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The Canterbury Tales “The Prologue”

By Geoffrey Chaucer

But none the less, while I have time and space,

Before my story takes a further pace,

It seems a reasonable thing to say

What their condition was, the full array

Of each of them, as it appeared to me,

According to profession and degree,

And what apparel they were riding in;

And at a Knight I therefore will begin.

“The Prologue” lines 35-42

But none the less, while I have time and space,

Before my story takes a further pace,

It seems a reasonable thing to say

What their condition was, the full array

Of each of them, as it appeared to me,

According to profession and degree,

And what apparel they were riding in;

And at a Knight I therefore will begin.

Consider rhythm and rhyme pattern?

Count the syllables

Label the rhyme scheme

Label the stress pattern

But none the less, while I have time and space, Before my story takes a further pace, It seems a reasonable thing to say What their condition was, the full array

10

10

Stress pattern = iambic pentameter

But none the less, while I have time and space,

Before my story takes a further pace,

It seems a reasonable thing to say

What their condition was, the full array

Of each of them, as it appeared to me,

According to profession and degree,

And what apparel they were riding in;

And at a Knight I therefore will begin.

Rhyme Scheme

A

A

B B

C

C

D

D

Write your personal prologue imitating Chaucer’s style

Each line must be 10 syllables and you must have rhyming couplets

You must write at least 20 lines

Include your positive and negative traits

Use your Journal #2 to help you.

Assignment: