The Canterbury Tales
College Prep English
Geoffrey Chaucer’s
The Canterbury Tales
Group Presentations
Directions: In covering the Canterbury Tales, you will be placed in groups to “teach” a portion of the text. Your group will be
required to communicate content over a group of 4-5 pilgrims AND one of their “tales”. A leader should be chosen to
facilitate this project. Each group presentation should be approximately 20-25 minutes long and each group will be assigned
a specific day to present. If a group member is not present on their specific day, they will NOT receive credit. Presentations
will be over the course of several days beginning on November 3rd.
Group 1 (November 3)
Group 2 (November 3)
Group 3 (November 4)
Group 4 (November 4) Group 5 (Nov. 5th/6th)
Pilgrim
Prologue
Lines
Knight
description
Squire
description
Yeoman
description
43-80
Wife of Bath
description
455-486
81-102
103-121
Pilgrim
Summoner
description
Pardoner
description
Sergeant at
Law
description
Merchant
description
Prologue
Lines
641-688
689-734
319-340
Pilgrim
Friar
description
Monk
description
Nun
Prologue
Lines
212-279
169-211
122-168
(Prioress)
280-294
description
Workers
description
Cook
description
Pilgrim
Host
description
Miller
description
Sailor
Prologue
Lines
735-803
561-584
398-420
(skipper)
371-389
390-397
description
Manciple
description
Clerk
585-604
295-318
(Oxford
Cleric)
description
“The Wife of Bath’s Tale”
“The Pardoner’s Tale”
“The Cook’s Tale”
“The Miller’s Tale”
Pilgrim
Prologue
Lines
Reeve
description
Franklin
description
Parson
description
605-640
Plowman
description
Doctor
539-555
341-370
487-538
421-454
(Physician)
description
“The Parson’s Tale”
Each group should present the content in the following format AND in this order:
Part 1. Notetaker~ Quote Sheet /Handout/Notetaker: [10 pts]
For your character description, you must print and hand-out a notetaker and/or outline of the power-point presentation. While
presenting the information on the screen about your characters, you will need to elaborate on each character – more than just reading
the words from the powerpoint. Each student in the class will be responsible for ALL of the content – each character described in
“The Prologue”, so make sure you have great notes – and great QUOTES - to share with your classmates. (note: You will need turn in
a hard copy of this to me ahead of time so I can make enough copies for the class).
Part 2. Character Description~ Oral/ppt: [25 pts]
In “The Prologue” Chaucer provides a description of each character. It is your group’s responsibility to present a description of each
of the pilgrims assigned to your group. In sharing this information, you must present the info on the main projector screen! The
format of the visual presentation is up to you. You may choose to present a power point, movie maker production, a video/DVD,
etc…..anything that can be projected on the front board. You must make sure you accurately communicate the description of each
character that includes their physical appearance, their personality, and Chaucer’s opinion of them (Make sure you know WHY he
likes or dislikes them!!!)
Part 3. Class Activity ~ characters: [10 pts]
With the character descriptions, you should lead the rest of the class in some sort of activity that will help your classmates remember
and/or record information about the characters in your group. Ideas for activity:
- short writing task followed by a discussion
- a “game show” question and answer- a quiz over quotes
- have the class sing a creative tune or “rap”
- crossword puzzle (does not count as your handout)
Part 4. Tale Presentation~ Drama: [15 pts]
Along the way, each pilgrim tells a “tale” or a short story to entertain the group. With your group of pilgrims, you must share one of
their “tales” with the rest of the class. With each group, I have indicated which pilgrims' tales you can choose to share [for example,
group 2 must do “The Pardoner’s Tale”]. [Note: the tales are not in “The Prologue” they can be found on the internet link in
Moodle]. Then, you must present the story as a DRAMATIC SKIT! You need not turn in a script for the tale. You may act out the
story in class or you may choose to shoot a video that shows the members of your group acting out the tale. With this dramatic
presentation, you must incorporate costumes and props appropriate to your skit. You may choose to present the tale as in the Middle
Ages, or you can re-write the skit using different motifs that may include more modern characters (i.e.: rednecks, 70’s groove,
yuppies, valley girls….etc). You may provide the class with a summary of the tale itself, but you must choose a creative way to tell
the tale to the class.
Canterbury Tales Group Project
Presentation Assessment Rubric
College Prep English
Group No:
Group Members:___________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
Presentation Content [60 points]
Part 1.________ Notetaker: (handouts printed, and adequate outline for students to “fill-in”)
[10 points]
Part 2.________ Character Description: (each pilgrim is ACCURATELY described in detail – including
[25 Points]
appearance, personality, and Chaucer’s opinion)
Part 3.________ Class Activity: (all students engaged in activity/game that aides in content retention)
[10 points]
Part 4. ________ Tale Presentation: (accurate sharing of the story and the moral/purpose of the tale)
[15 points]
Presentation [40 points]
________ Preparation: (Group handouts, power-point, costumes, props are all ready to go. Each person
has an equal part and/or contributes to the presentation)
[5 points]
________ Enthusiasm: (Everyone is excited to present and shows enthusiasm for the project)
[5 points]
________ Volume and Clarity: (Each person speaks clearly so that audience can hear. There is no
reading off of power-point or handout. If there is a video, each part is easily understood/audible).
[5 points]
________ Flow: (Effective Pace, Smooth Transition, Point Emphasis/Review)
[5 points]
________ Visual Aides: (Projector Screen, Props, Costumes, Diagrams, Pictures, Videos)
[20 points]
____________ Total Points [100 points ~ 100%]
Overall Comments:
The Canterbury Tales – Pilgrim Notetaking Graphic Organizer
Group 1 (Knight, Squire, Yeoman, Wife of Bath)
The Military - Nobility
Knight (43-80)
Occupation: ________________________________________________________________
Appearance Quotes: _______________________________________________________________________________
Personality Quotes: ________________________________________________________________________________
Chaucer’s Opinion / Satirizing: (WHY Chaucer admires -or- dislikes this pilgrim)
Squire (81-102)
Occupation: ________________________________________________________________
Appearance Quotes: _______________________________________________________________________________
Personality Quotes: ________________________________________________________________________________
Chaucer’s Opinion / Satirizing: (WHY Chaucer admires -or- dislikes this pilgrim)
Yeoman (103-121) Occupation: ________________________________________________________________
Appearance Quotes: _______________________________________________________________________________
Personality Quotes: ________________________________________________________________________________
Chaucer’s Opinion / Satirizing: (WHY Chaucer admires -or- dislikes this pilgrim)
Freemen, middle-status
Wife of Bath (455-486) Occupation: _____________________________________________________________
Appearance Quotes: _______________________________________________________________________________
Personality Quotes: ________________________________________________________________________________
Chaucer’s Opinion / Satirizing: (WHY Chaucer admires -or- dislikes this pilgrim)
Group 2 (Summoner, Pardoner, Merchant, Sergeant at Law)
Freemen, contested-status
Summoner (641-688) Occupation:_______________________________________________________________
Appearance Quotes: _______________________________________________________________________________
Personality Quotes: ________________________________________________________________________________
Chaucer’s Opinion / Satirizing: (WHY Chaucer admires -or- dislikes this pilgrim)
Pardoner (689-734) Occupation: ________________________________________________________________
Appearance Quotes: _______________________________________________________________________________
Personality Quotes: ________________________________________________________________________________
Chaucer’s Opinion / Satirizing: (WHY Chaucer admires -or- dislikes this pilgrim)
Free, High-Status noblility
Merchant (280-294) Occupation: _____________________________________________________________
Appearance Quotes: _______________________________________________________________________________
Personality Quotes: ________________________________________________________________________________
Chaucer’s Opinion / Satirizing: (WHY Chaucer admires -or- dislikes this pilgrim)
Sergeant at Law (319-340) Occupation: __________________________________________________________
Appearance Quotes: _______________________________________________________________________________
Personality Quotes: ________________________________________________________________________________
Chaucer’s Opinion / Satirizing: (WHY Chaucer admires -or- dislikes this pilgrim)
Group 3 (Nun, Monk, Friar, workers, Cook)
The High Clergy
Nun/Prioress (122-168)Occupation: _____________________________________________________________
Appearance Quotes: _______________________________________________________________________________
Personality Quotes: ________________________________________________________________________________
Chaucer’s Opinion / Satirizing: (WHY Chaucer admires -or- dislikes this pilgrim)
Monk (169-211)
Occupation: ________________________________________________________________
Appearance Quotes: _______________________________________________________________________________
Personality Quotes: ________________________________________________________________________________
Chaucer’s Opinion / Satirizing: (WHY Chaucer admires -or- dislikes this pilgrim)
The Low Clergy
Friar (212-279)
Occupation: ________________________________________________________________
Appearance Quotes: _______________________________________________________________________________
Personality Quotes: ________________________________________________________________________________
Chaucer’s Opinion / Satirizing: (WHY Chaucer admires -or- dislikes this pilgrim)
The guildsmen
Workers (371-389) Occupations: __________________________________________________________
Appearance Quotes: _______________________________________________________________________________
Personality Quotes: ________________________________________________________________________________
Chaucer’s Opinion / Satirizing: (WHY Chaucer admires -or- dislikes this pilgrim)
Cook (390-397) Appearance: __________________________________________________________________
Appearance Quotes: _______________________________________________________________________________
Personality Quotes: ________________________________________________________________________________
Chaucer’s Opinion / Satirizing: (WHY Chaucer admires -or- dislikes this pilgrim)
Group 4 (Host, Skipper, Miller, Manciple, Clerk)
Other
Host (735 – 766/ 767-803) Occupation: __________________________________________________________
Appearance Quotes: _______________________________________________________________________________
Personality Quotes: ________________________________________________________________________________
Chaucer’s Opinion ….of himself: (Chaucer obviously admires himself)
Freemen, middle-status
Skipper (398-420) Appearance: ________________________________________________________________
Appearance Quotes: _______________________________________________________________________________
Personality Quotes: ________________________________________________________________________________
Chaucer’s Opinion / Satirizing: (WHY Chaucer admires -or- dislikes this pilgrim)
Freemen, contested-status
Miller (561-584) Occupation: ________________________________________________________________
Appearance Quotes: _______________________________________________________________________________
Personality Quotes: ________________________________________________________________________________
Chaucer’s Opinion / Satirizing: (WHY Chaucer admires -or- dislikes this pilgrim)
Manciple (585-604) Occupation: ________________________________________________________________
Appearance Quotes: _______________________________________________________________________________
Personality Quotes: ________________________________________________________________________________
Chaucer’s Opinion / Satirizing: (WHY Chaucer admires -or- dislikes this pilgrim)
Free, High-Status noblility
Oxford Cleric (295-318) Occupation:_____________________________________________________________
Appearance Quotes: _______________________________________________________________________________
Personality Quotes: ________________________________________________________________________________
Chaucer’s Opinion / Satirizing: (WHY Chaucer admires -or- dislikes this pilgrim)
Group 5 (Franklin, Doctor, Reeve, Parson, Plowman)
Free, High-Status noblility
Franklin (341-370) Occupation: ________________________________________________________________
Appearance Quotes: _______________________________________________________________________________
Personality Quotes: ________________________________________________________________________________
Chaucer’s Opinion / Satirizing: (WHY Chaucer admires -or- dislikes this pilgrim)men,
Doctor (421-454) Appearance: ________________________________________________________________
Appearance Quotes: _______________________________________________________________________________
Personality Quotes: ________________________________________________________________________________
Chaucer’s Opinion / Satirizing: (WHY Chaucer admires -or- dislikes this pilgrim)
Freemen, contested-status
Reeve (605-640) Occupation: ________________________________________________________________
Appearance Quotes: _______________________________________________________________________________
Personality Quotes: ________________________________________________________________________________
Chaucer’s Opinion / Satirizing: (WHY Chaucer admires -or- dislikes this pilgrim)
Freemen, low-status
Parson (487-538) Appearance: _________________________________________________________________
Appearance Quotes: _______________________________________________________________________________
Personality Quotes: ________________________________________________________________________________
Chaucer’s Opinion / Satirizing: (WHY Chaucer admires -or- dislikes this pilgrim)
Plowman (539-555) Appearance:________________________________________________________________
Appearance Quotes: _______________________________________________________________________________
Personality Quotes: ________________________________________________________________________________
Chaucer’s Opinion / Satirizing: (WHY Chaucer admires -or- dislikes this pilgrim)