WARM-UP: SEPTEMBER 11, 2012 “I suddenly understood that if every moment of a

book should be taken seriously, then every moment of a life should be taken seriously as well.” –S. Alexie

“After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.”

–P. Pullman

1.) What are these quotes saying? Explain.2.) How are they related to each other?3.) Who do you know that is a good storyteller? What makes them good at storytelling?

GEOFFREY CHAUCER & THE CANTERBURY

TALESIntroduction

AGENDA Review homework “My Name”

Review samples Chaucer Prologue

Rhyme and meter Prologue Assignments

Character Profile

“Floating over five letters and three syllables, it’s a strange accumulation of letters. The sound of each part feels like a fluttering butterfly wing, dripping like nectar from the side of my mouth.”

“Blue is the color of my name. Blue is calm like the backdrop of a computer screen that is a photograph of tranquil waters… The color is calm like the sound of my name.”

“In America, my name means beautiful white flower. It’s like a fresh stream flowing through ice toppled mountains.”

“My name is a name that is often misspelled, often viewed as a foreign language of its own.”

“It is a fair name. A name that does not like unfairness or deception… My name is bumpy toward the end, as if two words were put together to form one name.”

“In Norse, it means sword. It is a sharp, belligerent name. It doesn’t compliment my personality; in fact, it does the exact opposite. I refuse to comply with my name.”

CHAUCER Born around 1342 AD (exact date not

known)London

Got job as page in the royal householdOnly a teenagerFather was middle class wine merchant; had

connections Well-educated Promoted; got to travel

Worked a lot but also wrote a lot C. Tales is his masterpiece

1st major work in EnglishPortrayed people of all social standings

CANTERBURY TALES Frame Narrative

Several small stories in a larger one Used many stories he had heard before

Stories told and retold Focus was on storyteller’s skill

Used everyday people Didn’t just write about heroes or royalty.

Characters: From Feudal System

Knight, Squire, Franklin, Plowman, Miller, Reeve In Religious Life

Nun, Monk, Friar, Cleric, Parson, Summoner, Pardoner In rising middle class

Merchant, Sergeant at the Law, Five Tradesmen, Cook, Skipper

TIME AND PLACE 14th century Pilgrimage to Canterbury

Journey had been made for 200 years. Worship the shrine of St. Thomas Becket. 200 year anniversary of his death.

Pilgrimage for several reasons. Religious devotion, pray for miracles,

adventure, change of scenery. Pilgrims banded together.

Safety (robbers and roads) Chaucer died before completing C. Tales.

Not sure the exact order.

TRAVEL Today a two-hour drive. Then, several days.

KEY TERMS Direct: The author tells you what the

character is like.Ex: Anne was energetic and social.

Indirect: The author shows you what the character is like through their thoughts, feelings, actions, etc.Ex: Anne’s father was nervous about her ability to

keep quiet during the day, so he got her a diary. Rhyme: pattern of rhymes between lines of a

poem or song. Meter: recurring pattern of stressed and

unstressed syllables in lines of a set length. Iambic Pentameter: 5 unstressed, 5

stressed

PROLOGUE Rhyme Meter Annotations

Plot, interpretations

CHARACTER ASSIGNMENTS1. The Knight2. The Nun3. The Monk4. The Friar5. The Franklin6. The Doctor 7. The Wife of Bath8. The Parson9. The Reeve10. The Summoner11. The Pardoner12. The Host13. The Squire14. The Miller

CHARACTER ASSIGNMENTS Read your assigned section. Complete the Character Chart on your

character. If the text doesn’t tell you the answer to

a question/category, make up an answer based upon the characterization of that person in the story.