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The Canterbury Tales Literature Guide TThhee CCaanntteerrbbuurryy TTaalleess by Geoffrey Chaucer Literature Guide Developed by Jennifer Bassett for Secondary Solutions® ISBN-10: 0-9845205-4-6 ISBN-13: 978-0-9845205-4-1 © 2011 Secondary Solutions. All rights reserved. A classroom teacher who has purchased this Guide may photocopy the materials in this publication for his/her classroom use only. Use or reproduction by a part of or an entire school or school system, by for-profit tutoring centers and like institutions, or for commercial sale, is strictly prohibited. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, translated, or stored (digitally, electronically, or otherwise) without the express written permission of the publisher. Created and printed in the United States of America. Secondary Solutions THE FIRST SOLUTION FOR THE SECONDARY TEACHER® WWW.4SECONDARYSOLUTIONS.COM ©2011 Secondary Solutions - 1 - The Canterbury Tales Literature Guide The Canterbury Tales Literature Guide About This Literature Guide .......................................................................................... 5 How to Use Our Literature Guides ................................................................................. 6 Pre-Reading Ideas and Activities ................................................................................... 7 Monarchy Scavenger Hunt ................................................................................................................................. 8 Illuminated Texts ............................................................................................................................................... 10 Standards Focus: Author Biography—Geoffrey Chaucer .............................................. 12 Exploring Expository Writing: Author Biography—Geoffrey Chaucer ........................................................ 14 Standards Focus: Genre—Poetry, Narrative, and Satire ............................................... 16 Exploring Expository Writing: Genre—Poetry, Narrative, and Satire ......................................................... 17 Standards Focus: Unreliable Narrator ........................................................................ 19 Exploring Expository Writing: Unreliable Narrator ...................................................................................... 21 Standards Focus: Structure of the Narrative—Frames ................................................. 22 Exploring Expository Writing: Frames ........................................................................................................... 24 Standards Focus: Middle English and the Great Vowel Shift ........................................ 25 Exploring Expository Writing: Middle English and the Great Vowel Shift .................................................. 27 Historical Context: Life in the 1300s ............................................................................ 28 Exploring Expository Writing: Life in the 1300s ............................................................................................ 32 Historical Context: Pilgrimages ................................................................................... 33 Exploring Expository Writing: Historical Context—Pilgrimages .................................................................. 35 Historical Context: Biblical and Mythological Allusions .............................................. 36 Historical Context: Place and Time .............................................................................. 38 Standards Focus: Allusions from General Prologue, Selected Tales ............................. 42 Section One: Introduction, Knight through Friar (Pages 3-10) ................................................ 46 Comprehension Check ....................................................................................................................................... 46 Standards Focus: Satire .................................................................................................................................... 47 Section Two: Merchant through Plowman (Pages 10-17) ......................................................... 52 Comprehension Check ....................................................................................................................................... 52 Standards Focus: Characterization ................................................................................................................. 54 Section Three: Miller through Pardoner (Pages 17-22) ............................................................ 57 Comprehension Check ....................................................................................................................................... 57 Standards Focus: Similes and Metaphors ....................................................................................................... 58 Section Four: Conclusion of Prologue (Pages 22-26) ............................................................... 61 Comprehension Check ....................................................................................................................................... 61 Standards Focus: Allusions ............................................................................................................................... 62 Quiz: Sections One and Two—Introduction through Plowman ................................................ 65 Quiz: Sections Three and Four—Miller through Conclusion .................................................... 66 Part A Test: General Prologue ..................................................................................... 67 Part B: Individual Tales ............................................................................................... 68 Vocabulary List ....................................................................................................................... 68 Vocabulary List with Definitions ............................................................................................. 69 Knight’s Tale ............................................................................................................................ 71 Note-Taking and Summarizing Chart—Sample .............................................................................................. 71 Comprehension Check ....................................................................................................................................... 72 Standards Focus: Theme ................................................................................................................................... 73 Assessment Preparation: Analogies ................................................................................................................. 75 Section Quiz: Knight’s Tale ............................................................................................................................... 76 Summary of the Knight’s Tale .......................................................................................................................... 79 Miller’s Tale ............................................................................................................................ 81 Note-Taking and Summarizing Chart ............................................................................................................. 81 Comprehension Check ...................................................................................................................................... 82 Standards Focus: Tone ......................................................................................................................................83 Assessment Preparation: Using Etymology to Understand Words .............................................................. 86 Section Quiz: Miller’s Tale ................................................................................................................................ 88 Summary of the Miller’s Tale ............................................................................................................................ 91 Reeve’s Tale ............................................................................................................................. 92 Note-Taking and Summarizing Chart ............................................................................................................. 92 Comprehension Check ....................................................................................................................................... 93 Standards Focus: Mood .................................................................................................................................... 94 Assessment Preparation: Punctuation ............................................................................................................. 97 ©2011 Secondary Solutions - 2 - The Canterbury Tales Literature Guide Section Quiz: Reeve’s Tale ................................................................................................................................ 99 Summary of the Reeve’s Tale.......................................................................................................................... 102 Shipman’s Tale ...................................................................................................................... 103 Note-Taking and Summarizing Chart ..........................................................................................................
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