Canterbury Tales Unit
1. Create an Annotated Bibliography for research conducted on Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.
2. Read the Canterbury Tales Prologue (in-class)
3. Read your assigned Pilgrim’s Tale (and Prologue if your tale is short). Three online versions are available on
the College English 12 webpage, and our library has three texts as well.
4. Read the Pardoner’s Prologue and Pardoner’s Tale (in-class).
5. Create a Character Sketch for your chosen Pilgrim.
6. Complete the Canterbury Tales Group Project.
Annotated Bibliography (50pts.)
Each student will create an annotated bibliography with at least five sources that address the following topics of
discussion: 1.Chaucer’s Life, 2.Medieval Time Period, 3. Canterbury Tale Themes, 4.Chaucer’s Writing Style,
5.Literary Criticism. For this last topic, each student must read and review one article of Literary Criticism (IPL,
EBSCO) about the CT. Students will also select one theme and review a source that addresses the issue. Themes
include, but are not limited to the following: Courtly Love, Medieval Life, Pilgrimage, Science, Corruption,
Religion and Morality. The other three topics should be self explanatory. Resource Links are on the College
English 12 Webpage. Links to help you write an Annotated Bibliography: (READ THESE!!!)
What is an Annotated Bibliography? http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/skill28.htm#what
Writing an Annotated Bibliography: http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/annotatebib.html
Canterbury Tales Character Sketch (50 pts.)
Each student will choose a Pilgrim. You must become familiar with this character from a number of aspects such
as personality, motivation, physical description, and connection to their Tale. First, read the section in the
Canterbury Prologue on your character carefully. Paraphrase it, make a list of characteristics, and begin to draw
conclusions about your character based on the information in the text. Also read your Pilgrim’s Tale (Etexts on
Resource Links Page).
1) Create a full-paged (8.5x11 or larger) colored drawing of your character based on the Prologue description. Put
your pilgrim’s name on the picture and your name as well.
2) Write a one paragraph character description that includes personality, motivation, and physical characteristics.
This should be your own analysis and go far beyond simply paraphrasing Chaucer’s description.
3) Your Tale- Rewrite, in prose, a 2 minute (1 page) condensed version of your tale set in modern times.
Canterbury Tales Pilgrims:
Knight
Squire
Yeoman (Cannon Yeoman)
Nun (Prioress)
Monk
Friar
Merchant
Oxford Cleric (Clerk, Student)
Sergeant at the Law (Lawyer)
Franklin
Cook
Skipper (Shipman, Sailor)Doctor (Physician)
Wife of Bath
Parson
Plowman* (added later)
Miller
Manciple
Reeve
Summoner
Pardoner-ALL will read in class
2nd Nun
Nun’s Priest
Sir Thopas (Topaz)
Melibee
Haberdasher, Dyer, Carpenter, Weaver, Carpetmaker
Canterbury Tales Group Project
Task:
In a group, write and perform a modern day "Canterbury Tales."
Process:
1. In a group of 4-5, choose a setting for your pilgrimage (time and place), and decide where your group will
make its pilgrimage and for what purpose.
2. Determine the competition rules and the reward for the winner of the storytelling contest on your
pilgrimage. Your ideas must be approved by me before you proceed with your project.
3. The group must write a 10-20 line Introduction for the Prologue in Chaucer's writing style (rhythm,
rhyme, approximately 10 syllables per line, use of literary devices, etc.*) to be read by the "Host" (myself).
The Introduction must include information about the destination and purpose of your pilgrimage, as well as
the storytelling rules and rewards.
4. Each person in the group must select their character and occupation, and write, in Chaucer’s writing style,
a 10-20 line (prologue) description of their character in the third person, including various traits, as well as
their reasons for making the pilgrimage. This will become part of the group's Prologue to be read by the
Host.
5. Each character will write a 60-90 line story, again in Chaucer’s writing style, to be told to the group.
6. The stories, Introductions, and Prologues must utilize Chaucer's style of poetry (rhyme, rhythm,
approximately 10 syllables per line, use of literary devices) and storytelling, and reveal a theme that is
related to your character.
7. Each group will perform their "Pilgrimage" for the class. Each Pilgrim will dress and perform in
character, and the group must transform the stage (scenery and props) to create the appropriate setting for
your pilgrimage. The "Host" (myself) will determine the overall group winner. The group with the overall
best performance will receive a lunch catered by the Host and the other groups.
Timeline:
1. You will have today to choose your groups and complete #1&2 above.
2. Tomorrow your group should complete #3 (Introduction), and for homework each member should have
their Pilgrim’s Prologue completed.
3. Day 3 and 4 should be spent writing your Canterbury Story, by the beginning of class on day 5 you
should be finished with a typed rough draft, and the final should be done by day 6.
4. Your group should practice your presentation on days 6 and 7, and on days 8 and 9 we will perform the
presentations.
Evaluation:
Groups will be evaluated on their cooperative work (10pts), content of their pilgrimage (10pts), and
organization of the final performance (20pts). Individuals will be evaluated on their written prologues
(20pts), written stories (30pts), and their individual performance (10pts). Total: 100pts.
*Tip: Try an online rhyming dictionary for help with rhymes and synonyms. My favorite is Poetry.com’s
rhymer: http://rhyme.poetry.com/ , Rhymezone is another: http://www.rhymezone.com/ ,
and another good one is Write Express: http://www.rhymer.com/