The Canterbury Tales
By Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales is considered Chaucer’s
masterpiece for several reasons.
First, it marks the
beginnings of a new tradition: Chaucer was the first
writer to use English in a major literary work. Secondly,
it gives a picture of a cross-section of society during the
1300s. Finally, it is a detailed, lifelike, and engaging
picture. Chaucer lets his characters speak as they might
actually talk. This was risky because they did not always
talk in a polite way, which could offend some readers.
Chaucer acknowledges this fact himself:
. . . I rehearse
Their tales as told, for better or for worse,
For else I should be false to what occurred.
So if this tale had better not be heard,
Just turn the page and choose another sort;
You’ll find them here in plenty, long and short;
Many historical, that will profess
Morality, good breeding, saintliness.
Do not blame me if you should choose amiss.”
Some critics were shocked by the earthy language and humor in certain stories, but even more were captivated by
the characters, stories, and the language itself. The Canterbury Tales shows Chaucer’s mastery of numerous poetic forms
and his thorough grounding in history, mythology, psychology, science, theology, and business.
He created
approximately 17,000 lines of vivid poetry that has such universal appeal that it still attracts new readers today.
In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer uses a narrative format called a frame story. The frame is the larger story,
inside of which are many smaller stories. In this class, we will be reading two stories within the larger story, “The Wife
of Bath’s Tale” and “The Pardoner’s Tale”
In the “The Prologue” the Host asks each pilgrim to tell two stories on the way to Canterbury and two stories on
the way back. The pilgrim who tells the best story will be treated for dinner by the other pilgrims. With 30 pilgrims
traveling together, there should be 120 tales in all, but the text ends after 24 tales. Either Chaucer stopped writing to
revise and then capped it, or he died before the work could be finished. No one since his death has attempted to finish this
beautiful piece of literature.
Something to think about—Chaucer writes from the perspective of many people, all differing in social status and
gender. Do you think he does a good job portraying these different characters, or is his portrayal biased, since he can only
understand the world through his own perspective?
Pre-Reading Activity: Before we begin our journey to Canterbury, you and fellow classmates will improvise a
story that revolves around one of the following themes. Each theme relates to a moral, or a lesson learned as a
result of a character’s actions. Each group will act out the skit for the class. Geoffrey Chaucer uses many
themes in his tales to convey a satirical message about the faults of humanity. He used humor as a way to
remind us to correct our behavior. Remember, your skit should expose a fault, and end with a lesson.
THEME: EXCESSIVE PRIDE CAN LEAD TO DOWNFALL
Characters: 1 Coach
1 Player
THEME: DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU’D HAVE DONE TO YOU
Characters: 3 friends
THEME: BEING ENVIOUS / JEALOUS IS NO WAY TO LIVE
Characters: 2 Girls who are friends
1 Boy
THEME: ACCEPT WHO YOU ARE
Characters: 1 Father
1 Son
THEME: RESPECT THOSE AROUND YOU, FOR YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU’LL BE IN THEIR POSITION
Characters: 1 Old woman
3 young people
THEME: CHEATING WILL GET YOU NO WHERE
Characters: 1 Teacher
2 Students
THEME: LYING IS NOT WORTH THE CONSEQUENCES
Characters: 1 Parent
4 Friends
THEME: RESPONSIBILITY LEARNED YOUNG WILL EARN SUCCESS LATER
Characters: 1 Employer
1 Employee
Building Background Information: Read pages 22-26 in the textbook to establish background information about
Medieval England and Geoffrey Chaucer’s life. After reading, respond to the questions.
1. What historic event marks the beginning of the Medieval Period? What does the word medieval mean?
2.
William the Conqueror introduces feudalism to England; explain what feudalism is.
3. Who is Henry II and what did he do for England?
4. What did Eleanor of Aquitaine encourage knights to do? What other contributions did she have in England?
5. Explain why feudalism began to decline. What inspired the growth of commoners’ power?
6. Why did the English language grow during this time of turmoil and warfare? (Sidebar 23)
7. What types of literature was popular among the English speaking common folk? (Sidebar 23)
8. What event marks the end of the Middle Ages in England?
9. In what ways did speaking English become patriotic? (Sidebar 26)
Building Background Information Continued: Read pages 107-111 in the textbook to establish background
information about Medieval England and Geoffrey Chaucer’s life. After reading, respond to the questions.
10. What makes Geoffrey Chaucer England’s First Great Writer? (page 107)
11. What was Chaucer’s home life like? Were they wealthy? Poor? Explain how this relates to the decline of
feudalism.
12. What did Chaucer learn as a result of the experiences he had while he was attendant to Prince Lionel?
13. How might Chaucer’s diplomatic travels to Europe provide inspiration for his writing career?
14. What were some of Chaucer’s literary accomplishments during his more fruitful years as a writer?
15. What honor did Chaucer receive when he died that was uncommon for someone of his social status?
16. What was London like when Chaucer was alive? What might this say about the presence of disease?
17. Why do pilgrims travel to Canterbury? Who does the shrine belong to? (sidebar 110)
Canterbury Tales— “The Prologue” begins on page 113
1.
At what time of year does the story take place? Write down two phrases used to describe the time of year. Why is this a good
time of year for making a pilgrimage?
2.
“But none the less, while I have time and space, / Before my story takes a further pace, / it seems a reasonable thing to say / What
their condition was, the full array / Of each of them, as it appeared to me, /According to profession and degree, / And what
apparel they were riding in.” (35-41) What is the narrator going to take time and space to do?
3.
Which pilgrims are described first? Write down two phrases that describes both of these characters. Why would Chaucer begin
with these two, and not someone else?
4.
Skip to the end of “The Prologue”—page 132 lines 735-855). What is Chaucer’s tone like when he writes “at that high-class
hostelry Known as The Tabard”?
5.
What sort of man is the Host? Write down two phrases that describes him.
6.
What does the Host ask each man to do on the way to Canterbury? What will the Host’s job be? What will the reward be for the
person who wins? What happens if a pilgrim refuses to participate?
7.
How do they determine who will be the first to tell a story/tale?
Canterbury Tales—“The Pardoner’s Tale” begins on page 142
1.
The Pardoner preaches, “The love of money is the root of all evil.” Write down two phrases about the Pardoner that shows the
irony in “practicing what you preach.”
2.
At the beginning of the Pardoner’s Tale, what terrible news do the three rioters hear at the tavern?
3.
Writers sometimes attribute human qualities to an object, animal or idea, a literary device known as personification. Describe
Chaucer’s use of personification in lines 72 through 80
4.
What do the three men set out to do? How might the rioter’s drinking be affecting their judgment or behavior?
5.
Compare the old man’s description of death to the personification used by the rioters. How does the old man personify death in
lines 124 through 137.
6.
The old man tells the rioters where they can find death, what have they found instead? In line 178, explain how “fortune” has two
meanings. Do you think the young men will be blessed by fortune, or have they really found death?
7.
What does the rioters’ plans of betrayal suggest about human nature and the desire for money?
8.
In light of the Pardoner’s true motives and desires, as revealed in the prologue to the tale and in question two, why is the moral of
this tale ironic and satirical?
9.
In our world today, there are many people who Chaucer would probably satirize for their love of money. What types of modern
professions might Chaucer make fun of for this reason?
Canterbury Tales— “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” begins on page 155
1.
Before we begin, answer the following very important question: What is it that women most desire? Be honest and really try to
think of something…..we will share! (be appropriate, of course )
2.
What is the setting of the “Wife of Bath’s Tale”
3.
According to lines 38-56, what is the Wife of Bath’s attitude toward friars?
4.
What does the Knight do that causes him to be brought before the king? What is the task the Queen demands that the knight
complete in order to save his life? Is this a fair punishment? In what way is the question related to the crime he has committed?
5.
List the various responses to the question of what women most desire. Why does the knight feel “dejected” in line 165?
6.
What information does the old woman give the knight regarding the answer to the question? What does he owe the old woman in return?
7.
Give an example of how the knight behaves after they are married. What is the old woman’s response?
8.
What are the two choices that the woman gives to the knight? How does the knight’s response to the woman’s question relate to
what he has learned about what it is that women most desire?
9.
How do you feel about the ending? Do you think Chaucer really knows what women want?
Ye OldeBook
—A
social networking activity for Canterbury Pilgrims
You and your classmates will choose character from Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. You will read this
character’s passage from “the Prologue” where the narrator provides revealing details about the pilgrims who are traveling
to Canterbury. After reading, you will use details about the character to create an online social networking profile—think
Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Tumblr, Flikr, Match.com, or other blogs and social networking sites. Using information
from “the Prologue” and some creative application, you and your classmates will make a poster that represents the
pilgrim’s social networking profile. You will present the social profile poster to the class in a brief presentation.
Knight 114
Sergeant (a lawyer) 121
* Pardoner 131 and 142
Squire 115
Franklin (wealthy land owner) 122
Host of the Tabard 134
Nun 116
Doctor 124
Summoner (summons people to
Monk 117
*Woman of Bath 125 and 155
religious court) 130
Friar 118
Parson 125
Yeoman (an attendant to a noble
Merchant 120
Miller 127
household) 115
Oxford Cleric (a student) 120
Reeve (a manager) 128
Pilgrim Profile MUST Include…
 Which social network? (you can make one up or use one you are familiar with)
 The pilgrim, his/her name or give one that is appropriate: http://medieval.stormthecastle.com/medievalnames.htm
 Description of physical appearance and personality traits
 Social class or ranking: feudal ranking, ecclesiastical (religious) class, or rising middle class merchants.
 Occupation description of job duties: http://www.castles.me.uk/medieval-occupations.htm
 Hometown select a place near Southwark
 Reason for pilgrimage
 Status updates or blog entries that detail events on pilgrimage or references to the tale s/he tells,
 Messages from friends, who is the pilgrim friends with?
 What is Chaucer’s opinion of this person?
 Some fun stuff to include…Applications, groups or networks, favorite books/ music/ movies, hobbies and
pastimes, google map the trip, photo albums…etc.
We will spend some time in-class on this project, but you are encouraged to work on it at home and during directed
study. Divide the work; someone can type up the captions to be glued onto the poster in class. Someone else can print
images/maps/photos to incorporate into the profile. Someone might have craft paper or supplies that are not available in
class; they can bring them on days we work in class.