Question

Difficulty: HardLanguage, Literature and Culture

During the late Middle Ages, the English language began to replace French and Latin in literature and official life. This cultural shift was accelerated in 1476 when a new technology was introduced to England that allowed for the mass production of books, starting with a famous collection of poems. Which pair correctly identifies the individual who established the first printing press in England and the author of the poem collection, 'The Canterbury Tales'?

  1. William Caxton and Geoffrey ChaucerAnswer
  2. B
    William Caxton and William Shakespeare
  3. C
    King John and Geoffrey Chaucer
  4. D
    Geoffrey Chaucer and William Caxton

Answer

The correct answer identifies William Caxton as the person who introduced the printing press and Geoffrey Chaucer as the author of 'The Canterbury Tales'.
The correct answer accurately matches William Caxton with the achievement of establishing the first printing press in England (1476) and Geoffrey Chaucer as the author of 'The Canterbury Tales', which was the first book printed in the English language.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the historical figure associated with the introduction of printing technology to England in 1476.
William Caxton is the individual who established the first printing press in London.
The technology was brought from continental Europe to England by Caxton.
2
Identify the author of 'The Canterbury Tales', which was the first major book printed in English.
Geoffrey Chaucer wrote 'The Canterbury Tales' in the late 14th century.
Chaucer is often called the 'father of English literature' for his use of the English language.
3
Confirm the pairing and the timeline.
Caxton printed Chaucer's work in 1476/1477, nearly 80 years after the author's death.
This confirms the roles of printer (Caxton) and author (Chaucer).

Key Concept

The role of William Caxton and Geoffrey Chaucer in the development of English literature and the printing industry in the late Middle Ages.

Practice More

Review the transition from Old English to Middle English and how the printing press helped standardize spelling and grammar.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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