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Difficulty: MediumLanguage, Literature and Culture

Until the late 15th century, books in England were laboriously handwritten by scribes, making them rare and expensive. Which individual revolutionized English culture by introducing the printing press in 1476 and producing the first printed book in English, 'The Canterbury Tales'?

  1. William CaxtonAnswer
  2. B
    Geoffrey Chaucer
  3. C
    William Shakespeare
  4. D
    King John

Answer

William Caxton was the individual responsible for bringing the printing press to England and using it to produce the first printed book in English.
The correct answer is William Caxton because he is the person who introduced the printing press to England in 1476. This development was crucial for standardizing the English language and making literature more accessible to a wider audience, with 'The Canterbury Tales' being the first book he printed.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the technological shift from handwritten to printed text in the 15th century.
The arrival of the printing press replaced the slow process of copying books by hand.
This is a key cultural and technological milestone mentioned in the Life in the UK history section.
2
Identify the key figure associated with the introduction of this technology.
William Caxton is credited with establishing the first English printing press in 1476.
The handbook specifically links Caxton to the introduction of printing and the standardization of the English language.
3
Verify the first major literary work produced using this new technology.
Geoffrey Chaucer's 'The Canterbury Tales' was selected as the first book to be printed in English.
This distinction between the author (Chaucer) and the technologist/printer (Caxton) is central to understanding this period's developments.

Key Concept

The introduction of the printing press by William Caxton and its role in standardizing the English language.
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Language, Literature and Culture

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