British Lit.
Ms. Smetana
February 2006
Canterbury Tales Re-Mix
ELABLRL3 The student deepens understanding of literary works by relating them to
their contemporary context or historical background, as well as to works from other
time periods.
The student employs a variety of writing genres to demonstrate a comprehensive grasp
of significant ideas in selected literary works. The student composes essays, narratives,
poems, or technical documents
Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales is about a group of 14th century pilgrims
from all walks of life who travel together for several days on their way to a
shrine in Canterbury. They entertain each other on this journey by telling stories.
The person who tells the most entertaining story wins dinner at the local tavern,
courtesy of the other story-telling pilgrims
Your task for this project is to create (as a class) a contemporary version of The
Canterbury Tales. This means thinking of a fictional scenario in which a group of
diverse people find themselves traveling together for several days toward a
common destination. It also means deciding on a theme for the competitive
story-telling element, and creating your own character and rhyming story.
Here are the details of your Canterbury tales Pilgrimage:
Destination: Chuck and Cindy’s wedding, San Diego, California.
Mode of transport: A Greyhound bus departing from West Virginia
Narrator: The bus driver (Hank)
Story-telling Theme: Each person on the bus will be giving a toast at the
reception. These toasts will serve as our “stories”. They will, 1) explain how your
character knows either the bride or groom, and 2) be written in rhyme (like the
original tales). They should also aim to be clever and entertaining, as those are
among the criteria the judges will use to determine who wins the free dinner.
Each toast should include a funny story about how their character knows the
Bride or Groom or both. **Please see notes on appropriate content.
Additional Project Details:
1. We will dress in character on the presentation day. How well your
costume captures the personality of your character will be one of the
judging categories as well as a grading component.
2. We will be reading your tales out loud for the class in either the theatre or
the drama room.
Judging and Grading Criteria:
Creation of a Vivid and Interesting Character: 5
Rhyme, Rhythm, Meter: 5
Explanation of why character is telling story:5
Format (for basic speech—see attached): 5
Grammar, Mechanics, etc.: 5
Costume: 5
Performance, Delivery: 5
Total: 35
Notes on Taste and Appropriateness:
While humor, wit, and social satire are encouraged in this project, it is important
to respect the boundaries of appropriate and tasteful content. We want to
entertain our audience, not offend them. Good social satire is delicate: we want
to illuminate the quirks and flaws of our characters, but we also want to avoid
stereotyping or culturally insensitive humor.
Not appropriate:
1. excessive alcohol references
2. drug references
3. sexual references
4. swearing
5. any comments that are derogatory or could be offensive to members of racial,
cultural, religious, sexual orientation, or gender groups.
** If you are having a hard time determining whether something is appropriate,
ask yourself whether you would say it in front of your grandmother. Or better
yet, my grandmother.
Tips for writing a wedding toast
Adapted from http://weddings.about.com/od/theweddingparty/a/toastwriting.htm
Before You Begin
Start off by writing down thoughts freely about the bride and groom and your
relationship to them.
1. How do you know them?
2. Why did they choose you to make this toast?
3. How would you describe each of them? What are the first five adjectives
that come to mind?
4. What was the groom like before he met the bride? How has he changed
knowing her? (Reverse this, obviously, if you are acquainted with the
bride)
5. How did they meet? How did the groom tell you about her? (Or how did
the bride tell you about him?)
6. If you are married, you may wish to think about marriage advice you've
received or have learned.
7. Are there any particularly amusing anecdotes that illustrate who the bride
and/or groom is?
Beginning
Start off by introducing yourself, as not everyone in the room will know who you
are.
You might say "Excuse me everyone, if I could have your attention for a
moment. I'd like to take a few moments to say a few words about our bride and
groom. I'm_______, _______'s longtime good friend (or brother, cousin, etc.)"
*This might also be an opportunity for you to say something about your 48-hour
bus ride.
Middle
Tell a funny story about the bride and/or groom, give your thoughts on love and
marriage, tell the story of how they met, or talk about how you've seen them
change through their relationship. Give interesting details. At all costs, avoid exgirlfriend/boyfriend stories and keep it rated PG for kids and grandmothers in the
room.
Closing
It's often good to wrap up your toast with a wish, traditional toast, or blessing
for the bride and groom. Raise your glass with a resounding congratulations,
cheers, l'chaim or salud, and don't forget to drink to your own toast.