1. Close Reading: The Canterbury Tales Prologue
English 12

2. Warm-Up
Tell me about a time you went on a trip with people that you did not know very well. Write about the members of the group, the purpose of the trip, the different relationships between the group members. What were the difficulties? The fun? The unknown?
If you have never been on a trip with people you didn’t know well, tell me about any road trip you’ve been on.

3. Independent Read
Silently read the introduction to The Canterbury Tales Prologue
During this initial read, do not take notes or annotate. When finished evaluate how much of the Prologue made sense to you and rate your reading comprehension with the following scale: 4
I totally get it! 3
I get it. 2
I’m beginning to get it… 1
I need help!
I am totally lost!

4. Where Did You Land on the Scale?
4, 3, 2 ,1, or 0 ? Why???

5. Using Your Smartphones or a Dictionary…
Write a brief definition of the bolded words from the intro to the Prologue in the margins on your handout!
Hint: some of these words may be defined in your textbook on page 140/glossary in the back of the book

6. With More Vocabulary Knowledge…
Re-read the intro to the Prologue. Focus on trying to understand what is being said.
In the middle column of your handout, write brief summaries for lines…
1-4
5-11
12-18
23-27
28-34

7. Now that we know what Chaucer is saying…
Re-read the intro to the Prologue focusing on the following question as you read:
1. What time of year do the pilgrims travel?
Record your answer near the top of the “questions” column on your handout- leave room for more answers!

8. Answers?

9. Focus Questions
For our final reading - return to the text and respond to the following questions/prompts in the “Questions” column on your handout:

10. Why would they choose to travel at this specific time of year?
What words does Chaucer use to get this point across?
In your own words, paraphrase the following passage:
“The veins are bathed in liquor of such power as brings about the engendering of the flower” (Chaucer 140, 3-4)
5. What is the main idea of the full passage?

11. 6. What helped you understand this passage better; Defining vocab, re-reading, paraphrasing?

12. After Our Close Reading…
Evaluate your new comprehension of the passage we have read today- put your final “score/rating;” explain why you gave yourself this rating. Submit on the way out of class today! 4
I totally get it! 3
I get it. 2
I’m beginning to get it. 1
I need help!
I’m totally lost!