Close Reading: The Canterbury Tales

Prologue

Independently Read

• Silently read lines 1-34 in the introduction to The Canterbury Tales Prologue

• Do not take notes or annotate

Round 1 – First Impressions• Take out a piece of paper and answer the

following questions: • Can you comprehend/follow the passage?• What is the first thing you notice about the

passage?• Do you notice anything about the image?• What mood does the passage create?

Round 2 – Vocabulary • Re-read the intro to the prologue:–Which words do you notice first?– Do any words seem oddly used to you? Why?– Look up three words you do not know. You may

use your phone or a Dictionary.

Round 3 – Patterns/Figures of Speech

• Re-read the intro to the Prologue:– Is there a rhyme scheme?–Are there metaphors, similes, figures of

speech?– Is there any symbolism?

Round 4 – Putting It All Together

• Re-read the intro to the Prologue:–What is the main point?–What is the setting? –Who is the narrator?

Concluding Thoughts

• What helped you with understanding the passage better? Re-reading, defining vocabulary, finding patterns? Explain your response.

• At the bottom of your paper, rate yourself as to where your comprehension of the passage is. Explain why you gave yourself this rating.