Friday, October 31, 2025

Friday

 

Today we will be reading the Pardoner's tale.

Note, your project on the Canterbury Tales will be due  (11/12).

Some stories/characters for you to think about

Friar
Summoner
Miller
Reeve
Knight
Nun's Preist
Shimpman
Squire

A framed collection of stories told by a group of pilgrims on their way to Canterbury. Let's look at an introduction

Themes:
Social Class and Convention
Corruption and Exploitation in the Church
Battle of the Sexes (or Old Men and Young Wives, or Who's in Charge?, or What makes a good spouse?)
Lies and Deceit
Courtly Love
What Makes a Good Story?

The are many "types" or "genres" of stories here:
Sermon
Romance Tale
Fabliau
Beast Tale
The Trickster Tricked Tale

Symbols:
Physiognomy
Clothes
Time of Year

The following are tales that you're need to know for the final:

The Pardoner's Tale
The Wife of Bath's Tale
And the tales presented in class


Canterbury Tales

Objective: To Demonstrate a thorough understanding of a character and literary devices used in Chaucer by dressing up as one of the characters from The Canterbury Tales and presenting their story.

REQUIREMENTS:

Part 1: You must dress up as the character as described in the Prologue of the poem (note: you should also read very closely the character’s prologue to their own story for it will give you insight into how the character acts, thinks, and relates to the other characters). As part of the presentation you’ll need to discuss what you are wearing and why (or what it represents)? You will also need to present your character traits. What your character is like—what do they believe, how do think of themselves, how do they act towards others or towards God. You may wish to do some research on your character or your character type (example you might wish to look at Friars and what Friars where about and how they where suppose to act and compare those ideas with how your character acts and believes).

Part 2: You’ll need to present your tale to the class. You can do it in one of two ways: 1) D.I. or Dramatic Interpretation of the story (this means you pick the highlights, write a script based on the highlights and act it out). 2) Rewrite the story in your own words and language and present it as a transcript—meaning you read it, but give a dramatic reading
(not just a reading like we do in class)

Part 3: Teach the class the following: 1) what type of literary tale is your story? 2) What does the tale mean (if anything). Connect the tale to a THEME? What does the tale reveal about you character and who your character is? What—if any—kinds of literary devices does your tale use?

Part 4: Make a brief argument why your character won the bet: Who can tell the best story. 

 







Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Thursday

 Please turn in your characters guides/notes.

Today we will be reading the Wife of Bath's tale.

Note, your project on the Canterbury Tales will be due  (11/12).

Some stories/characters for you to think about

Friar
Summoner
Miller
Reeve
Knight
Nun's Preist
Shimpman
Squire

A framed collection of stories told by a group of pilgrims on their way to Canterbury. Let's look at an introduction

Themes:
Social Class and Convention
Corruption and Exploitation in the Church
Battle of the Sexes (or Old Men and Young Wives, or Who's in Charge?, or What makes a good spouse?)
Lies and Deceit
Courtly Love
What Makes a Good Story?

The are many "types" or "genres" of stories here:
Sermon
Romance Tale
Fabliau
Beast Tale
The Trickster Tricked Tale

Symbols:
Physiognomy
Clothes
Time of Year

The following are tales that you're need to know for the final:

The Pardoner's Tale
The Wife of Bath's Tale
And the tales presented in class


Canterbury Tales

Objective: To Demonstrate a thorough understanding of a character and literary devices used in Chaucer by dressing up as one of the characters from The Canterbury Tales and presenting their story.

REQUIREMENTS:

Part 1: You must dress up as the character as described in the Prologue of the poem (note: you should also read very closely the character’s prologue to their own story for it will give you insight into how the character acts, thinks, and relates to the other characters). As part of the presentation you’ll need to discuss what you are wearing and why (or what it represents)? You will also need to present your character traits. What your character is like—what do they believe, how do think of themselves, how do they act towards others or towards God. You may wish to do some research on your character or your character type (example you might wish to look at Friars and what Friars where about and how they where suppose to act and compare those ideas with how your character acts and believes).

Part 2: You’ll need to present your tale to the class. You can do it in one of two ways: 1) D.I. or Dramatic Interpretation of the story (this means you pick the highlights, write a script based on the highlights and act it out). 2) Rewrite the story in your own words and language and present it as a transcript—meaning you read it, but give a dramatic reading
(not just a reading like we do in class)

Part 3: Teach the class the following: 1) what type of literary tale is your story? 2) What does the tale mean (if anything). Connect the tale to a THEME? What does the tale reveal about you character and who your character is? What—if any—kinds of literary devices does your tale use?

Part 4: Make a brief argument why your character won the bet: Who can tell the best story. 

 





Monday, October 27, 2025

Monday

 Today we are going to finish the prologue and give you some time to finish the notes on the characters. We will also play a review game. Finally we will discuss which characters you should look into for your project.



 
Some stories/characters for you to think about

Friar
Summoner
Miller
Reeve
Knight
Nun's Preist
Shimpman
Squire

A framed collection of stories told by a group of pilgrims on their way to Canterbury. Let's look at an introduction

Themes:
Social Class and Convention
Corruption and Exploitation in the Church
Battle of the Sexes (or Old Men and Young Wives, or Who's in Charge?, or What makes a good spouse?)
Lies and Deceit
Courtly Love
What Makes a Good Story?

The are many "types" or "genres" of stories here:
Sermon
Romance Tale
Fabliau
Beast Tale
The Trickster Tricked Tale

Symbols:
Physiognomy
Clothes
Time of Year

The following are tales that you're need to know for the final:

The Pardoner's Tale
The Wife of Bath's Tale
And the tales presented in class


Canterbury Tales

Objective: To Demonstrate a thorough understanding of a character and literary devices used in Chaucer by dressing up as one of the characters from The Canterbury Tales and presenting their story.

REQUIREMENTS:

Part 1: You must dress up as the character as described in the Prologue of the poem (note: you should also read very closely the character’s prologue to their own story for it will give you insight into how the character acts, thinks, and relates to the other characters). As part of the presentation you’ll need to discuss what you are wearing and why (or what it represents)? You will also need to present your character traits. What your character is like—what do they believe, how do think of themselves, how do they act towards others or towards God. You may wish to do some research on your character or your character type (example you might wish to look at Friars and what Friars where about and how they where suppose to act and compare those ideas with how your character acts and believes).

Part 2: You’ll need to present your tale to the class. You can do it in one of two ways: 1) D.I. or Dramatic Interpretation of the story (this means you pick the highlights, write a script based on the highlights and act it out). 2) Rewrite the story in your own words and language and present it as a transcript—meaning you read it, but give a dramatic reading
(not just a reading like we do in class)

Part 3: Teach the class the following: 1) what type of literary tale is your story? 2) What does the tale mean (if anything). Connect the tale to a THEME? What does the tale reveal about you character and who your character is? What—if any—kinds of literary devices does your tale use?

Part 4: Make a brief argument why your character won the bet: Who can tell the best story. 

 

We will read sections of the Canterbury Tales - the Prologue, The Wife of Bath's Tale, and The Pardoner's Tale, and one tale of the student's choice.

Canterbury Tales, “The General Prologue” (35 points)

You will find below all the pilgrims mentioned in “The General Prologue.” Be able to answer the following:

  1. How does Chaucer characterize each one?  Offer two details with line numbers to support this (include figures of speech or Cicero’s aspects of characterization).
  2. Describe Chaucer’s attitude toward each pilgrim.
  3. Rank this person in the chart at the end of this handout.

Pilgrim
Chaucer’s Characterization
Two Details
Chaucer’s Attitude
The Knight

1.

2.

Squire

1.

2.

Yeoman

1.

2.

Prioress

1.

2.

Monk

1.

2.

Friar

1.

2.

Merchant

1.

2.

Clerk

1.

2.

Sergeant-at-Law

1.

2.

Franklin

1.

2.

Haberdasher, Carpenter, Weaver, Dyer, Tapestry Maker

1.

2.

Cook

1.

2.

Shipman

1.

2.

Doctor of Medicine

1.

2.

Wife of Bath

1.

2.

Parson

1.

2.

Plowman

1.

2.

Miller

1.

2.

Manciple

1.

2.

Reeve

1.

2.

Summoner

1.

2.

Pardoner

1.

2.

Host

1.

2.


Best Pilgrims
Worst Pilgrims
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
4.
4.
5.
5.
6.
6.



Friday, October 24, 2025

Friday

 We are going to take a vocabulary quiz today and return to the prologue of the Canterbury Tales.



Thursday, October 23, 2025

Thursday

 Today we will play vocabulary charades and then take a quick quiz.


Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Wednesday

 Today we continue with the  brief introduction to the Canterbury Tales (after we discuss the upcoming quiz on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight).



A framed collection of stories told by a group of pilgrims on their way to Canterbury. Let's look at an introduction

Themes:
Social Class and Convention
Corruption and Exploitation in the Church
Battle of the Sexes (or Old Men and Young Wives, or Who's in Charge?, or What makes a good spouse?)
Lies and Deceit
Courtly Love
What Makes a Good Story?

The are many "types" or "genres" of stories here:
Sermon
Romance Tale
Fabliau
Beast Tale
The Trickster Tricked Tale

Symbols:
Physiognomy
Clothes
Time of Year

Some stories/characters for you to think about

Friar
Summoner
Miller
Reeve
Knight
Nun's Preist
Shimpman
Squire



Canterbury Tales

Objective: To Demonstrate a thorough understanding of a character and literary devices used in Chaucer by dressing up as one of the characters from The Canterbury Tales and presenting their story.

REQUIREMENTS:

Part 1: You must dress up as the character as described in the Prologue of the poem (note: you should also read very closely the character’s prologue to their own story for it will give you insight into how the character acts, thinks, and relates to the other characters). As part of the presentation you’ll need to discuss what you are wearing and why (or what it represents)? You will also need to present your character traits. What your character is like—what do they believe, how do think of themselves, how do they act towards others or towards God. You may wish to do some research on your character or your character type (example you might wish to look at Friars and what Friars where about and how they where suppose to act and compare those ideas with how your character acts and believes).

Part 2: You’ll need to present your tale to the class. You can do it in one of two ways: 1) D.I. or Dramatic Interpretation of the story (this means you pick the highlights, write a script based on the highlights and act it out). 2) Rewrite the story in your own words and language and present it as a transcript—meaning you read it, but give a dramatic reading
(not just a reading like we do in class)

Part 3: Teach the class the following: 1) what type of literary tale is your story? 2) What does the tale mean (if anything). Connect the tale to a THEME? What does the tale reveal about you character and who your character is? What—if any—kinds of literary devices does your tale use?

Part 4: Make a brief argument why your character won the bet: Who can tell the best story. 
 

We will read sections of the Canterbury Tales - the Prologue, The Wife of Bath's Tale, and The Pardoner's Tale, and then you will read one tale on your own and present it to class.

Canterbury Tales, “The General Prologue” (35 points)

You will find below all the pilgrims mentioned in “The General Prologue.” Be able to answer the following:

  1. How does Chaucer characterize each one?  Offer two details with line numbers to support this (include figures of speech or Cicero’s aspects of characterization).
  2. Describe Chaucer’s attitude toward each pilgrim.
  3. Rank this person in the chart at the end of this handout.

Pilgrim
Chaucer’s Characterization
Two Details
Chaucer’s Attitude
The Knight

1.

2.

Squire

1.

2.

Yeoman

1.

2.

Prioress

1.

2.

Monk

1.

2.

Friar

1.

2.

Merchant

1.

2.

Clerk

1.

2.

Sergeant-at-Law

1.

2.

Franklin

1.

2.

Haberdasher, Carpenter, Weaver, Dyer, Tapestry Maker

1.

2.

Cook

1.

2.

Shipman

1.

2.

Doctor of Medicine

1.

2.

Wife of Bath

1.

2.

Parson

1.

2.

Plowman

1.

2.

Miller

1.

2.

Manciple

1.

2.

Reeve

1.

2.

Summoner

1.

2.

Pardoner

1.

2.

Host

1.

2.


Best Pilgrims
Worst Pilgrims
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
4.
4.
5.
5.
6.
6.

Themes: In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight discuss the theme of Faith. How does it work? Give some specific examples of this theme in the text.

Who are the following characters and why are they important:

Gawain

The Green Knight

King Arthur

the Lady

Morgan Le Fay

Bertilak

Symbols - discuss the meaning of the following symbols:

Gawain's Shield

the Green Girdle,

Compare Sir Gawain and the Green Knight to Beowulf (either by theme, character, or symbol). Use specific examples.

Sunday, October 19, 2025

Monday

 Today we are going to review Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, review vocabulary, and work on study questions for Fit 3 and Fit 4. 


FIT 3

1) Compare each of the hunting scenes with the bedroom scenes in the castle. Explain how the hunting scenes symbolize what is going on in the bedroom and explore how the differ animals hunted relate to the different tactics used by the lady each day.

2) What is your impression of Gawain during this section? How do you think he behaves? Does he uphold his honor while not dishonoring the lady and the lord?

3) What is the climax of the book?

4) What does the girdle symbolize?

5) There are a few allusions to Christ, Mary and faith (or failure of faith) can you pick a couple out and discuss why they are there?

 

Fit 4

1) Sir Gawain and the Green Knight can be viewed as a journey from life to death and back to life. Discuss how this works.
2) Sir Gawain is reborn both physically and spiritually at the end of the book how?
3) Whose Point of View are we suppose to exact at the end of the book? Why?
4) Is Gawain ruined as a knight or will we see great deeds from him again?
5) In your opinion who is really in control?
6) Is Gawain a hero?

New Vocabulary Words

Guerdon
Aghast
Recreant
Roister
Tryst
Largesse
Covetous
Beldame
Doughty
Panoply
Behest
Respite

FINAL REVIEW GUIDE

We will check with Brenden to see what he needs to review on this guide. Then we will review Beowulf and give you time to study. Test is on ...