Canterbury Tales General Prologue: Character Assignment
Purpose: In order for the class to get a better idea of who all the characters are, and to
get a “picture” in our heads, each student will be assigned to report on one or two
characters from the General Prologue to the class.
Components: For your assigned character, you must present the following, based on the
description in the General Prologue.
1. Occupation and explanation if needed
2. Physical description
3. Intelligence/education
4. Emotions/personality
5. Background history
6. Definitions of any unknown vocabulary used to describe the character
7. Explanations of any allusions
8. A visual that you bring from a magazine, newspaper, internet, etc.,that depicts what
you think the character might look like. It could be “medieval,” or a modern-day
equivalent.
Your report needs to be typed and posted to the conference, but you will also
present it orally. I would suggest about a page for each character. Plan to talk a
few minutes about your character, supplementing what is written for us to read.
Your effort on this will count as a quiz grade.
Due Date: Thursday, 1/10
Assignments:
Alex B: Knight
McKibbin: Parson
Justine: Squire
Chandler: Plowman
Jamie: Yeoman
Kenny: Nun
Sam: Miller
Ben: Monk, Manciple
Alex: Friar, Pardoner
Andrew R: Merchant, Cook
Madison: Cleric
Jonathan: Sergeant-at-Law
Christine: Franklin
Spencer: Wife of Bath
Marco: Doctor, Skipper
Mr. Szott: Summoner (example)
Abby: Host
Jacque: Reeve