Instructions

Here follows a number of assignments on Chaucer and his Canterbury Tales. Use the Internet and/or other background material to answer the questions. Please don't simply cut-and-paste the answers - they should be in your own words! Provide your handwritten answers on a blank sheet of paper, without copying the answers / information word for word.

If any of the links are expuired or do not work, please feel free to complete an open search of the internet, using your CARBs and understanding of what is / is not good information

Directions: Use the "handy links" at the bottom of the page to answer each of the following questions.  Remember - answers should be in your own words (and yes, for this assignment bullet points are fine)

Part I - Life in Medieval England

In this part of the assignment, you fill find out about life in Medieval England.  You will also be looking at the 'chivalrous code' and Thomas a Beckett (Canterbury Cathedral).

1. The people - describe the functions in society of the following people:
   • The King
   • The vassals
   • Knights
   • Noblewomen
   • Bishops
   • Priests
   • monks/nuns
   • friars
   • Serfs
   • merchants
2. Thomas a Beckett
   • Who was he?
   • Why was he killed?
   • Why did/do people visit Canterbury on pilgrimages?
3. The Chivalrous Code (visit some sites on the Chivalrous Code and answer the following questions):
   • What was the Chivalrous Code?
   • Why was it so important?
   • And to whom?
4. Time Travel
   • Choose two of the characters you described above in item #1 and find out more about their daily life.
   • These people will be shortly passing through a galactic time-warp and will be visiting the Breul. They are to give a talk in your class about the similarities and differences between the Middle-Ages and now.  Speculate on the following: If those characters had been born now, what sort of life would they enjoy?  What would a suitable profession?  What are the advantages/disadvantages of living now/then?

Part II - Chaucer's Life and Works

1. Geoffrey Chaucer
   • When was Chaucer born and when did he die?
   • What were his links to royalty?
   • What roles did he fulfill in life?
   • What was happening in Europe during this time?
2. The Canterbury Tales
   • What is a frame story (aka frame narrative)?  Hint: we talked about this in class (think 'picture frame')
   • How does this technique of storytelling apply to The Canterbury Tales?
   • Briefly describe the motivation to write The Canterbury Tales.

Handy Links!

Use the list of links at the bottom of this section (and others if necessary) to answer the questions above.  You may need to copy/paste the links into a new window. DO NOT use Wikipedia.