprisoned by Theseus, the Duke of Athens. While in prison, both knights fall in love with Emelye, the sister of Theseus’s wife. Eventually, Arcite is freed but must leave Athens, while Palamon remains in prison. Arcite later returns in disguise, and both knights engage in a fierce rivalry for Emelye’s love. Theseus arranges a grand tournament between the two, with the winner earning Emelye’s hand in marriage. Arcite wins the tournament but is mortally wounded and dies, leaving Palamon to marry Emelye in the end.

The story reflects medieval ideals of courtly love and chivalry while questioning the role of fate and divine intervention in human affairs.

MCQs:

1. Who tells The Knight’s Tale in The Canterbury Tales?
   A) The Miller
   B) The Knight
   C) The Pardoner
   D) The Wife of Bath
   Answer: B) The Knight

2. Who are the two knights in the tale?
   A) Tristan and Isolde
   B) Palamon and Arcite
   C) Theseus and Creon
   D) Hector and Achilles
   Answer: B) Palamon and Arcite

3. Why are Palamon and Arcite imprisoned?
   A) They are captured in battle by Theseus
   B) They commit treason against Athens
   C) They try to steal from the Duke’s treasury
   D) They betray each other over Emelye
   Answer: A) They are captured in battle by Theseus

   

4. Who do both Palamon and Arcite fall in love with?
   A) Queen Hippolyta
   B) Theseus’s daughter
   C) Emelye
   D) The Wife of Bath
   Answer: C) Emelye

5. How does Arcite return to Athens after being exiled?
   A) As a pilgrim
   B) In disguise as a servant
   C) As a knight
   D) As a prince from another land
   Answer: B) In disguise as a servant

6. What does Theseus propose to settle the knights’ dispute?
   A) A duel to the death
   B) A chariot race
   C) A grand tournament
   D) A debate before the court
   Answer: C) A grand tournament

7. Who wins the tournament?
   A) Palamon
   B) Arcite
   C) Theseus
   D) Emelye
   Answer: B) Arcite

8. How does Arcite die?
   A) He is executed by Theseus
   B) He is wounded in battle
   C) He falls from his horse and suffers fatal injuries
   D) He is poisoned
   Answer: C) He falls from his horse and suffers fatal injuries

9. Who ultimately marries Emelye?
   A) Arcite
   B) Palamon
   C) Theseus
   D) Creon
   Answer: B) Palamon

10. What is a major theme of The Knight’s Tale?
    A) The corruption of the Church
    B) The unpredictability of fate and destiny
    C) The importance of wealth
    D) The downfall of kings
    Answer: B) The unpredictability of fate and destiny