What Women Want

10/28 Journal # 6

Are women smarter than men? Analyze how men and women think differently.

"Do Unto Others as You Would have Them Do Unto You"

10/26 Journal # 4

On pg 171, lines 139-140, the old man proclaims to the rioters:
"Do no more harm to an old man than you, Being now young,
would have another do ..." Describe the context of this allusion.
Evaluate its moral message.

1. Read/Review The Pardoner's Tale
2. Complete character chart for the Pardoner
Activity: Write a character analysis of the Pardoner utilizing
the details generated in your character chart.

Death Personified in The Pardoner's Tale

Journal # 3 10/25

On pg. 170 (The Pardoner's Tale) a very poor old man greets the
brothers and expresses his yearning for Death to come. Examine the significance this character. Consider your own
personal feelings regarding Death.

Canterbury Tales Essay Due-November 9th

Please select one of the following essay options:


1. Analyze the "The Pardoner's Tale" as an exemplum. Discuss the moral lesson you believe Chaucer offers to his readers.


2. Examine the femine perspective illuminated in "The Wife of Bath's Tale." Concentrate on the female characters.


Key terms to incorporate for either essay:


Chaucer Medieval Literature Frame Narrative The Canterbury Tales Satire Theme


Literary Terms to consider for "The Pardoner's Tale" : Personification (death/mother) Symbolism


Literary Terms to consider for "Wife of Bath's Tale": Symbolism, Irony, Theme

Pardoner's Tale

In the exemplum "Pardoner's Tale", Chaucer's characters are
motivated by greed and illustrate the theme: "Money is the root
of all evil." Do you agree that greed leads to evil? Explain.

Geoffrey Chaucer - Canterbury Tales

Unit 2: Medieval Literature

Chaucer portrayed how a society’s social systems influence the behavior of the individual. In the Middle Ages, a code of chivalry directed the ethical behavior of knights, or armored warriors, in matters of virtue, honor, and love. Literature addresses issues of morality by allowing readers to explore and inform their own behaviors by examining the thoughts and actions of fictional characters. Great literature has chronicled the human struggle to pursue moral behavior. It portrays the universal nature of the human experience. The Canterbury Tales continues to engage readers today as we wrestle with choosing the right course of action. In this unit, students focus on these universal questions: How does social class affect point of view? How can literature force the reader to confront personal ideas about class and gender? How does literature illuminate the moral and ethical dilemma of what is right?