Target class: Upper secondary school, Liceo Scientifico, 3rd year, students aged 15/16

Number of students: 20

Level: B1 of CEFR since they are supposed to finish Upper secondary school with B2 level according to the National Guidelines

Time: 2 hours

Topic: Geoffrey Chaucer and “The Canterbury Tales”

Pre-requisites: Knowledge of the literary and historical background of the Middle Age.They are already familiar with poetry and rhymes.Language competence at intermediate level.

Aims:Get the students acquainted with Geoffrey Chaucer and The Canterbury Tales.They will also link English literature with Italian literature and will be able to compare the two works.

Anticipated difficulties: Middle EnglishSolution: Provide the students with a Modern English translation

Students with special needs: dyslexiaIndividual Plan: provide the student with an audio file (www.librivox.org) of the prologue and an illustrated version of the work (www.etc.usf.edu/clipart/galleries/923-canterbury-tales) (strategy to be checked)

Teaching aids: text, ppt + projector, dvd, worksheets, internet

Strategies: individual work, pairs, groups

Procedure and activities

Warm up The teacher introduces the topic trying to arouse Ss interest. She asks if they have ever heard about Canterbury, if they know what a pilgrimage is, what they think the text will be about.

Ss answer saying what they know and try to guess what the text is about.

PresentationThe author and his works

The teacher shows Ss some slides about the author focusing on his life, his main works.

Ss look at the presentation.

PresentationReconstructing the plot

The teacher shows Ss some slides about the “Canterbury

Ss look at the slides and take notes.

Tales”, telling them about the plot highlighting the characters.

Pre-reading The teacher hands out an extract from the prologue and pre-teach some difficult words. (in bold)

Ss take notes

Understanding the text General comprehension(Skimming)

The teacher asks Ss to read the text on their own and understand the general meaning.

SS work individually on worksheet 1

Understanding the textDetailed comprehension(Scanning)

The teacher asks Ss to read the text again and answer to specific questions.

Ss work in pairs on worksheet 2

AnalysisUnderstanding the language

The teacher focuses on the author’s linguistic style. Asks Ss to underline ironic and satirical expressions or/ and detailed description that characterize the pilgrims in the text.

Ss read again the text and underline peculiar features.

AnalysisThe narrative structure

The teacher asks Ss to work in groups and hands out worksheet 3.

Ss work in group on worksheet 3.

Cross curricular activitiesExpansion context

The teacher elicit information about some Italian authors of the same period.

Ss says what they know and try to compare The Canterbury Tales with the Decameron.

Homework Teacher hands out homework.

Worksheet 4

Follow up The teacher show Ss the film and has them practice oral production by eliciting comments.

Teacher hands out homework. She has them practice written production and elicit their writing creativity.

Ss watch the film by P. Pasolini. Then express their own ideas and feelings about it.

Ss work individually at home imaging and describing a pilgrim. Worksheet 5

Testing and Evaluation (through homework)Feedback on various aspects

- comprehension (Fill the blanks, multiple choice)- production (composition)

The Canterbury TalesGeoffrey Chaucer

❦Here begins the Book of the Tales of Canterbury.

The Prologue

(….) One day in that season, as I was waiting at the Tabard Inn at Southwark, about to make my pilgrimage with devout heart to Canterbury, it happened that there came at night to that inn a company of twenty-nine various people, who by chance had joined together in fellowship. All were pilgrims, riding to Canterbury. The chambers and the stables were spacious, and we were lodged well. But in brief, when the sun had gone to rest, I had spoken with every one of them and was soon a part of their company, and agreed to rise early to take our way to where I have told you.

Nevertheless, while I have time and space, before this tale goes further, I think it is reasonable to tell you all the qualities of each of them, as they appeared to me, what sort of people they were, of what station and how they were fashioned. I will begin with a knight.

There was a Knight and a worthy man, who, from the time when he first rode abroad, loved chivalry, faithfulness and honor, liberality and courtesy. He was valiant in his lord's war and had campaigned, no man farther, in both Christian and heathen lands, and ever was honored for his worth. He was at Alexandria when it was won; many times in Prussia he sat in the place of honor above knights from all nations; he had fought in Lithuania and in Russia, and no Christian man of his did so more often; he had been in Granada at the siege of Algeciras and in Belmaria; he was at Lyeys and in Attalia when they were won, and had landed with many noble armies in the Levant. He had been in fifteen mortal battles, and had thrice fought for our faith in the lists at Tremessen and always slain his foe; he had been also, long before, with the lord of Palathia against another heathen host in Turkey; and ever he had great renown. And though he was valorous, he was prudent, and he was as meek as a maiden in his bearing. In all his life he never yet spoke any discourtesy to any living creature, but was truly a perfect gentle knight. To tell you of his equipment, his horses were good but he was not gaily clad. He wore a jerkin of coarse cloth all stained with rust by his coat of mail, for he had just returned from his travels and went to do his pilgrimage. (….)

(…) There was also a nun, a Prioress, quiet and simple in her smiling; her greatest oath was “by Saint Loy.” She was named Madame Eglantine. Well she sang the divine service, intoned in a seemly manner in her nose, and spoke French elegantly, after the manner of Stratford-atte-Bow, for of Parisian French she knew nothing. She had been well taught the art of eating, and let no morsel fall from her lips, and wet but her finger-tips in the sauce. She knew how to lift and how to hold a bit so that not a drop fell upon her breast. Her pleasure was all in courtesy. She wiped her upper lip so well that no spot of grease was to be seen in her cup after she had drunk; and very dainty she was in reaching for her food. And surely she was of fine behavior, pleasant and amiable of bearing. She took pains to imitate court manners, to be stately in her demeanor and to be held worthy of reverence. But to tell you of her character, she was so charitable and so tender-hearted she would weep if she saw a mouse caught in a trap if it were dead or bleeding. She had certain small dogs, which she fed upon roasted meat or milk and finest wheaten bread. She would weep sorely if one of them died or was struck at sharply with a stick. She was all warm feeling and tender heart. Her wimple was pleated neatly. Her nose was slender, her eyes gray as glass, her mouth small and soft and red. Certainly she had a fine forehead, almost a span high; truly she was not undersized. Her

cloak was neatly made, I could tell. About her arm was a coral rosary, the larger beads of green, upon which hung a brooch of shining gold; on it was engraved first an A with a crown, and after that Amor vincit omnia. (….)

(…) There was a Merchant with a forked beard, in parti-colored garb. High he sat upon his horse, a Flanders beaver-hat on his head, and boots fastened neatly with rich clasps. He uttered his opinions pompously, ever tending to the increase of his own profit; at any cost he wished the sea were safeguarded between Middleburg and Orwell. In selling crown-pieces he knew how to profit by the exchange. This worthy man employed his wit cunningly; no creature knew that he was in debt, so stately he was of demeanor in bargaining and borrowing. He was a worthy man indeed, but, to tell the truth, I know not his name.(…)

(…) There was a Good Wife from near Bath, but she was somewhat deaf, and that was pity. She was so skilled in making cloth that she surpassed those of Ypres and Ghent. In all the parish there was no wife who should march up to make an offering before her, and if any did, so angered she was that truly she was out of all charity. Her kerchiefs were very fine in texture; and I dare swear those that were on her head for Sunday weighed ten pounds. Her hose were of a fine scarlet and tightly fastened, and her shoes were soft and new. Her face was bold and fair and red. All her life she was a worthy woman; she had had five husbands at the church-door, besides other company in her youth, but of that there is no need to speak now. She had thrice been at Jerusalem; many distant streams had she crossed; she had been on pilgrimages to Boulogne and to Rome, to Santiago in Galicia and to Cologne. This wandering by the way had taught her various things. To tell the truth, she was gap-toothed; she sat easily on an ambling horse, wearing a fair wimple and on her head a hat as broad as a buckler or target. About her broad hips was a short riding skirt and on her feet a pair of sharp spurs. Well could she laugh and prattle in company. Love and its remedies she knew all about, I dare give my word, for she had been through the old dance. (…)

Worksheet 1

Why is the narrator at Tabard Inn?

Who are the characters depicted in this excerpt of the prologue?

What does the narrator tell us about them?

Worksheet 2

What are the main features of the knights? Where did he travel to?

What does the prioress wear?

What does the merchant wear?

How many husband has the Wife of Bath had?

Worksheet 3

How’s the plot developed through a narrator or characters’ speech?

The setting is symbolic or realistic?

The narrator is intrusive or obtrusive

The space is real or fictive?

Worksheet 5

Imagine you are at Tabard Inn waiting to begin your journey to Canterbury and describe an odd pilgrim you run into.

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Worksheet 4 Homework

Fill in the following blanks.

1. “ the Canterbury Tales” contain in fact a general Prologue and only

_________ tales, of which two are left unfinished. 24

2. The ____________ provides a framework for the tales in “the Canterbury

Tales” , and it comprises a group of vivid pictures of various medieval figures.

Prologue

3. “ the Canterbury Tales” is Chaucer’s greatest work and written for the greater

part in _________ couplets. heroic

4. the name of the “jolly innkeeper” in “ the Canterbury Tales” is _______ , who

proposes that each pilgrim of the 32 should tell two tales on the way to

Canterbury and two more on the way back.

Harry Baily

5. “ the Canterbury Tales” opens with a general Prologue where we are told of a

company of polgrims that gathered at ___________ Inn in Southwark, a

suburb of London. Tabard

6. The Pilgrims in “ the Canterbury Tales” are on their way to the shrine of St.

Thomas a Becket at a place named _________. Canterbury

7. Chaucer’s work “_________” gives us a picture of the condition of English life

of his day, such as its work and play, its deeds and dreams , its fun and

sympathy. The Canterbury Tales

Multiple choice8. _________ ,the “father of English poetry” and one of the greatest narrative

poets of England, was born in London about 1340.

a. Geoffrey Chaucer b. Sir Gawain

c. Francis Bacon d. John Dryden

9. Chaucer died on the 25th of October 1400, and was buried in _________.

a. Flanders b. France

c. Italy d. Westminster Abbey

10.________ was the first to be buried in the Poet’s Corner of Westminster

Abbey.

a. Chaucer b. Keats

c. Southey d. Tenneyson

11.Chaucer’s earliest work of any length is his “________” , a translation of the

French “ Roman de la rose”, which was a lave allegory enjoying widespread

popularity in th e13th and 14th centuries not only in France but throughout

Europe.

a. Romance of the Rose b. A Red, Red Rose

c. Piers the Plowman d. Troilus and Criseyde

12. the second Period of Chaucer’s literary career includes mainly the three

longer poems written prior to “The Canterbury Tales”. Choose the three from

the following.

a. The House of Fame

b. Troilus and Criseyde

c. The Legend of Good Women

d. The Book of the Duchess

13. In his time Chaucer served in a great variety of occupations which had impact

in the wide range of his writings. Which one is not his career?

a. engineer b. courtier c. office-holder

d. soldier e. ambassador f. legislator

14._________ creative work vividly reflected the changes which had taken root

in English culture of the second half of the 14th century.

a. Chaucer’s b. Byron’s

c. Shelley’s d. Eliot’s

15.Apart from original poems, Chaucer translated various works of French

authors, among them is the famous “_______” .

a. The Canterbury Tales

b. The Romance of the rose

c. The Parliament of Fowls

d. The House of Fame

16.Chaucer composes a long narrative poem named “_______” based on

Boccaccio’s poem “Filostrato”.

a. The Legend of Good Women

b. Troilus and Criseyde

c. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

d. Beowulf

17.Generally speaking, Chaucer’s works fall into three main groups

corresponding roughly to the three periods of his adult life. Which period is

wrong?

a. The period of French influence(1359-1372)

b. The period of Italian influence(1372-1386)

c. The period of English influence(1386-1400)

d. The period of American influence(1371-1382)

Write a short composition answering the following questions.18.What is the influence of the Prologue on“ the Canterbury Tales”?

19.What is Chaucer’s contribution to English language?

20.What is the social significance of “ the Canterbury Tales”?

Keys. (showed in PPT SLIDES)1. There is an intimate connection between the tales and the Prologue, both

complementing each other. The Prologue provides a framework for the tales in

the Canterbury Tales.

2. Chaucer’s language is vivid and exact. His verse is smooth. His words are easy

to understand. He introduced from the rhymed stanzas of various types,

especially the rhymed couplet. He is the first important poet to write in the current

English language, making the dialect of London the foundation of modern

English.

3. Chaucer gives us a true-to-life picture of the society of his time. He affirms man

and opposes the dogma of asceticism preached by the church. As a forerunner of

humanism, he praises man’s energy, intellect, wit and love of life. His tales

expose and satirize the evils of his time.