Middle English
Chaucer and the Middle Ages
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Overview
Chaucer is one of the most vital and engaging poets of the English language, a person whose influence on poetry cannot really be understated. Importing Italian and French conventions into his writing, Chaucer can be credited with introducing iambic pentameter to English poetry — and being very darned funny in the process. The Canterbury Tales paints a richly-detailed picture of medieval life, rather like a Renaissance Faire but without the bad fried food and random turkey legs. |
Background Reading
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Textbook Reading About Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, and Middle English
Preliminary Reading NOTE: Outline or take textual notes on all textbook information that you are asked to read. I will give occasional open-note quizzes, so taking notes will definitely help your understanding.
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The Chaucer and Middle Ages Readings
Readings are mandatory unless specifically marked “Optional.” Optional readings are just that — optional. They are there for your convenience and to help expand your understanding of the course material. If you’re having a hard time understanding something, the optional materials can often be very helpful to you. If you have suggestions for optional material you would like to see on this page, please email me at [email protected] with your suggestions. |
Major Texts
Optional Readings
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The General Prologue Questions
Discussion questions will typically be used during (you guessed it!) in-class discussion. Sometimes, these questions may form the basis for an essay question or test. We may not address all questions, and we may address others that spontaneously arise during discussion. However, knowing that these are general topics will be of use to you.
Discussion questions will typically be used during (you guessed it!) in-class discussion. Sometimes, these questions may form the basis for an essay question or test. We may not address all questions, and we may address others that spontaneously arise during discussion. However, knowing that these are general topics will be of use to you.
The Canterbury Tales Prologue Discussion Questions*
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We will engage in close reading of the opening sentence to Chaucer’s General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales and examine the following:
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The Three "Estates": Those Who Pray, Those Who Rule, Those Who Work
Discussion Questions: Those Who Pray
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The medieval world was largely divided into three broad groups, or "estates": those who pray, those who fight and rule, and those who work.
Those Who Pray There can be no understating the importance of the medieval church. It was, spiritually and often literally, the center of medieval life. As an employer, the Church encompassed not only clergy, but laypeople in associated positions, and ultimately, it touched all aspects of medieval life. Estates Satire: Gold, Iron, and Rather Messy Shepherds Chaucer turns his eye toward the medieval church -- and its wide-ranging corruption-- in the General Prologue, contrasting the true shepherds who 'walk the walk and talk the talk' like the Parson with materialists like the Prioress and Monk, or worse, with con men like the Pardoner. Chaucer's satire is gentle here, but his criticism, however light, reveals many of the problems in the Church that would eventually give rise to the Reformation in Europe. Discussion Questions - Those Who Pray
Discussion questions taken from this site. |
Those Who Fight and Rule
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The Knight and Squire
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Those Who Work
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(Under development. Ironically, I'm still working on it.)
Discussion Questions: The Wife of Bath
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Specific Tale Questions
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Wife of Bath's Tale Questions
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Questions
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Written Assignments
NOTE: The following are possible writing assignments for this unit. Any writing assignment will be given and explained in class. In other words, please do not do these assignments unless you’re specifically asked to do so. They are put here for your convenience and reference if you're absent or missing the handout. |
Written Assignment Links
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Media Resources
Note: These are here to help you understand concepts or texts, but they are optional unless specifically assigned. |
Fun Stuff Online
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