Write Your Own Character in Chaucer’s Style
Create a character that could go on a “pilgrimage” like the ones found in the Prologue to Canterbury Tales. A
pilgrimage is usually defined as a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person’s beliefs and faith.
Your written characterization should provide a detailed description of a Chaucer-like individual. In order to adequately
reveal the character of your pilgrim you MUST use both direct characterization: physical description of a character
and/or narrator’s direct comments about a character’s nature AND indirect characterization: a character’s speech,
thoughts, feelings, or actions and/or the speech, thoughts, feelings or actions of other characters used to develop
another character, in the prologue. ALSO, you must use indirect and/or direct characterization for the characters in
your pilgrim’s moral tale. You will need to write your character and moral tale in the same time period as
Canterbury Tales (Middle Ages/Medieval Period). Give your character a profession/identifier from the Medieval
Period; you can borrow from Chaucer’s poem other than the Pardoner or Wife of Bath but you must rewrite (reinvent)
the characterization of the character if you borrow it from Canterbury Tales. Also consider either writing about your
character from either your perspective as the narrator, the perspective of your character, or both. Like the Pardoner’s
and Wife of Bath Tales, your short story should include your character telling a story to win the contest the pilgrims
in Chaucer’s poem agreed to participate in—therefore, your character’s tale should meet the same two requirements:
contain a moral/lesson and be entertaining.
You should also incorporate many, if not all, of the literary or poetic elements that were used by Chaucer in his
Canterbury Tales. Literary/poetic elements you should choose from for your story are:
 a frame story
 metaphors
 hyperbole
 imagery
 allusions
 satire
 irony
 personification
 understatement
 symbolism
 similes
 alliteration
Warning: if you choose satire, please remember that a satirical tale does not allow you to bash or make fun of a
particular person, ethnicity, race, or religious belief. Satires are used to spotlight problems in society or to illustrate the
hypocrisy that exists in the societies of the world today. For example, you cannot satirize a particular teacher, but you may
satirize the institution of education. (See pp. 140-41 in the literature book for discussion of characterization and imagery. You
might also want to consult the Glossary of Literary Terms on p. R104 at the back of the book.)
Your tale or short story should at be two full pages in length (3 pages max). This assignment will deviate from the format of
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales in that it should be written as a short story and not a poem. Your story should be typed and
follow correct MLA format: double-spaced, Times New Roman 12 point font, heading, header, 1 inch margins, etc. Your
work must be original.
Structure:
(Your Character’s) Prologue:
 1st paragraph or two
 Est. setting/Medieval time period
 Character’s Name/Profession/Pilgrimage
 Direct/Indirect Characterization of Your Character/Pilgrim
(Your Character’s) Tale:
The rest of your paper in paragraph/essay format
On your final draft make sure to highlight the literary elements you used from the suggested list above, except for imagery,
satire or frame story.
The typed hard copy of your Chaucer Character Analysis/Tale rough draft is due on Tuesday, October 18 in class. You
must also upload an electronic copy of your paper to turnitin.com before 7:30 am on the due date. Peer editing/Ratiocination
of your draft will be need to be completed in class the same day. The process parts of this paper are a daily grade (draft,
editing, turnitin.com).
Consider the changes suggested for your rough draft before you finalize your paper. Your Final (typed) Chaucer Character
Analysis/Tale is due on Tuesday, October 25 in class. You must also upload your final paper to turnitin.com before 7:30 am
on the due date. The presentation of the final paper is a major grade. You are also REQUIRED to turn in the Rough Draft
and Peer Editing/Ratiocination with the final draft.
 BOTH the rough draft and the final draft MUST follow MLA format.
 Determining whether the rough draft and final draft was turned in on time will be based on whether you brought a
hard copy to class on the due date. A delay in uploading your paper to turnitin.com will result in a delay in the
grading process of your paper.
On the day of presentations, you MUST bring a visual that represents your character tale. You may bring either a prop (that
has an obvious and strong connection to your tale), an original illustration that is NOT computer generated, but well
designed and colored, or dress in the attire of your character. Presentations will be Oct. 25, 26, 28, & 31. Since every student
will not be able to present on the same day, you MUST be prepared to present on any/all of the presentation days. Although,
if you choose to dress in the attire of your main character, please volunteer to present on the first day.