10th Grade Summer Reading
Assignment, 2011-2012
Due:
August 30, 2011 to Mr. Stair in
Room 335 by 8:10 AM
Reading Assignment:
You must read the following sections
of Canterbury Tales:
a. The
General Prologue
b. The Prologue
to the Knight’s Tale & The Knight’s Tale
c. The
Prologue to the Wife of Bath’s Prologue & The Tale of the Wife of Bath
d. A third
tale of your choice
Format Requirements
for Papers:
1.
If you use a computer, you need to:
a.
Double-space
b.
Use a
font that is no larger than 12 point, and no smaller
c.
Use Times
New Roman, Calibri, or Arial
d.
Employ
margins that are no greater than 1.25”
e.
Papers
should be no less than two full pages long.
2.
If you
hand-write your paper:
a.
Skip lines
b.
Write
on only one side of the paper
c.
Depending
on the size of your handwriting, handwritten papers should be no less than four full
pages long.
3.
For all
papers:
a.
Make sure
your name is on the paper
b.
Include
the rubric as the first page of the paper
You must choose
from the following assignments to accompany your reading.
MAXIMUM DIFFICULTY (10 extra credit points added)
1. Does
Canterbury Tales demonstrate the society and sensibilities of the Middle Ages,
or is it more typical of the Renaissance? Use
examples (3+) from Canterbury Tales to support your claim. Use correct MLA Citation and include a Works Cited.
2. Read
excerpts of Giovanni Boccaccio’s Decameron.
Compare and contrast Canterbury Tales and Decameron. What evidence is there that Chaucer was influenced by
Boccaccio’s writing? Include at least 2 examples from each text. Use correct MLA Citation and include a Works Cited.
3. Research
and discuss Dante Alighieri’s influence on Geoffrey Chaucer. You will need
to familiarize yourself with the work of Dante. Use correct MLA Citation and
include a Works Cited.
4. Using
the Canterbury Tales, what can we learn about social mobility (people’s ability
to move from a lower socioeconomic class to a higher socioeconomic class)? Did
movement in social class also mean an increase in political influence and/or power?
Use examples (3+) from Canterbury Tales to support your claim. Use correct MLA Citation and include a Works Cited.
5. Research
the Peasant Revolt of 1381 in England. How does Canterbury Tales relate to the Peasant Revolt? Use correct MLA Citation
and include a Works Cited.
MODERATE DIFFICULTY (5 extra credit points added)
6. Should the Prologue and the Tale of the Wife of Bath be censored? Use examples (3+) from the Wife of Bath’s Prologue and/or Tale to support your claim. Use correct MLA Citation and include a Works Cited.
7. Create
a video of one of the tales. Minimum length:
5 minutes
8. Discuss
the role of religion in the Canterbury Tales. What role does religion play in the
lives of the Pilgrims? Use examples
(3+) from Canterbury Tales to support your claim.
Use correct MLA Citation and include a Works Cited.
9. Using
“The Prologue to the Knight’s Tale” and “The Knight’s Tale,” what can we learn about chivalry
and/or the Chivalric Code? Is this Knight typical of the later 14th
century? Use correct MLA Citation and include a Works Cited.
10. Generally, the Church was
considered to be “all-powerful” during Chaucer’s time. How
was this view challenged in the Canterbury Tales?
Use examples (3+) from Canterbury Tales to support your claim. Use correct MLA Citation and include a Works Cited.
MINIMUM DIFFICULTY (no extra credit added)
11. Plan a party for 12
of the Pilgrims in Canterbury Tales. You
must include a seating arrangement (paying attention to the personalities of the people you invite), a copy of the invitation,
a menu, a description of the setting, and a list of party activities. Remember
this party would occur in late 14th century England. Make sure to
do your research.
12. Choose three of the Pilgrims from Canterbury
Tales. Write a description of the character and create a portrait of each Pilgrim. Use correct
MLA Citation and include a Works Cited.
13. Where would you fit in Chaucer’s
Canterbury Tales “world”? Do
you think you would be happy? Make sure to use evidence from the text to support
your claim. Use correct MLA Citation and include a Works Cited.
Need some help?
Need some resources? Go to Ms HB’s website: https://katesportfolio.tripod.com/id131.html
