Question

Read the excerpt from Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, and then complete the sentences that follow.

But he looked hollow and went soberly.
Right threadbare was his overcoat; for he
Had got him yet no churchly benefice…
In this description of the(clerk,squire,knight) , the word threadbare tells the audience that this character is(rich,poor,miserly) . The reason for his situation is that he did not get any(blessings,income,jobs),from the Catholic Church. WHICH is the correct answer for the sentences?

Answer 1

1. clear

2. poor

3. income

Answer 2

The first answer is clerk. This is from the clerk's tale part of the Canterburty tales. Poor is the next word: threadbare means wearing old, tattered clothing, which is what he wears because he is poor. He is poor because he did not get a "benefice" or paying job (the third answer) from the Church yet (although this is ambiguous because the job would provide income.