Summary:
Each guide comprises three sections:
an Introduction, which outlines the aims of the guide, the relevant exam board specification and Assessment Objectives
Text Guidance, which gives coverage of key aspects of the text
Questions and Answers, which focuses on the various types of essay questions and offers specifmen plans and sample answers, together with mark schemes

• Succint and accessible coverage of all the key aspects of the set text, including contexts, interpretations and controversies
  

• Clear outline of the exam board specifications and their Assessment Objectives
  

• Invaluable Question and Answer section with various types of questions, plans, mark schemes and answers
  

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Aims of the guide
Assessment Objectives
Revision advice
Writing examination essays
Text Guidance
Contexts
Chaucer’s life
The medieval worldview
Medieval society
Medieval beliefs
Tradition and innovation
Chaucer and his contemporaries
Pilgrimage
Story collections
Chaucer’s audience and purpose
The framework of The Canterbury Tales
The multiple narrator in The Canterbury Tales
Chaucer’s verse
Chaucer’s language
The Merchant in ‘The General Prologue’
The ‘marriage group’ of tales
Making sense of the story
Characters
Themes
Humour
‘The Merchant’s Tale’ as a fabliau
The tale and its teller
Realism, fantasy and symbol
The use of authorities
Chaucer’s narrative technique
Literary terms and concepts
Questions and Answers
Essay questions, specimen plans and notes
Sample essays
Further study

About the Author(s):
Richard Swan has taught A-level English for more than 30 years, and is author of The Canterbury Tales Teacher Resource pack, also published by Philip Allan Updates. He is the former Head of English and current Vice Principal at the Harvey Grammar School in Folkestone. He writes critical articles, reviews and poetry.