The Canterbury Tales

Story Presentation and Competition

In Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales the pilgrims draw lots for the order in which they will preset their stories. The winner of the competition will have their entire trip paid for, and probably bragging rights, upon their return to the Tabard Inn.

Story Presentation:

v  In class we will draw lots for which story each student will present to the class

TASK:

v  Read the modern translation of the character’s prologue and story and rewrite both in your own words to present to the class

Ø  You can either rewrite the story taking place within the original scope of the story OR

Ø  You can modernize the story, change the names, up-date where it takes place BUT it still has to have the same basic outline

v  Presentations

Ø  Present your character’s Prologue AND Story to the class

Ø  Extra Credit:

§  Dress in character for your presentation, either in period dress or in a “modernized” version. If you choose to do a modern costume, you will have to explain it to the class.

v  Participation

Ø  Everyone will be required to take notes on the presentations that you will use on your final essay

Presentations will begin on

v  After everyone has presented, we will do a ‘secret vote’ to see which character the class feels would have won the story competition


Presentation Order

No Negotiations

Tale / Herald / Presenter
The Knight's Tale
The Miller's Prologue & Tale
The Reeve's Prologue and Tale
The Cook's Prologue and Tale
The Man of Law's Introduction, Prologue, Tale, and Epilogue
The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale
The Friar's Prologue and Tale
The Summoner's Prologue and Tale
The Clerk's Prologue and Tale
The Merchant's Prologue, Tale and Epilogue
The Squire's Introduction and Tale
The Franklin's Prologue and Tale
The Physician's Tale
The Pardoner's Introduction, Prologue, and Tale
The Shipman's Tale
The Prioress' Prologue and Tale
v  The Prologue and Tale of Sir Thopas
v  The Tale of Melibee
The Monk's Prologue and Tale
The Nun's Priest's Prologue and Tale
The Second Nun's Prologue and Tale
The Canon's Yeoman's Prologue and Tale
The Manciple's Prologue and Tale
The Parson's Prologue and Tale

v  These two tales are told by character not fully in the prologue

Ø  one is the narrator (the one who “wrote” the introduction)

Ø  the second is Geoffrey Chaucer himself as a different character