Canterbury Tales
For a video lecture introduction to the powerpoint above, click here.
For a video lecture introduction to the powerpoint above, click here.
In the following private discussion (remember: think "short paper") you're going to reflect on the current importance of Middle English and how it still influences our language today.
I would like to to research Middle English and Middle French words that we still use today. I would like you to find three words each that come from both Middle English and Middle French that are still in use today. Post the word, a definition, its full etymology (which is the root words it comes from) and what it says about the culture that it came out of.
Here is a model of what one of your words should look like:
1. Passport: a document that proves citizenship and allows for holder to pass beyond national boundaries into other countries. This word is formed from a combination of two words, "passer" which is Middle French for "allow access" and Middle English "port" which means "where a ship enters". This word was coined around the 1500s which tells us that there was obviously a massive increase in international travel (think Columbus, 1492) and the need to distinguish national identity. We can also tell from this word's formation that there was a growing need to secure your countries borders from foreigners and the beginning of stronger, centralized governments to enforce these boundaries.
Research these words using the links in the Powerpoint above or simply perusing a dictionary looking for the symbols MFr (Middle French) or ME (Middle English) to signify that it comes from this time period.
This is a private discussion post, so no need to respond, just submit your own work here.
Full credit for discussion: three separate words from Middle English, three separate words from Middle French, with dictionary definitions, etymology, and what it says about the culture of Middle English that such a word would come about during their time period.
Canterbury Tales Assignment: Click here.
Now that we've had a chance to the context of The Canterbury Tales through this SAS lab workshop, we're going to read some of it online using the link below:
I would like you to post your reflections in the discussion board for this week that you'll find in the next few blocks below. Make sure that you reply back to at least two others with full and complete sentences. Whenever possible, I would like you to reference material you have read and watched this week. Prove you have read and understood by your scholarly replies to each other.
AFTER reading The Canterbury Tales, specifically The Wife of Bath, I would like you to join in a discussion about the following topic:
The Wife of Bath revolves around the issue of women's rights and women's role in the world. There are many opposing views that are offered up in the story, none of which may be right. In your discussion, I would like you to wrestle with both your reactions to the story itself and to the ideas that it presents. Essentially, you are attempting to answer the question that the Knight was threatened with:
What do women want? Evaluate the effectiveness of the answer he eventually provides and the overall moral of the story. Is there a distinction between what men and women want? Have things changed since this story was written in the Middle Ages?
To fully answer these questions, you will need to summarize what answer/moral the story provides, but I would also like you to argue or agree with it with specific reasons and examples from the world today.
To have a complete response you need:
To write a complete response to the above topic with a minimum 100+ words.
Engage all components of the prompt.
Post your original post by Thursday of this week.
Respond thoughtfully and completely to at least two of your colleagues.
Above: Image of original Prologue illuminated manuscript...click on image for full picture--fascinating!
Below: Image of the author of the Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer. Click on picture to view biography of Chaucer.
Click on picture below to view a very helpful website, created by the esteemed Harvard University, about the works of Geoffrey Chaucer...check it out!
Link to my webpage on Medieval architecture
Film adaptations of various Tales:
All assignments are attached below.