September 27 ... The Medieval Period, Chaucer, and The Canterbury Tales

OBJ ... TLW research and gather important background information over The Middle Ages/Medieval Period and The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.


GUIDING QUESTION ... What elements and features of Medieval England influenced the way people lived and the literature of the time (particularly Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales").

• On your assigned desk (or table spot), there is a number in the upper right hand corner.  This number corresponds to the laptop you will use while you are in this seat.  You are responsible for the care of this laptop while you are in this class.  Any damage you see on this laptop is you responsibility to report - and damage you do to it is your responsibility to report as well.  Be careful handling these ... DO NOT CARRY THEM BY THE SCREEN.

• Get your assigned laptop from the cart along with a copy of the WebQuest (there is a stack of them on top of the cart).

• Using the websites indicated (and it will be easier to go to this blog and scroll down to the webquest posted below so that you can CLICK on the link instead of trying to retype it all), research the information there and use the questions to guide what details you are looking to locate within the pages of information.

• We will begin working on this today - but will continue working on it tomorrow as well.

WebQuest Posted Below ... 

THE MIDDLE AGES, CHAUCER, AND THE CANTERBURY TALES

Visit the sites indicated below and collect the answers to the questions.

I. Life in the Middle Ages: http://www.learner.org/interactives/middleages/

   Explore each of the following sections:

Feudal Life

What was the hierarchy of the feudal system?

Explain the Magna Carta and its purpose.

Relate one item learned about Peasant Life.

Relate one item learned about the Role of Women.

Religion

Differentiate between bishops and priests.

List one thing learned about monks or nuns.

Homes

Differentiate between the homes of the poor and the homes of the wealthy.

Clothing

Differentiate between the clothing of the poor and the clothing of the wealthy.

What piece of jewelry is mentioned from the Canterbury Tales and what is its inscription?

Health

When were antibiotics invented?

Explain a myth re: health.

What is a humor?

Explain one way of treating or healing a person.

Arts and Entertainment

Discuss two things learned about arts and entertainment of the Middle Ages.

Town Life

What items did people use for trade?

What would they trade for?

Discuss the government of this time.

Tell one thing learned about the first companies.

II. Geoffrey Chaucer:  http://csis.pace.edu/grendel/projs4a/chaucer.html

When and where was Geoffrey Chaucer born?

Describe Chaucer’s upbringing.

List three duties/positions Chaucer held.

When did Chaucer begin writing the Canterbury Tales and when did he stop?

III.  The Literature: http://www.enotes.com/canterbury-tales

List 3 different reasons the Canterbury Tales were and are important:

IV. Pilgrimages: http://www.godecookery.com/pilgrims/pilgrm02.htm

Why did people go on pilgrimages in the medieval times?

What was another popular pilgrimage besides Canterbury?

V. The Canterbury Tales:

http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/Guides3/Canterbury.html#Narration

Where specifically are the pilgrims going?

Explain the concept of a frame tale/story.

How many stories did Chaucer plan to write?

How many stories did Chaucer actually finish?

           

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/canterbury/summary.html

Go to "Plot Overview"

           

          What types of people are on this pilgrimage? List 5 specific characters and a piece of     

          interesting information about each character.

          What does this say about who Chaucer is interested in writing about?

           

Go to "Themes and Motifs"

            List and explain 3 themes found in these tales.

           

            Define 2 common motifs of Chaucer's tales.

The General Prologue and the Tales: Type http://www.courses.fas.harvard.edu/~chaucer/canttales/gp

            Where does everyone meet?

            How many pilgrims will be on this trek? (including Chaucer)

            How many tales will each person tell? 

            What is the reward for the best tale?

Click on and read the section about the springtime setting for the Tales. Why might a reader think this is a set of stories or poems about love?

Click on The Road to Canterbury and look at the map of the pilgrims’ trip. What are the names of two towns or places that they will pass through on their journey?