Warm-Up Characterization in The Canterbury Tales

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Warm-Up Characterization in The Canterbury Tales

Lesson Question

WK2 Words to Know

Write the letter of the definition next to the matching word as you work through the lesson. You may use the glossary to help you.

frame narrative

narrator

develop

unreliable narrator

characterization

A. a narrator who presents an inaccurate, biased, or untrustworthy version of events

B. a story that contains other stories

C. the way an author presents or develops a character

D. the character or voice that tells a story

E. to grow or change over time

Lesson Goals

Read from the General Prologue to The Canterbury Talesby Geo�rey Chaucer.

Analyzecharacterization.

narration.

Recognize

Explore how the

language hasdeveloped.

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Warm-Up Characterization in The Canterbury Tales

The Middle Ages

The Middle Ages, or the period, lasted from around 500 to 1500 CE in England.

During the late Middle Ages, society was divided into three classes, or estates.

• – those who fought

• Peasants – those who worked

• – those who prayed

A rising challenged those traditional distinctions.


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Characterization in The Canterbury TalesInstructionPart 1

The Canterbury Tales

Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales:

• was written between and 1400 CE.

• describes a group of people traveling together on a pilgrimage.

• includes a series of tales within a , a story that

has one or more other stories embedded within it.

• uses both and prose.

• is unfinished.

Recognizing a Frame Narrative

Underline the text that introduces the storytelling contest in the excerpt of the poem.

. . . you each, to shorten the long journey,

Shall tell two tales en route to Canterbury,

And, coming homeward, tell another two,

Stories of things that happened long ago.

Whoever best acquits himself, and tells

The most amusing and instructive tale,

Shall have a dinner, paid for by us all

–The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer



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Characterization

Characterization is the way an author

presents and a character.

To analyze , consider:

• what the character says and does.

• what the character thinks and feels.

• how others react to the character.

The is the voice

or character that tells a story.

• In The Canterbury Tales, the narrator is also a

in the

story.

• All the information we learn about the other characters comes from the narrator.

Analyzing Characterization

Underline the words and details that help the reader to analyze the characterization of the knight in the excerpt of the poem.

There was a knight, a reputable man,

Who from the moment that he first began

Campaigning, had cherished the profession

Of arms; he also prized trustworthiness,

Liberality, fame, and courteousness.

In the king’s service he’d fought valiantly,

And travelled far; no man as far as he

In Christian and in heathen lands as well,

And ever honoured for his ability.




Unreliable Narration

An unreliable narrator is a narrator who presents an or biased view of events.

A narrator may be because he or she is:

• intentionally misleading the audience.

• prone to or bragging.

• naive or inexperienced.

Identifying an Unreliable Narrator

Look for these signs to recognize an unreliable narrator.

• The narrator makes statements.

• The narrator’s words contradict his or her actions.

• The narrator’s of events does not match up with

what you know to be true.

• The narrator voices about his or her ability to accurately describe events.

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Recognizing Unreliable Narration

Underline the details that indicate that the narrator is unreliable in the excerpt of the poem.

A handsome man our host, handsome indeed,

And a fit master of ceremonies.

He was a big man with protruding eyes

—You’ll find no better burgess in Cheapside—

Racy in talk, well-schooled and shrewd was he;

Also a proper man in every way.


Geoffrey Chaucer (ca. 1342–1400)

• Was born in and spent most of his life there

• Served in many government positions

• Wrote in many styles and , including poetry and prose

• Is well known for The Canterbury Tales

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9



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4

The Development of English

English English English

• Was spoken until 1100 CE

• Was influenced by languages of

and

Scandinavian tribes

• Was spoken from 1100 CE through 1500 CE

• Was influenced by

• Has been spoken since 1500 CE

• Continues to adopt new

from languages around the world

Comparing Middle English and Modern English

Whan Zephirus eek with his swete

breeth

Inspired hath in every holt and heeth

The tendre croppes, and the yonge

sonne

Hath in the Ram his halfe cours

y-ronne,

And smale fowles maken melodye,

That slepen al the night with open ye

And when the west wind too with its

sweet breath

Has given life in every wood and field

To tender shoots, and when the stripling sun

Has run his half-course in Aries, the

Ram,

And when small birds are making

melodies,

That sleep all the night long with open

eyes

Underline the words that look similar to the first passage but are spelled differently.


Summary Characterization in The Canterbury Tales

Lesson Question

How can readers understand and analyze characters in The Canterbury Tales?

Answer

Use this space to write any questions or thoughts about this lesson.

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Warm-Up Characterization in The Canterbury Tales

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