the canterbury tales women in chaucer 5 assignments

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Character Development

THE PILGRIMS

For this activity you will be reading the “General Prologue” and several of the pilgrim’s tales from The Canterbury Tales.

An online text that provides both the Middle English version and a modern version of the poem is available here. Use the toolbar on the left to select the version you wish to use (a nice side-by-side option is also available). You can then navigate to specific parts of the poem and can control how many lines you see at a time. You do not have to enter Start/End parameters.

An alternative site with the full text can be found here.

Assignment 1

Complete the attached Character Development handout.

Assignment 2

Dialogue

Select two well-known public contemporary figures you believe have characteristics comparable to any pair of pilgrims. Compose a short description of each of these two contemporary figures in the style of Chaucer’s “General Prologue.” Then create a dialogue that shows interaction between the two characters, comparable to the style of the links.

Remember to follow MLA formatting guidelines for your document

See the following rubric:

Indicator/Point Value

Description

Instructor Comments

Indicator: Description is present fully matching the General Prologue sample

Point Value: 35
  • 1 paragraph is written explaining the two well-known public contemporary figures chosen and what characteristics they share with the pair of pilgrims chosen.
  • 1 18 stanza poem is written (mimicking the General Prologue) for each of the two contemporary figures explaining their character.
  • Lines in the poems match the rhyme scheme found in the prologue

Indicator: Dialogue matches the same of the General Prologueand follows requirements for dialogue

Point Value: 35
  • Dialogue is written in a 18 stanza poem mimicking Chaucer’s style
  • Lines of dialogue match the rhyme scheme found in Chaucer’s work
  • Characters respond to one another logically
  • Conversation has a clear beginning, middle, and ending
  • Dialogue is punctuated accurately

Indicator: Essay maintains correct formatting.

Point Value: 15
  • 12-point Arial or Times New Roman font
  • Double spaced
  • One inch margins
  • Submission is in MLA format

Indicator: Essay demonstrates correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

Point Value: 15
  • Writing is free of spelling or word use errors.
  • Writing is free of run-on sentences or sentence fragments.
  • All punctuation is used appropriately.
  • All proper nouns and the beginnings of sentences are capitalized appropriately.
  • All other standard English grammar, punctuation, and spelling rules are followed.
  • Sentences vary in structure between simple, complex, compound, and complex-compound structures.
  • Fully developed paragraphs have a minimum of four – five sentences each.
  • Formal academic voice used (no first person or contractions used)

Women in Chaucer

MEDIEVAL WOMEN

In your final activity from The Canterbury Tales you will be examining Chaucer’s portrayal of women and comparing it with the lives and attitudes of actual medieval women.

Using the same online text as for the previous activity, you will use the “General Prologue” and “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” and “The Wife of Bath’s Prologue” to evaluate the characteristics of the Wife of Bath and the Prioress.

An alternative site with the full text can be found here.

Next, you will conduct research into the lives of several historical women, examining their qualities and values.

Finally, you will organize and present your research in a three page essay.

Assignment 3

Women in Chaucer

Read “General Prologue” and “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” and “Prologue” from The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.

List the qualities and values of the Wife of Bath and of the Prioress based on the “General Prologue” descriptions. Then list the qualities and values of the Wife of Bath based on her “Prologue” and her tale.

Submit your notes here. These should be arranged as a table and should include specific evidence from the text.

Assignment 4

Women in Medieval Culture

Download this handout to complete the assignment, Women in Medieval Culture.

Please see the attached handout.

Use the information from Assignment 4 to complete assignment 5.

Assignment 5

Medieval Women Research

Compose a short essay (3 pages) summarizing the information you learned in the Women in Medieval Culture assignment.

Include:

  • The nature of life for a woman in the Middle Ages
  • The values, interests, and character of the woman
  • Similarities and differences in the life of your historical figure and the fictional women in The Canterbury Tales

Remember to format your essay according to MLA guidelines and to correctly document your sources using internal citation and a Works Cited page.

See the following rubric:

Indicator/Point Value

Description

Instructor Comments

Indicator: Essay fully addresses the prompt.

Point Value: 35
  • Essay is a minimum of three pages when formatted according to MLA format.
  • The basis of the essay is the chosen historical figure
  • Essay includes the nature of life for women in the Middle Ages is addressed in comparison with the historical figure
  • Essay includes the values, interests, and character of the woman.
  • The essay discusses the similarities and differences in the life of your historical figure and the fictional women in The Canterbury Tales.
  • All information is accurate and factual about the historical figure, women in the Middle Ages, and The Canterbury Tales.

Indicator: Essay is properly structured and demonstrates a mastery literary and historical analysis

Point Value: 35
  • Essay contains a clear introduction that introduces the name of the text, the author of the text, a one-sentence summary of the text included, and a clear thesis.
  • Introduction is written as though the audience is not familiar w/ the text or the historical figure.
  • Thesis statement makes an argumentative assertion about the topic.
  • Thesis statement states the conclusions you have reached about your topic.
  • Thesis statement makes a promise to the reader about the scope, purpose, and direction of your paper.
  • Thesis statement is focused and specific enough to be “proven” within the boundaries of your paper.
  • Thesis statement identifies the relationship between the pieces of evidence that you are using to support your argument.
  • Body paragraphs support the thesis.
  • Body paragraphs begin with a strong transitional phrase and use textual evidence to support the thesis.
  • Body paragraphs avoid simple summary and use the textual evidence for analysis.
  • The conclusion paragraph summarizes the major points outlined in the essay and re-affirms the thesis statement from the introduction.
  • Essay uses in-text citations appropriately
  • In-text citations are formatted according to MLA format

Indicator: Essay maintains correct formatting.

Point Value: 15
  • 12-point Arial or Times New Roman font
  • Double spaced
  • One inch margins
  • Essay is in MLA format
  • Works Cited page is included in MLA format

Indicator: Essay demonstrates correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

Point Value: 15
  • Writing is free of spelling or word use errors.
  • Writing is free of run-on sentences or sentence fragments.
  • All punctuation is used appropriately.
  • All proper nouns and the beginnings of sentences are capitalized appropriately.
  • All other standard English grammar, punctuation, and spelling rules are followed.
  • Sentences vary in structure between simple, complex, compound, and complex-compound structures.
  • Fully developed paragraphs have a minimum of four – five sentences each.
  • Formal academic voice used (no first person or contractions used)