British Literature

Entry Task: On Thursday (A day) and Friday (B day) you will be assessed on your understanding of the Middle Ages/Canterbury Tales; write down any questions you have for me about the material. (look at the learning targets to assess your understanding)

Learning Goals • Students will be exposed to other cultures and time

periods, quality literature and effective/varied writing styles

• Students will begin to understand key facts that influenced and developed literature

• Students will write effectively in expository mode to examine/analysis a complex idea

Learning Targets For Middle Ages

- Students will recognize cultural aspects of the Middle Ages and the corresponding effects on literature (women’s roles/chivalry)- Students will recognize the social influence of the

Norman Invasion (feudalism/Hierarchal society)- Students will recognize the “Great Happenings” and

their effects on the culture and literature (Crusades, Magna Carta, Black Death)

- Students will recognize the concept of a pilgrimage- Students will recognize Chaucer’s style: (Frame story;

iambic pentameter & couplets; satire; indirect/direct characterization)

- Students will analyze the satire of typical British citizenry in the Middle Ages: (the church, Lesser nobility, Laborers, dishonest and greedy business people)

Once and Future King

You will be using a scantron to take the test. Once you are finished with the scantron portion of the test please turn in the scan and proceed to Part V. Writing Response.

For the writing response you may use your journals. Please write in ink (borrow one from me/school I.D) and please skip lines.

Canterbury Tales cont.

6th Block Honors only

What has the power to corrupt? In the introduction to his tale, the Pardoner states, “Radix malorum est cupiditas,” which is Latin for “The love of money is the root of all evil”– a passage from the Bible. The expression suggests that the desire for riches often seduces people into abandoning their moral principles. Today, as in Chaucer’s time, greed and other elements of human weakness often trigger grave acts of corruption.

With your elbow partner discuss types of corruption and what prompts people to commit corrupt acts. Be prepared to discuss.

Pardoner’s Tale

• Exemplum is a short anecdote or story that illustrates a particular moral point. Developed in the late Middle Ages, this literary form was often used in sermons and other didactic literature. The “Pardoner’s Tale” which focuses on greed is one famous example.

• As we read this piece, pay attention to the actions of the characters and the narrator’s description of his own practices

Pardoner’s Tale

Answer question 6 on page 181. Make a chart and fill in the examples.

What theme, or central message, about corruption do you think Chaucer conveys in this story? How does it still hold true today?

The Wife of Bath’s Tale

6th Block Honors Only

1. Review lines 404-432. Is the conclusion of the story satisfying? In your response, consider the knight’s crime and the outcome of his actions.

2. The enduring appeal of The Canterbury Tales stems in part from Chaucer’s remarkable ability to match stories and storytellers. In what way is the Wife of Bath’s unusual tale well-suited to her personality? Cite evidence from the text to support your answer.

3. Compare the tales of the Pardoner and the Wife of Bath. Which character tells a better, more entertaining story? Cite evidence from both tales to support your opinion.

Middle Ages/Canterbury Tales

Unit Assessment on the Middle Ages and The Canterbury Tales will be on November 6th (A) and 7th (B). There will be a review for the unit on 11/4 and 11/5 as well as opportunities during tutorial.

Canterbury Tales Review

Complete the chart using all of the charts on the pilgrimage. Use any in class resource.

You will have 30 minutes to complete. Will discuss at the end of class.

Exit taskReflect on the learning targets for today. Do you feel you met the targets?• Students will be exposed to other cultures and time periods, quality

literature and effective/varied writing styles• Students will begin to understand key facts that influenced and developed

literature• Students will write effectively in expository mode to examine/analysis a

complex idea

1. What is one thing that you completed or learned today that you found interesting?

2. What is one thing that you feel you can improve in future classes?