Create Your Own Canterbury Tale

Name: _____________________________________________________________________________ Block:______________
Create Your Own Canterbury Tale

The Assignment:
In The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer provides rich character sketches of a wide cross-section of
13th century people. The characters congregate on a pilgrimage with the charge of telling a tale; the
pilgrim with the best tale wins a free dinner provided by the Host. Each tale comes with a prologue. You
are to create your own character, prologue, and tale. Your completed project will include the following: a
short prologue (a poem introducing the character telling the tale and his/her circumstances), a tale
sketch (a written plan including a moral, which the tale illustrates), and the tale itself will be a creative
component. You may use one of the provided morals, or you may come up with your own.
The Guidelines:
1. Choose a member from the contemporary cross section of U.S. society. This could be a stereotype
or a more fleshed out figure. It could be someone from everyday life (nurse, lawyer, a store clerk,
an insurance agent, etc.) or a famous person (actor, a sports figure, a politician).
2. “A Short Prologue”: Plan a prologue that creates the frame story for the telling of your tale. What
are the circumstances for the tale being told? Are the storytellers off to a baseball game, sitting
around a cafeteria, waiting in line at Kroger? They need a destination, and a purpose for sharing
their story.
a. Write a character sketch in the spirit of Chaucer’s Prologue---describe both the appearance
and personality of your character. This should add up to a realistic human being: one with
flaws, contradictions, etc. Hint: Think about the “Character Sketch Worksheet” to create
your character in which you discussed physiogonomy, character traits, and social stratum.
Then, put all of that information into a cohesive paragraph or two. This must be written in
heroic couplets.
3. “Tale Sketch”: This could be the tale that your character would tell about him/herself OR that
your character tells about another person (for example: the Wife of Bath’s Tale does not include
herself). Consider what kind of story your character would want to tell (what message would
he/she want to spread?) OR consider what your character could find him/herself involved in that
would make for a good teaching moment. Unless you choose to write your tale for the Creative
Component, this portion of the assignment is submitted as the “Tale Sketch Worksheet” (for
clarification, this must be submitted along with a written component if you do select that option).
4. Creative Component: Bring your story to life with one of the creative components listed below.
The list below is not meant to limit or stifle, so, if you have another idea, we should have a
discussion about it. BE SURE TO READ OVER THE RUBRIC TO ENSURE THAT YOU INCLUDE ALL
COMPONENTS.
As with most creative assignments, I am open to altering parts of the assignment to suit your
abilities/talents. If you have an idea for something that is not listed, don’t hesitate to ask me if you can
make an alteration.
WE MUST DISCUSS THIS BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR ENDEAVOR!!!
Character Sketch Worksheet (15 points for worksheet--30 points for Prologue)
Directions: Complete the following chart in order to sketch a complete character. Remember,
Chaucer created hypocritical/contradictory characters; how will you show the multiple
dimensions of your character?
Your Character’s Name:
Appearance (physical, clothing, voice/smell/mannerisms):
Occupation (or daily/societal expectations):
Interests (what do we know about this character besides their occupation:
Reason for travelling/being with a group:
Purpose for sharing their story:
Now, take the information above and craft 1-2 descriptive paragraphs. This should be at least 150
words. (See “Expectations for Written Components” on rubric page.)
Tale Sketch Worksheet (15 points)
Directions: Complete the following chart in order to plan your character’s tale. Remember, you
will deliver this story creatively, so consider your medium when planning your tale.
Moral: What lesson will the story convey?
Exposition: Explain how you will introduce the characters, describe the setting and establish the
problem in the story.
Rising action: This creates suspense and shows how the problem gets worse/more complicated. There
are often multiple steps or parts in the rising action.
Climax: The climax is turning point in the story. This is usually the most exciting/dramatic part in the
story.
Falling action: The events that happen right after the climax that lead to a resolution or conclusion.
Resolution: How does the story end? What becomes of the character(s)--this is often where the lesson
becomes clear!
Possible creative components:
For the tech-savvy:

● Movie trailer
● Google Slideshow “picture” book
For the artist:

● Comic book/graphic novel
● Movie poster
For the wordsmith:

● Write a poem/short story
● Write an obituary
● Write a screenplay
For the thespian:

● Perform a skit (be sure to utilize the students in your class for the parts)
● Film a scene/short film
For the musically-inclined:

● Write and record/perform a song
● Perform a dance
Expectations for written components: Your Tale Sketch should be written in Standard American
English, but feel free to play with language for the Prologue and the actual tale. For the Prologue: your
writing is polished (evidence of revision and spell/grammar check should be evident--aka, you are not
submitting the first thing that comes to mind). For the Tale Sketch, your writing should be descriptive,
clear, and cohesive.
Examples of morals: Always tell the truth, Do not destroy property, Have courage, Keep your promises,
Do not cheat, Treat others as you want to be treated, Do not judge, Be dependable, Be forgiving, Have
integrity, Take responsibility for your actions, Have patience, Be loyal, Have respect for yourself and
others, Be tolerant of differences, Seek justice, Have humility, Be generous
Create Your Own Canterbury Tale Rubric
Components/Expectations: Awesome! I
Not quite, and Yes, but here’s
especially Points earned
here’s why: how to improve:
loved:
Character Sketch Worksheet
Prologue: Introduces the character’s*: _______/15

● Name
● Appearance (physical, clothing, Character
voice/smell/mannerisms), Sketch
● Occupation (or daily/societal Worksheet
expectations)
● Interests (what do we know
about this character besides
their occupation
● Reason for travelling/being
with a group
● Purpose for sharing their story _____/30
(while you won’t write all of
the characters’ tales, there
needs to be a clear premise for
Y N
sharing their tale) (circle one)
*The characteristics of your character
should reflect his/her moral character. Total:
Minimum: 150 words, see “Expectations __________
for written components” below for
more information.
Tale Sketch: Fully details the tale told

by your character, including: a moral,
exposition, rising action, climax, falling _____/15
action, and resolution.
Creative Component:
● Representation: tale includes
key characters, setting is well
represented, the audience gets
a clear sense of the plot from
the project
● Use of medium: Media selection
enhances the storytelling and is
_____/50
executed appropriately.
● Creativity: Project is original,
interesting, and engaging
● Neatness: Final product is neat,
professional, carefully crafted
● Turned in on time!
Total Points _____/110

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Name: _______________________________________________________________ Block:

Create Your Own Canterbury Tale

Your Character’s Name:

Appearance (physical, clothing, voice/smell/mannerisms):

Occupation (or daily/societal expectations):

Interests (what do we know about this character besides their occupation:

Reason for travelling/being with a group:

Purpose for sharing their story:

Moral: What lesson will the story convey?

For the tech-savvy:

For the artist:

For the wordsmith:

For the thespian:

For the musically-inclined:

Prologue: Introduces the character’s*: _______/15

Tale Sketch: Fully details the tale told

Total Points _____/110

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