In this unit, we will be examining the ways in which authors have tackled the subject of marriage in the medieval, renaissance, and regency periods. Each author has used the subject as a commentary of his/her time, but how does it relate to ours? Have our ideas of marriage changed since the medieval period? What is the role of a man and a woman in marriage? What social issues are related to marriage?
Essential Questions
- How do writers create texts to explore the social and political issues of their time?
- What roles do satire and irony play in societal critique?
- How do authors and artists reveal their attitudes toward their subject matter?
- What parallels can we draw between these societies and ours?
Texts
- The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer (General Prologue, Wife of Bath’s Tale, Miller’s Tale, Reeve’s Tale, Pardoner’s Tale, Franklin’s Tale, Shipman’s Tale, Nun’s Priest Tale)
- Chevrefoil, Marie de France
- Pride & Prejudice, Jane Austen
- The Taming of the Shrew, William Shakespeare
- Selected Poems including “Alisoun” Middle English lyric
Thurs 11/16
Intro to the unit and medieval period
- What are your expectations of reading a piece of literature from the medieval period?
- What does the artwork of the time reflect
- What is this poem about?
- What are the images the poem uses?
HW: Campbell’s “Tales of Love and Marriage” – annotate for main ideas, confusing information, key terms
Fri 11/17
Unpacking”Tales of Love and Marriage”
- Each group should create a shared google doc that includes the following:
- Main ideas from the text
- Key terms with definitions
- Any confusing information with a question that seeks to clarify (a question that considers what is confusing about the information)
Courtly love and chivalry
Reading Marie de France’s Chevrefoil
Mon 11/20
Intro to Chaucer–Watch the following video about Chaucer and the tales and take notes on the following:
- Chaucer’s life and time period
- Information about The Canterbury Tales.
- 0-10.19
- 14.28-17.53
Reading the General Prologue
Here we meet all of the pilgrims as well as a definite speaker. Use the handout to keep track of everyone. As you read the first three stanzas together (volunteers anyone?), take note of the following:
- What stands out to you?
- How would you describe the speaker?
HW: Finish reading the prologue and information about the pilgrims on the
Tues 11/21
Continue reading the prologue and keeping track of character
HW: finish reading the General Prologue for the Tuesday we come back from break
Wed 11/22
Creating the Pilgrim Portrait
Your group is responsible for creating a visual portrait of your assigned pilgrim(s) so that we understand the characters telling these tales. In order to create a true visual representation of your figure, you will need to use the details that Chaucer provides.
- Physical appearance including dress
- Consider how personality traits would be represented visually
- Any objects that might be important to them or that they would have with them on their pilgrimage
HW: Happy Thanksgiving!
Mon 11/27
Drop
Tues 11/28
Meeting and reviewing the pilgrims
Reading “The Knight’s Tale” Parts I and II (p. 26-53)
- How is this tale appropriate for the Knight to tell?
- What does this tale illuminate about the tradition of courtly love and Campbell’s discussion of eros, agape, and amour?
HW: Finish reading Parts I and II and study for Pilgrim quiz (multiple choice, matching quotes from Prologue to character)
Wed 11/29
Discussing “The Knight’s Tale”
- Plot
- How does the Knight speak of and describe Theseus?
- How is this tale appropriate for the Knight to tell?
- What does this tale illuminate about the tradition of courtly love and Campbell’s discussion of eros, agape, and amour?
Reading Parts III&IV
HW: Finish reading Parts III&IV and study for Pilgrim quiz (multiple choice, matching quotes from Prologue to character)
Thurs 11/30
Discussing “The Knight’s Tale”
- Plot
- How does the Knight speak of and describe Theseus?
- How is this tale appropriate for the Knight to tell?
- What does this tale illuminate about the tradition of courtly love and Campbell’s discussion of eros, agape, and amour?
Understanding Satire in The Canterbury Tales
Reading “The Nun’s Priest Tale”
- How does the satirize courtly love?
- What is Chaucer’s purpose?
- What does this tale illuminate about the tradition of courtly love and Campbell’s discussion of eros, agape, and amour?
HW: Finish reading “The Nun’s Priest Tale” and Pilgrim Quiz tomorrow
Fri 12/1
Pilgrim Quiz
Summary of the Nun’s Priest Tale
HW: NP Criticism and answering NP Tale questions
Mon 12/4
Summarizing the criticism and applying to NP’s Tale
HW: Reading your assigned tales
Tues 12/5
In class work day collaborating with group on summary
Reading criticism – summarizing
HW: continue to collaborate with group
Wed 12/6
Final in-class work day
HW: Read either Miller & Reeve’s tales or Shipman’s Tale
Thurs 12/7
Drop
Fri 12/8
First two presentations:
- Miller & Reeve
- Shipman
HW: Read either “Wife of Bath’s Tale” or “Clerk’s Tale”
Mon 12/11
Presentations
- Wife of Bath
- Clerk
HW: Read either “Merchant’s Tale” or “Franklin’s Tale”
Tues 12/12
Presentations
- Merchant
- Franklin
HW: Prepare for in-class writing responses
Wed 12/13
Open response #1
HW: Prepare for in-class writing response
Thurs 12/14
Prep for response #2
HW: Intro to The Taming of the Shrew. Read What is a shrew and answer the question in your journal. Be detailed and specific in your response.
Fri 12/15
Open Response #2
HW: Read the induction of the play
Mon 12/18
Reflection on this part of the unit
Answering the questions about the induction
Reading Act 1 Scenes 1& 2 and answering questions (see handout with MC)
HW: finish work on Scenes 1 & 2
Tues 12/19
Drop
Wed 12/20
Taming of the Shrew in class
Viewing the induction (0-7.52)
HW: Read Act 2
Thurs 12/21
What are the plans?
- Gremio & Hortensio
- Lucentio & Tranio
What type of lovers are these?
Read the first page of the packet with Petruchio’s speech. Scan the speech for stressed and unstressed syllables. You can use dictionary.com to help you (bold=stressed).
- Understanding character by rhythm
- Understanding the verbal sparring in Act 2 Scene 1
Fri 12/22
cont. viewing
HW: Have a wonderful break.
Tues 1/2
Reading Act 3 Scene 1 & 2 together
- The start of the taming process
- Key quotes for Kate and Petruchio (not only what they say but also what others say about them)
HW: Reading 4.1, 4.3, and 4.5 in full and the summaries for 4.2 and 4.4
Wed 1/3
Select scenes of the taming of Kate
- Moving tableaux
HW: Reading Act 5
Tues 1/9
Kate’s Final Speech (see classroom Assignment)
Thurs 1/10
Kate’s final speech workday
Fri 1/11
Kate’s final speech performances
Tues 1/16
Poetry & Exam Review
Wed 1/17
Poetry & Exam Review
Tues 1/23
Exam
