Brit. Lit.
Date __________
Name ___________________________________ #
Period 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (circle one)
THE MEDIEVAL PERIOD 1066-1485
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Key Understandings
Each individual’s life offers valuable insight into human behavior.
Narrative unity can be achieved by using specific literary techniques.
The past influences and shapes our future.
Writers use a variety of stylistic techniques to engage and persuade readers.
Informational text facilitates the understanding of narrative text.
Essential Questions
How does one’s behavior, appearance, private thoughts, speech, and other’s thoughts influence our
opinions?
Why do people pass down stories to the different generations?
How do writers use different genres of text to inform us of cultural and societal views?
Why do people take pilgrimages? Are they still used today? To what end?
What is the appeal of romance, and how has it translated today?
Knowledge and Skills
Students will know and do:
1. The different literary techniques and devices employed by writers to construct meaning in literature
representative of the Medieval Period (language, style, characterization, point of view, irony, structures)
2. Specific concepts characteristics, values, systems, beliefs, and philosophies associated with the
Medieval Period.
3. Specific content vocabulary and key concepts: See Below
4. Relate identified elements of literature
5. Trace the development of British literature
6. Identify, respond to, and analyze effects of diction, tone, mood, syntax, sound, form, figurative
language, and structure of poems
Key Concepts and Terminology
1. Genre
2. Fabliau
3. Beast fable
4. Romance
5. Physiognomy
6. Irony
7. Literary confession
8. Symbolism
9. The Romance
10. City Classes
11. Mystery Plays
12. Hero’s Journey
13. Social Codes
14. Lyric Poetry
15. Saint’s Bios
16. Hero
17. Characterization
18. Personification allegory
19. Romance hero
20. Seven Deadly Sins
21. Feudalism
22. Character
23. Chivalry
24. Couplets
25. Allegory
26. Fable
27. Imagery
28. Refrain
29. Four Virtues
30. Frame Narrative
Brit. Lit.
Date __________
Name ___________________________________ #
Period 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (circle one)
THE CANTERBURY TALES
By Geoffrey Chaucer (1342-1400)
Father of English Poetry
As you read “The Prologue” to The Canterbury Tales, answer the following questions and complete the
chart below.
Text format:
Setting (Include time and place):
Reason for the pilgrimage:
Events leading up to the tales:
3 pieces of information for each pilgrim from the narrator:
Number of pilgrims: ____
Number of tales: ____
Number of fragment tales: ____
On your own paper, copy and complete the chart for each of the pilgrims in “The Prologue” or type your
answers here as each box will expand.





For the notes column, give a detailed description of each pilgrim.
For the characterization column, give one example each of direct and indirect characterizationwrite the actual line[s] from the text.
For the “Sin” column, write in the sin[s] (from the seven deadly sins) each pilgrim seems to
exemplify according to Chaucer’s characterization of him/her. Indicate why you’ve labeled each
with that sin.
For the archetype/stereotype column, indicate whether Chaucer is stereotyping each pilgrim or is
he portraying the pilgrim as an archetype?
For “Chaucer’s view,” discuss how Chaucer feels about each pilgrim based on his description.
Does he respect them? Does he hold them in high esteem, etc.?
Brit. Lit.
Date __________
Pilgrim
The Knight
The Squire
The Yeoman
The Prioress
The Second Nun
The Nun’s Priest
The Monk
The Friar
The Merchant
The Clerk of
Oxford
The Sergeant of
the Law
The Franklin
The Cook
The Shipman
Doctor of
Physick
(Medicine)
The Wife of
Bath
The Parson
The Plowman
The Miller
The Summoner
The Pardoner
Name ___________________________________ #
Period 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (circle one)
Notes – Include character traits
One example
(inferred or stated), occupation,
each of direct
interests, details of appearance, characterization
and personal observations
and indirect
characterization
Sin
Archetype?/ Chaucer’s
Stereotype?
view
Brit. Lit.
Date __________
Name ___________________________________ #
Period 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (circle one)