Literary Element (page 93) Characterization from The Canterbury Tales: The Prologue GEOFFREY CHAUCER In The Prologue to The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer draws character sketches of extraordinary depth and color. As you read, allow your impression of each character to build and grow based on the author s description. Directions Read the first row of the following chart. Then, select three characters and use the chart to create thumbnail descriptions based on Chaucer s characterizations. from The Prologue The Knight Character Interpreting Characterization in The Prologue Characterization (Line Numbers) There was a Knight, a most distinguished man (line 43) And though so much distinguished, he was wise/and in his bearing modest as a maid (lines 70 71) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Thumbnail Description of Character The Knight is a man of high moral standing. He embodies the virtues of truth, honor, generousness and courtesy that combine to form the medieval chivalric ideal. 32 Unit 1 The Anglo-Saxon Period and the Middle Ages 449 1485
Reading Strategy (page 93) Paraphrasing from The Canterbury Tales: The Prologue GEOFFREY CHAUCER Chaucer s characters come alive in long, complex descriptive passages. However, it is not always necessary to incorporate every detail used in such passages into a paraphrase in order to convey the gist of Chaucer s meaning. Directions Use the chart below to paraphrase passages of your choice from The Prologue. Select passages of one sentence or more that are at least four lines long. Passage (Line Numbers) At meat her manners were well taught withal;/ No morsel from her lips did she let fall,/nor dipped her fingers in the sauce too deep;/but she could carry a morsel up and keep/the smallest drop from falling on her breast. (Lines 131 135) Paraphrasing Passages from The Prologue 1. 2. Conclusions Madam Eglantyne s table manners were impeccable. Nothing ever spilled from her lips, and she was always careful not to dip her fingers in the sauce too deeply. 3. 4. Active Reading Graphic Organizer Ask your teacher for a copy of the Two-Column Table Graphic Organizer. Use the chart to get more practice paraphrasing and making conclusions as you read The Prologue. from The Prologue Unit 1 The Anglo-Saxon Period and the Middle Ages 449 1485 33
Selection Vocabulary Development (page 93) Synonyms from The Canterbury Tales: The Prologue GEOFFREY CHAUCER Vocabulary solicitous adj. full of concern estimable adj. deserving of esteem discreet adj. having or showing careful judgment in speech and action disdainful adj. feeling or showing contempt prevarication n. the act of evading the truth EXERCISE A Practice with Synonyms from The Prologue Choose the word that would be LEAST suitable for completing each sentence. 1. Reporters have been openly of the team s chances this year. A. disdainful B. estimable C. contemptuous 2. Mothers have a knack for seeing through a mischievous child s. A. deceitfulness B. prevarication C. solicitude 3. The professor spoke well of me, describing my work as. A. estimable B. admirable C. disputatious 4. Derek was being highly ; you could see how worried he was. A. attentive B. prevaricating C. solicitous 5. If you can t be, I can t trust you with a secret, Ella said. A. careful B. discreet C. temperate EXERCISE B Applying Meanings If the vocabulary words could speak, each of them might make one of the remarks listed below. Write each word beside the remark it would be most likely to make. 1. When the truth hurts, I am sometimes an alternative therapy. 2. I know when to hold my tongue. 3. I am always looking down my long nose at someone. 4. How about a big round of applause for me? 5. If there s anything at all I can do to help, let me know. 34 Unit 1 The Anglo-Saxon Period and the Middle Ages 449 1485
Literary Element (page 116) Irony from The Canterbury Tales: The Pardoner s Tale GEOFFREY CHAUCER More than 600 years after it was written, The Pardoner s Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer continues to appeal to modern audiences partly because it is so rich in irony. In a written work, irony builds on the discrepancy between what might be expected and what actually takes place. As you look for instances of irony in The Pardoner s Tale, keep in mind what has been written about a character or an action up to that point. Then look for dialogue or events that are at odds with earlier circumstances. Directions Read the first row in the chart below, analyzing how irony is used in the passage. Then, select three more passages, and use the chart to identify examples of dramatic irony, situational irony, and verbal irony in The Pardoner s Tale. Irony in The Pardoner s Tale Passage (Line Numbers) Type of Irony Explanation I have a lot of rats I want to kill/and there s a polecat too about my yard... (Lines 198 199) Verbal irony 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. The rats the young rioter plans to kill are his fellow rioters. We thought at the start of the tale that these men were friends. from Pardoner s Tale Unit 1 The Anglo-Saxon Period and the Middle Ages 449 1485 35
Reading Strategy (page 116) Analyzing Tone from The Canterbury Tales: The Pardoner s Tale GEOFFREY CHAUCER Tone is the attitude a writer takes toward his subjects; Chaucer s tone hints at the direction his tale will take. As the tale is told, the author s tone offers clues regarding the moral standing of his characters. By recognizing the tone, a savvy reader might sense that men of dubious character are due to receive a comeuppance. Directions Read the first row in this chart. Then, select three more passages and use the chart to analyze Chaucer s use of tone in The Pardoner s Tale. Tone in The Pardoner s Tale Passage Tone What Tone Suggests About Author s Outlook But it dishonored you when you began/to speak so roughly, sir, to an old man... reprimanding The author shares the disdain for the rioters expressed by the old man. 1. 2. 3. from Pardoner s Tale 4. 5. 6. Active Reading Graphic Organizer Ask your teacher for a copy of the Three-Column Grid Graphic Organizer to analyze tone throughout the selections in Unit One. This chart will help you understand the moral lesson an author is trying to teach in a selection. 36 Unit 1 The Anglo-Saxon Period and the Middle Ages 449 1485
Selection Vocabulary Development (page 116) Context Clues from The Canterbury Tales: The Pardoner s Tale GEOFFREY CHAUCER Vocabulary adversary n. opponent; enemy prudent adj. cautious; careful gratify v. to satisfy; indulge deftly adv. skillfully; nimbly EXERCISE A Words in Context Write the vocabulary word that best completes each sentence. 1. The trio was not the least bit in the way they barged out of the tavern to chase after Death. 2. The old man directed the rioters to the fortune that he knew would be their undoing. 3. The rioters did not like the old man s looks, so they considered him a(n). 4. Each of the men, being greedy, sought to his hunger for money. EXERCISE B Applying Meanings Write the vocabulary word that completes each poem. 1. Then,, like a weaver at his loom, he spun the web that snared them in their doom. 2. To their wretched lust for gold, their hearts turned selfish, murderous, and cold. 3. A master of duplicity and guile, he tricked his with a smile. 4. They saw themselves as thieves, and yet, a deadly lesson did the rascals get. EXERCISE C Responding to the Selection On a separate piece of paper, create a dialogue between two tavern patrons who have also met the pardoner. Detail their experience using the FOUR vocabulary words. from Pardoner s Tale Unit 1 The Anglo-Saxon Period and the Middle Ages 449 1485 37
Literary Element (page 124) Humor from The Canterbury Tales: The Wife of Bath s Tale GEOFFREY CHAUCER In the The Wife of Bath s Tale, the wife offers her view on women and keeping secrets: But that s not worth the handle of a rake; Women conceal a thing? For Heaven s sake! The quality of a literary work that make characters and situations funny, amusing, or ludicrous is called humor. Chaucer creates humor in many ways, including irony, understatement, exaggeration, puns, satire, sarcasm, parody, and subtle wit. Directions Read the first row of the chart. Then select three passages and use the chart to analyze humor in The Wife of Bath s Tale. from The Wife of Bath s Tale Passage (Line Numbers) But that s not worth the handle of a rake/ Women conceal a thing? For Heaven s sake! (lines 125 126) Humor in The Wife of Bath s Tale 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. How does Chaucer use humor to enhance characterization? 8. What is your favorite instance of humor in this selection, and why? Source and Type of Humor That woman s ability to keep a secret is not worth the handle of a rake is funny because of exaggeration. The expression For Heaven s sake! is an example of sarcasm. 38 Unit 1 The Anglo-Saxon Period and the Middle Ages 449 1485
Reading Strategy (page 124) Evaluating Argument from The Canterbury Tales: The Wife of Bath s Tale GEOFFREY CHAUCER Argument is a type of persuasive writing technique in which logic or reason is used to influence readers opinions. Argument does not depend on emotion; rather, it appeals to our common sense. In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer argues through his characters. The wife, for instance, starts her tale like a lawyer giving an opening argument: For I ll give instances, and more than ten. And those who won t be warned by other men, By other men shall suffer their correction Characters argue by responding to general wisdom or to the actions or words of other characters. Remember that arguments can voice agreement or disagreement. Directions Read the first row. Then choose and evaluate three other arguments from The Wife of Bath s Tale. Others Opinions Some people believe women want to be flattered. (lines 105 106) Evaluating Argument Argument Made by Key Character Wife: That s... the truth it seems to me,/a man can win us best with flattery. (lines 107 108) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Active Reading Graphic Organizer Ask your teacher for a copy of the Three-Column Grid Graphic Organizer. Use it to keep track of and evaluate additional arguments in The Wife of Bath s Tale. What Argument Suggests About Author s Views Chaucer may feel that women are susceptible to flattery. from The Wife of Bath s Tale Unit 1 The Anglo-Saxon Period and the Middle Ages 449 1485 39
Selection Vocabulary Development (page 124) Analogies from The Canterbury Tales: The Wife of Bath s Tale GEOFFREY CHAUCER Vocabulary reprove v. to scold or correct, usually gently or out of kindness concede v. to admit as true; acknowledge disperse v. to scatter about; distribute widely arrogance n. overbearing pride or self-importance suffice v. to be enough for EXERCISE A Practice with Analogies Complete the analogy by writing the correct vocabulary word. 1. Cease is to begin as deny is to. 2. Cultivate is to develop as spread is to. 3. Modesty is to humility as pride is to. 4. Weaken is to falter as correct is to. 5. Accept is to reject as lack is to. EXERCISE B Applying Meaning Through Analogy from The Wife of Bath s Tale Choose from the five vocabulary words to fill in each blank. 1. A teacher may a mistaken student as a boss may chide a late worker. 2. Scant resources fall short of feeding most but ample supplies for all. 3. Conquerors trumpet victory as the vanquished defeat. 4. The of the dictator reminded me of the vanity of the movie star. 5. The rain will moisten the soil, and the wind will the seeds. EXERCISE C Responding to the Selection On a separate piece of paper, create a dialogue between the wife of Bath and a woman today. Use ALL of the vocabulary words. 40 Unit 1 The Anglo-Saxon Period and the Middle Ages 449 1485