CHAUCER & THE CANTERBURY TALES

INTRODUCTION

Today you are about to embark on a journey into Chaucer’s world.

Geoffrey Chaucer is regarded as the father of the English
literature and as the first major secular poet. His masterpiece
The Canterbury Tales ranks as one of the greatest poetic works in
English. Now you don’t know anything about his life and his most
celebrated poem, but this activity will help you to discover his
amazing world. Fasten your seat belts and ... have fun!

TASK

Your aim is the creation of a digital document (a Power point, a

mind map, a video...)on Chaucer’s world and poem The Canterbury
Tales.
In order to reach the goal in a shorter time and in an enjoyable
way, it would be better to work in groups of four. Every group
will investigate some topics and the group itself will decide who
will complete a task. Anything not completed in class should be
finished for homework.
Each member of every group has to be familiar with all the
information about the main themes assigned, because he/she will
have to answer any possible questions.

PROCESS

Follow the next steps:

a) You are going to be divided into groups of four

b) Each group is going to be given the following topics to
investigate:

• Chaucer’s biography (the most significant events in his life)

• Chaucer’s world (society, clothing, food and drink,the Black

Death)

• Pilgrimages and Cantebury (definition of ‘pilgrimage’,

pilgrimage’s goals, Canterbury cathedral and Thomas Becket)

• The Cantebury Tales (language, plot, structure and style,

setting, characters, themes)

c) Before creating your document it is necessary to share the

opinion of the other group members about the chosen information
and the way to express and present it. Remember that every member
has to be familiar with all the specific arguments!

The group has to create a unique presentation, collecting the

efforts of each member, discussing and motivating their order of
relevance and the way they are presented. The final report has to
show unity of thought and a good group effort. Your report can
include pictures and music, too.

Each group should give a maximum 30 minute presentation on their

own topic. Each group member has to present and explain a part to
the rest of the class and to the teacher. Classmates and teacher
can put questions on all topics investigated by the group.

Some SOURCES
• Performer Heritage, Zanichelli (2016)

Chaucer’s biography

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/chaucer_geoffre
y.shtml

• https://www.bl.uk/people/geoffrey-chaucer

Chaucer’s world

• https://esol.britishcouncil.org/content/learners/uk-
life/life-uk-test/middle-ages
 • http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-times-
sitemap/

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/middle_ages/black_01.sht
ml

Pilgrimages and Cantebury

• https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zw3wxnb/revision/1

• http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-
religion/pilgrimage.htm

• https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/26/in-the-middle-
ages-british-museum-to-tell-story-of-thomas-becket

The Cantebury Tales

• https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/the-canterbury-tales-by-
geoffrey-chaucer

• https://www.britishlibrary.cn/en/works/canterbury-tales/

EVALUATION
The presentation will be graded on the following criteria:

Group work

Written work
General Analytical Score Total Note
criteria criteria related to score
the
criteria
Content  Correctness 2 4 6 8 10 …/ 48 Excellent 46-

 Understandin 12 …/ 48 48

g 2 4 6 8 10 Very good 41-

12 45
Organizati  Structure 2 4 6 8 10 …/ 48 Good 35-40
on  Creativity 12 …/ 48 Fair 29-34
2 4 6 8 10 Sufficient
12 24-28
Not
sufficient 0-
23

Individual work

Oral exposition
General Analytical Score Total Note
criteria criteria related to score
the
criteria
Fluency  Pronunciatio 2 4 6 8 10 …/ 60 Excellent 56-
n 12 …/ 60 60

 Understandin 2 4 6 8 10 Very good 50-

g 12 55
Accuracy  Grammar 2 4 6 8 10 …/ 60 Good 43-49
 Syntax 12 …/ 60 Fair 36-42
2 4 6 8 10 …/ 60 Sufficient
 Lexis
12 30-35
2 4 6 8 10 Not
12 sufficient 0-
29

Group work

General criteria Notes

Collaboration Excellent / Very good / Good /
Fair / Sufficient / Not
sufficient
Enthusiasm Excellent / Very good / Good /
Fair / Sufficient / Not
sufficient
CONCLUSION
Now it’s time for you to reflect on the things you have learnt.
This WebQuest has allowed you to:
- find, read and summarize authentic materials about
Geoffrey Chaucer and his world;
- present to your teacher and classmates the most relevant
information in a digital document;
- answer classmates’ and teacher’s questions;
- work in group: listening carefully to the rest of the
group-mates, helping others with their tasks, showing a
respectful attitude towards different points of view,
having cooperative discussions;
- be familiar with different topics;
- listen to the final reports of the other groups.
Have you enjoyed the process?