The Daily Teaser — 17-4-2013: The Canterbury Tales

Hmmm … 

I think the world — at least, the bit of it in my front room — is having a slow thoughtful pause at the moment.

I’m thinking, here, that today sees the funeral of Margaret Thatcher: while her politics live, as do the divisions she introduced to the nation, hopefully we can start to put an end to the woman.

Ever as I write, I’m thinking it won’t.   It means those who thought well of her, will be further along the road to sanctifying her: something I personally feel is unjustified and possibly dangerous.

Especially when you consider the Queen is going to the funeral: and showing a dangerous amount of political bias in the process.

On top of that … ?   The investigation into the Boston Bombings has shown that the bombs were made from pressure cookers packed with explosives, a pcb triggering mechanism … and lots of nails and ball bearings.   To me, growing up when The Troubles, that sounds vaguely familiar … 

I think we should move on, shouldn’t we … ?   Before I get bleak … 

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Yesterday’s Teaser saw Debbi* putting in her answers: along with admitting she’s looking forward to trying some Marmite for the first time, she also scored five out of six.

Let’s see how she — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and Video …

Q1) 17th April, 1397, Geoffrey Chaucer formally read The Canterbury Tales to the court of the King of England.   Which king … ?

Q2) In which English county is Canterbury … ?

Q3) The pilgrims in The Canterbury Tales were planning to visit the shrine of which saint … ?

Q4) Which of the tales sees a knight trying to find out what women really want … ?

Q5) And finally … which of the Tales is about a Miller from Trumpington … ?

And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …

Q1) 16th April, 73 AD, saw the end of the Siege of Masada: in which (modern-day) country was that Siege … ?

A1) Israel.

Q2) More to the point, forces of which Empire’s army were besieging it … ?

A2) The Roman Empire.

Q3) Many years later, 16th April, 2007, saw the USA’s largest school shooting: at which American University?

A3) Virginia Tech.

Q4) 16th April, 1953, saw the Queen launch the new Royal Yacht: what was it called … ?

A4) The HMY Britannia.

Q5) More to the point, in which year was that Yacht decommissioned … ?

A5) 1997.

Q6) And finally … 16th April, 1945, saw Russian forces begin a final assault on which German city … ?

A6) Berlin.

Enjoy those: I’ll leave you with a line from a certain Mr Chaucer …

“Ech man for hymself, ther is noon other.”

Geoffrey Chaucer, c. 1343 – 25 October 1400

And — thanks to some rather musical history students who nicked California Dreaming — here’s a song about the Tales … 

Have a good day … 

*        Yeah, I know exactly what you mean, Debbi, trust me.   Mind you, my hope at the moment is it’s a lone nutter: that way there’s less chance of another Afghanistan, and we can blame his or her condition.   That sounds awful, I know: but I think I prefer that to the alternatives.