Canterbury Tales Prologue Pilgrim Activity
Before reading:
Let’s review a few terms you will need for understanding the Prologue:
(a) characteristics of Middle English
(d) iambic pentameter
language
(e) couplets
(b) pilgrimage
(f) satire
(c) frame story
(g) stereotype
As you read:
Much of what we know about everyday medieval life comes from Chaucer’s Canterbury’s tales. The
work is an important view into history as well as a work of literature. As we read the opening lines of
the Prologue together, determine each of the following:
(a) The time of year
(b) The number of pilgrims
(c) The meeting place
(d) The destination
The Pilgrims
As you read the prologue, find the following information for each pilgrim:
(a) Name or title
(e) A representative line from prologue of
(b) Physical description
that character.
(c) Clothing
(f) Your opinion of this character
(d) Occupation
(g) A modern counterpart
The Canterbury Pilgrim Cards:
With the information that you found, create a deck of Canterbury Pilgrim cards:
You will need a set of 3x5 cards. Use one card for each pilgrim to put information asked for above,
using a combination of quotations and your own words. You may not be able to find all the requested
information about each pilgrim, but try to be as thorough as possible. Use the back of your card for a
quick illustration or simple icon, so that you will be able to know at a glance whose “card” this is.
An example of the Knight is done below:
The Knight
Physical description: “A most distinguished man” (line 43)
Clothing: “He wore a fustian tunic stained and dark
With smudges where his armor had left mark” (77-78)
Occupation: A knight, duh!
Representative line: “He was a true, a perfect gentle-knight” (74)
My opinion: He seems to be a brave, skilled, experienced Crusader for
Christianity.
Modern counterpart: A Navy SEAL
After you read:
In class, we will sort these cards into categories:
1. Feudal
2. Church, clergy
3. Town, trade
Within each of the above categories, we will also sort these pilgrims, first by their wealth, from richest
to poorest, then by their morality, from the most virtuous to the most corrupt. Be able to justify your
rankings to the class.