The Canterbury Tales Project
As a counter to your test-and-quiz-heavy workload to this point, the next assignment is a short project to be
completed by the beginning of class on Thursday, February 20, 2013. We don’t have school this Thursday
through next Monday, and next Tuesday and Wednesday will be “work days” in which you will have no other
objective or expectation other than to get this (and maybe something else) done. This project requires you to
use your artistic and/or linguistic skills to adapt and prepare one of the four tales we read for another format.
You have two options, explained in detail below.
>> Option 1—Movie Script Adaptation & Casting
Choose one of the four tales read in class and prepare it for the big screen. There are two parts to this option:
(1) Cast all of the characters—even the small parts—with known actors, giving a justification for why each
person would fit that part well (dramatic or comedic ability, similarity to a character portrayed in another
movie, young and pretty, etc.); and (2) write a screenplay that highlights the major dialogue and action taking
place in the story. What’s a screenplay? Read on for an example…
KNIGHT hears rustling in the bushes ahead and silently approaches the disturbance, finding NUDE
WOMAN taking her clothes down from a nearby tree. After peeking for a while, KNIGHT approaches.
KNIGHT: Hello, fair maiden. Is anything the matter?
NUDE WOMAN: Oh my god! Get out of here! Can’t you see I’m naked?
KNIGHT: Why, yes. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. You are stunningly beautiful.
NUDE WOMAN: Are you trying to flirt with me? I’m not interested, creep. Go away!
KNIGHT walks closer now, visibly angered by NUDE WOMAN’s response. KNIGHT grabs her arm.
KNIGHT: It doesn’t matter if you’re interested. I’ll take what I want.
KNIGHT draws a dagger and pushes NUDE WOMAN to the ground before pouncing on her and
covering her mouth.
NUDE WOMAN: No! (muffled screams)
As you can see, this may get a little tedious, so I’ll allow you to cut to the main parts (or scenes) of the story and
ignore all the boring background parts and transitions. In addition, you may update the dialogue a little bit,
but keep in mind that you cannot change the setting—it’s medieval times or bust!
>> Option 2—Comic/Storybook Adaptation
Choose one of the four tales read in class and adapt it into a comic book or story/picture book. (I would say
children’s book, but the subject matter isn’t really for children, is it?) Simplify the story into pieces that would fit
into comic book panels or picture book pages, including illustrations with each panel/page. Make sure they
are original, full-color drawings (read: not pencil sketches), and that they are pieced together as a book—and I
know you know what books look like. Does this one need any more explanation?
>> What You Really Want to Know
It’s worth a total of 40 points—10 for completion, 10 for adherence to the story, and 20 for artistic and linguistic
skill and presentation. That means 25% of your grade is for turning it in, 25% is for following the story correctly,
and 50% for you doing your absolute best on this project. I will hold you to that last one. Be prepared to start
work on this by Tuesday, and please spend more than 20 minutes on it; if it’s clear that effort is lacking, it will
show through in your evaluation.