A Children’s Book – Medieval Poetry Style
Task: You will write and illustrate a children’s book, writing a new story in medieval style. Here are your
options below (choose one):
1. Write your own General Prologue in which you create the beginning with a setting and situation for a
diverse group of people to be traveling together, a list of 10 characters and their descriptions, and the
finish of the Prologue that discusses the way in which the characters will be forced to interact with one
another on their trip. You must write this in rhyming couplet style, as Chaucer did. (You should have 10
lines for beginning set up, 10 lines of description per character, and 10 lines of wrap up – total 120 lines
of poetry). Pg. 141 and 143 – characterization techniques.
2. Write your own medieval Romance. Like the excerpts from Sir Gawain, you can set up an introductory
scene, a middle scene, and an end scene in lieu of a completely detailed story with all the scenes. As
well, you should style this in poetry format, not prose, if you choose this one. You will need to write this
medieval Romance in the style of the Gawain poet – 16 unrhymed lines using alliteration (bob) with the
alternating rhymed quatrain (ABAB) at the end (wheel). The story needs to have the elements of a
medieval Romance. Pg. 229 – elements of a medieval romance.
(You should have 6 bobs and wheels for a total of 120 lines of poetry).
3. Write your own medieval Romance, but in the style of Chaucer with rhyming couplets throughout.
The story needs to have elements of a medieval Romance. You should have 120 lines of rhyming couplet
style as Chaucer did. You can decide how you want to set up the lines – by 10s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 60s.
4. Write your own medieval tale – perhaps an exemplum like the Pardoner, which is a tale told in order
to spread a moral lesson. Again, you would write this in Chaucer’s style of rhyming couplets and it
should have 120 lines total. Pg. 181 – elements of an exemplum.
Expectations:
1. Choose an option and write your poem.
2. You will need to put your final copy in the style and layout of a children’s book. This means you will
need to have illustrations/visuals to accompany your poem. You should have at least 6 pages with
illustrations/visuals minimum in your book. You can have more pages if you like! You must include a
cover for your book and a back page.
3. You will present your children’s book in class on Friday, Dec. 20th. You may present your story in class,
live, by reading aloud to the class or you can make a video and show that as it presents your story to the
class.
4. Your actual book is due in class on Friday, Dec. 20th.
5. You will be evaluated on the content, style, following directions, and quality.
Due Date: Friday, December 20th – in class!