About This Lesson
Lesson plan for: Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales
Grade Level: 11th-12th Grade English
Length of time: 2-Week Unit
OBJECTIVE: At the end of this unit, students will be able to:
- Determine a what Middle English is
- Understand the importance of Middle English
- Be able to differentiate between Middle and Old English
- Understand, evaluate and reflect on the three works The General Prologue, The Wife of Bath, and The Miller’s Tale
The time-period from 1150-1500 is defined as the period of Middle English. While rarely discussed in great detail in classrooms, this time period is extremely important to what the English language consists of today. Middle English brought about changes in pronunciation, spelling, grammar, and so on. Prior to Middle English there was what is known as Old English, which is much more difficult to decipher. I am focusing on this topic at this level because my students will be of a higher grade level, and more apt to understand the difficulties of reading Middle English.
The objective of this lesson plan is for my students to understand the importance of Middle English and will be achieved through studying Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales”, which were written in Middle English. Through use of discussions, in-class reading, and a character project, I will be able to assess my student’s learning and will be able to adjust my lesson plan accordingly. The main goals of instruction for this lesson plan are to familiarize my students with Middle English and its history, understand, evaluate and reflect on the meaning of the General Prologue, The Wife of Bath, and The Miller’s Tale from Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales”
The method of teaching for this lesson is at first teacher-led discussion and instruction, in regards to giving information on Middle English and Chaucer, as well as deciphering/translating the language in the Tales. Students will be given handouts on the topics, to be read over and annotated in class as well as at home. Most of this portion of the lesson will be in-class, except for the readings to be completed as homework.
The second half of this lesson is to be when the students have their culminating activity of a “Character Project”. This portion of the lesson is student-led; they sign up for a particular character that they are interested in, come up with their project, and begin said project. During this portion of the lesson I offer support, guidance, and ideas throughout their completion of the project. They will work on these projects mostly at home with some time allotted for in-class work.
