Rough outline of activities for reading Canterbury Tales playscript with year 7.
week
1
2
Lesson 1
Introduce self, play
games with
homophones using
Peel idea… give out
books. Start Caught
ya…
2
3
Introducing English PPt Introducing English PPt
Distribute texts.
Introduce characters
using original portraits
in general prologue
(hand outs) groups get
one each to translate
and present – what
sort of people are
they.
Start with language in
play: language shift
grid – modern
meanings altered –
wicked, cool, lame
etc…
Discuss the roles in
the cast list. Look at
current TV presenters
(you tube). What do
they notice as
characteristic of news
reader, commentator,
compere and so on…
Purpose of Pardoner’s
Tale
Humour? Conventions
overturned?
Table of structure:
All should note down
basic character traits
in a table.
3
4
Hear performance of
sections ( Feed back
from Peers.) and read
on into Pardoner.
Check memory of
pardoner from week 2
Wife of Bath
Read and discuss
character.
TONE: BAWDY
HUMOUR…
examples…
Opening, Development,
Complication, Crisis, Ending
Which character is
WoB most like in this
story
Allocate the project
task in pairs:
Printing press, middle
English, the historical
context of the tales,
Beckett, Chaucer,
disease, mediaeval
chivalry, knights,
scribes and monks,
religion… what was
written? Submit in
week 6
Start reading. Discuss
purpose of intro.
After first read, each
table to reallocate
roles and prepare
THEIR OWN SECTION
FOR PERFORMANCE
AT THE START OF THJE
NEXT LESSON.
Reading into Nun’s
Priest.
Compare character
with Pardoner.
Draw annotated
illustration of either
character.
Tone change: Knight.
Comparison task
based on p118:
Knight’s
tale/Codsbain.
Chivalrous, intelligent,
Ladies are coy and
flattered, women are
5
Miller – character?
Miller: key events list.
Why is it shocking?
Why is it funny?
6
Submit projects
Group performance
Group performance
not interested in sex,
Often see justice and
right
Introduce task:
Chaucer often uses
tales to show a
proverb (Pardoner
radix malorum etc).
Choose a proverb and
write a short play to
illustrate it. It can be
funny or serious. All
should speak and
there should be
minimal need for
props… these will be
filmed. Suggestions:
pride before a fall, A
stitch in time saves 9,
too many cooks…, one
in the hand is worth
two in the bush,…
Group performance