Chaucer Today

Lesson Plan 2: The Women of Canterbury Tales

Objective:

Students will analyze the Wife of Bath and The Prioress to determine the portrayal of women during the Middle Ages.

Materials:

Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales “General Prologue,” “Wife of Bath Prologue and Tale,” and “The Prioress Prologue and Tale.” (modern English or original)

Compare and contrast the women of Canterbury tales: The Wife of Bath and The Prioress.

Agenda:

Compare and contrast the women of Canterbury tales: The Wife of Bath and The Prioress.

1. Through the eyes of a male author, how does Chaucer portray women? What characteristics, behavior, mannerism, etc, define the women during the middle ages?
2. In what ways are they similar or different and how does that define them and their role in the pilgrimage? What makes you think Chaucer wrote their characters in a certain way?
3. How can the Wife of Bath and the Prioress counter or confirm the role of women during the middle ages?

Assessment:

Have the students form small groups and write short responses before discussing their answers in class.