Name
Date
Class
Literary Element (page 93)
Characterization
from The Canterbury Tales: The Prologue
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
In “The Prologue” to The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer draws character sketches of
extraordinary depth and color. As you read, allow your impression of each character to build and grow based on the author’s description.
AC TIVITY
Directions Read the first row of the following chart. Then, select three
characters and use the chart to create thumbnail descriptions based on Chaucer’s
characterizations.
Interpreting Characterization in “The Prologue”
The Knight
Characterization
(Line Numbers)
“There was a Knight, a most
distinguished man” (line 43)
from “The Prologue”
“And though so much distinguished, he was wise/And in
his bearing modest as a maid”
(lines 70–71)
32
Thumbnail Description
of Character
The Knight is a man of high
moral standing. He embodies
the virtues of “truth, honor,
generousness and courtesy”
that combine to form the
medieval chivalric ideal.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Unit 1 The Anglo-Saxon Period and the Middle Ages –
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Character
Name
Date
Class
Reading Strategy (page 93)
Paraphrasing
from The Canterbury Tales: The Prologue
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
Chaucer’s characters come alive in long, complex descriptive passages. However,
it is not always necessary to incorporate every detail used in such passages into a
paraphrase in order to convey the gist of Chaucer’s meaning.
AC TIVIT Y
Directions Use the chart below to paraphrase passages of your choice from
“The Prologue.” Select passages of one sentence or more that are at least four
lines long.
Paraphrasing Passages from “The Prologue”
Conclusions
At meat her manners were well taught withal;/
No morsel from her lips did she let fall,/Nor
dipped her fingers in the sauce too deep;/But
she could carry a morsel up and keep/The
smallest drop from falling on her breast.
(Lines 131–135)
Madam Eglantyne’s table manners were impeccable. Nothing ever spilled from her lips, and
she was always careful not to dip her fingers in
the sauce too deeply.
1.
2.
3.
4.
from “The Prologue”
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Passage (Line Numbers)
Active Reading Graphic Organizer
Ask your teacher for a copy of the Two-Column Table Graphic Organizer. Use the
chart to get more practice paraphrasing and making conclusions as you read “The
Prologue.”
Unit 1 The Anglo-Saxon Period and the Middle Ages –
33
Name
Date
Class
Selection Vocabulary Development (page 93)
Synonyms
from The Canterbury Tales: The Prologue
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
Vocabulary
solicitous adj. full of concern
estimable adj. deserving of esteem
discreet adj. having or showing careful judgment in speech and
action
disdainful adj. feeling or showing contempt
prevarication n. the act of evading the truth
E X E R C I S E A Practice with Synonyms
Choose the word that would be LEAST suitable for completing each sentence.
1. Reporters have been openly
B. estimable
C. contemptuous
2. Mothers have a knack for seeing through a mischievous child’s
A. deceitfulness
C. solicitude
B. prevarication
3. The professor spoke well of me, describing my work as “
A. estimable
B. admirable
4. Derek was being highly
A. attentive
5. “If you can’t be
A. careful
.
.”
C. disputatious
; you could see how worried he was.
B. prevaricating
C. solicitous
, I can’t trust you with a secret,” Ella said.
C. temperate
B. discreet
E X E R C I S E B Applying Meanings
from “The Prologue”
If the vocabulary words could speak, each of them might make one of the remarks listed below.
Write each word beside the remark it would be most likely to make.
1. “When the truth hurts, I am sometimes an alternative therapy.”
2. “I know when to hold my tongue.”
3. “I am always looking down my long nose at someone.”
4. “How about a big round of applause for me?”
5. “If there’s anything at all I can do to help, let me know.”
34
Unit 1 The Anglo-Saxon Period and the Middle Ages –
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
A. disdainful
of the team’s chances this year.
Name
Date
Class
Literary Element (page 116)
Irony
from The Canterbury Tales: The Pardoner’s Tale
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
More than 600 years after it was written, “The Pardoner’s Tale” by Geoffrey
Chaucer continues to appeal to modern audiences partly because it is so rich in
irony. In a written work, irony builds on the discrepancy between what might be
expected and what actually takes place. As you look for instances of irony in “The
Pardoner’s Tale,” keep in mind what has been written about a character or an action up to that point. Then look for dialogue or events that are at odds with earlier
circumstances.
AC TIVIT Y
Directions Read the first row in the chart below, analyzing how irony is used
in the passage. Then, select three more passages, and use the chart to identify
examples of dramatic irony, situational irony, and verbal irony in “The Pardoner’s
Tale.”
Irony in “The Pardoner’s Tale”
Type of Irony
Explanation
“I have a lot of rats I want to
kill/and there’s a polecat too
about my yard . . .” (Lines
198–199)
Verbal irony
The “rats” the young rioter
plans to kill are his fellow rioters. We thought at the start of
the tale that these men were
friends.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Unit 1 The Anglo-Saxon Period and the Middle Ages –
from “Pardoner’s
Tale”
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Passage (Line Numbers)
35
Name
Date
Class
Reading Strategy (page 116)
Analyzing Tone
from The Canterbury Tales: The Pardoner’s Tale
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
Tone is the attitude a writer takes toward his subjects; Chaucer’s tone hints at the
direction his tale will take. As the tale is told, the author’s tone offers clues regarding the moral standing of his characters. By recognizing the tone, a savvy reader
might sense that men of dubious character are due to receive a comeuppance.
AC TIVITY
Directions Read the first row in this chart. Then, select three more passages and
use the chart to analyze Chaucer’s use of tone in “The Pardoner’s Tale.”
Tone in “The Pardoner’s Tale”
Tone
What Tone Suggests About
Author’s Outlook
“But it dishonored you
when you began/to speak so
roughly, sir, to an old man . . .”
reprimanding
The author shares the disdain
for the rioters expressed by the
old man.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Active Reading Graphic Organizer
Ask your teacher for a copy of the Three-Column Grid Graphic Organizer to analyze tone throughout the selections in Unit One. This chart will help you understand the moral lesson an author is trying to teach in a selection.
36
Unit 1 The Anglo-Saxon Period and the Middle Ages –
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
from “Pardoner’s
Tale”
Passage
Name
Date
Class
Selection Vocabulary Development (page 116)
Context Clues
from The Canterbury Tales: The Pardoner’s Tale
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
Vocabulary
adversary n. opponent; enemy
prudent adj. cautious; careful
gratify v. to satisfy; indulge
deftly adv. skillfully; nimbly
E X E R C I S E A Words in Context
Write the vocabulary word that best completes each sentence.
1. The trio was not the least bit
in the way they barged out of the
tavern to chase after Death.
2. The old man
directed the rioters to the fortune that he knew
would be their undoing.
3. The rioters did not like the old man’s looks, so they considered him a(n)
.
4. Each of the men, being greedy, sought to
his hunger for money.
Write the vocabulary word that completes each poem.
1. Then,
, like a weaver at his loom, he spun the web that snared
them in their doom.
2. To
their wretched lust for gold, their hearts turned selfish, mur-
derous, and cold.
3. A master of duplicity and guile, he tricked his
4. They saw themselves as
with a smile.
thieves, and yet, a deadly lesson did the
rascals get.
from “Pardoner’s
Tale”
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
E X E R C I S E B Applying Meanings
E X E R C I S E C Responding to the Selection
On a separate piece of paper, create a dialogue between two tavern patrons who have also met
the pardoner. Detail their experience using the FOUR vocabulary words.
Unit 1 The Anglo-Saxon Period and the Middle Ages –
37
Name
Date
Class
Literary Element (page 124)
Humor
from The Canterbury Tales: The Wife of Bath’s Tale
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
In the “The Wife of Bath’s Tale,” the wife offers her view on women and keeping
secrets:
But that’s not worth the handle of a rake;
Women conceal a thing? For Heaven’s sake!
The quality of a literary work that make characters and situations funny, amusing, or ludicrous is called humor. Chaucer creates humor in many ways, including
irony, understatement, exaggeration, puns, satire, sarcasm, parody, and subtle wit.
AC TIVITY
Directions Read the first row of the chart. Then select three passages and use
the chart to analyze humor in “The Wife of Bath’s Tale.”
Humor in “The Wife of Bath’s Tale”
Source and Type of Humor
“But that’s not worth the handle of a rake/
Women conceal a thing? For Heaven’s sake!”
(lines 125–126)
That woman’s ability to keep a secret is “not
worth the handle of a rake” is funny because
of exaggeration. The expression “For Heaven’s
sake!” is an example of sarcasm.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. How does Chaucer use humor to enhance characterization?
8. What is your favorite instance of humor in this selection, and why?
38
Unit 1 The Anglo-Saxon Period and the Middle Ages –
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
from The Wife of
Bath’s Tale
Passage (Line Numbers)
Name
Date
Class
Reading Strategy (page 124)
Evaluating Argument
from The Canterbury Tales: The Wife of Bath’s Tale
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
Argument is a type of persuasive writing technique in which logic or reason is used
to influence readers’ opinions. Argument does not depend on emotion; rather, it
appeals to our common sense. In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer argues through
his characters. The wife, for instance, starts her tale like a lawyer giving an opening
argument:
For I’ll give instances, and more than ten.
And those who won’t be warned by other men,
By other men shall suffer their correction
Characters argue by responding to general wisdom or to the actions or words of
other characters. Remember that arguments can voice agreement or disagreement.
AC TIVIT Y
Directions Read the first row. Then choose and evaluate three other arguments
from “The Wife of Bath’s Tale.”
Evaluating Argument
Argument Made by Key
Character
What Argument Suggests
About Author’s Views
Some people believe women
want to be flattered. (lines
105–106)
Wife: “That’s . . . the truth it
seems to me,/A man can win
us best with flattery.” (lines
107–108)
Chaucer may feel that women
are susceptible to flattery.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
from The Wife of
Bath’s Tale
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Others’ Opinions
Active Reading Graphic Organizer
Ask your teacher for a copy of the Three-Column Grid Graphic Organizer. Use it
to keep track of and evaluate additional arguments in “The Wife of Bath’s Tale.”
Unit 1 The Anglo-Saxon Period and the Middle Ages –
39
Name
Date
Class
Selection Vocabulary Development (page 124)
Analogies
from The Canterbury Tales: The Wife of Bath’s Tale
GEOFFREY CHAUCER
Vocabulary
reprove v. to scold or correct, usually gently or out of kindness
concede v. to admit as true; acknowledge
disperse v. to scatter about; distribute widely
arrogance n. overbearing pride or self-importance
suffice v. to be enough for
E X E R C I S E A Practice with Analogies
Complete the analogy by writing the correct vocabulary word.
1. Cease is to begin as deny is to
.
2. Cultivate is to develop as spread is to
.
3. Modesty is to humility as pride is to
.
4. Weaken is to falter as correct is to
5. Accept is to reject as lack is to
.
.
E X E R C I S E B Applying Meaning Through Analogy
1. A teacher may
a mistaken student as a boss may chide a
late worker.
2. Scant resources fall short of feeding most but ample supplies
for all.
3. Conquerors trumpet victory as the vanquished
4. The
of the dictator reminded me of the vanity of the movie star.
from The Wife of
Bath’s Tale
5. The rain will moisten the soil, and the wind will
EXERCISE C
defeat.
the seeds.
Responding to the Selection
On a separate piece of paper, create a dialogue between the wife of Bath and a woman today.
Use ALL of the vocabulary words.
40
Unit 1 The Anglo-Saxon Period and the Middle Ages –
Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Choose from the five vocabulary words to fill in each blank.