Embedded Files
"The life so brief, the art so long in the learning, the attempt so hard, the conquest so sharp." Geoffrey Chaucer
Canterbury Tales 10a - Project 1a - Character Art Project: I will give three different projects that were done at the end of The Canterbury Tales unit - two of them, long term projects (like the Illuminated Text project), one of them (The Death of Chaucer) can be done in class in one period (though there is an assigned reading that goes along with it).
The first project owes everything to my student teacher at the time (now Department Head), Natalie Leki-Albano - who came up with it during her student teaching. I modified it year by year (until I stopped doing it) - but the idea and the bulk of the credit rest with Ms. Leki-Albano. The idea here is to get students to read at least one more prologue and tale beyond what we did - and to show that they understand it through creating an original art piece that somehow (that is up to them) explicates that character. A kind of physical Illuminated Text, if you will.
Lesson Overview
Lesson Overview
All of the important information for the teacher (and the student) can be found in the handout found below. Here is an excerpt: From the description of your character (and/or from their prologue or tale – see number 4 below), you are to make a doll, sculpture, paper doll, puppet, or an other type model (it must be 3-D) of your pilgrim. Make sure you include all the accoutrements (look it up) associated with your pilgrim. Your pilgrim should easily identifiable to anyone who has the read “The General Prologue” and/or your pilgrim’s tale. Think small: You representation may be no bigger than 4 inches tall by 3 inches long by 2 inches deep. Anything bigger will lose points.
Besides using their physical and mental descriptions, your model should also somehow reflect something from the tale they tell. For instance, if you were doing the Pardoner, you might include 3 small sacks of gold in his hand and/or a framed portrait of death. Again, use your imagination and critical thinking. Perhaps even your choice of medium (sculpture vs puppet for instance) will have something to do with the character. Could, you for instance, EVER see the Wife of Bath as a puppet (maybe with her own hand reaching into the puppet)?
In addition to the Art Project, students are to do a written report. And this is so important: The Art Project and the reports are based solely on Chaucer's text. It is important that this remain a text-centered project.
Remote Enhancements
Remote Enhancements
For Remote - you could have students take pictures of their work (if 3 dimensional) or upload it if not. You could also expand it to allow Illuminated Texts.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
BUT there is also Canterbury Tales Project #2 - The Graceland Tales.
WHAT CAME BEFORE:
WHAT CAME BEFORE:
Thoughts on the Lesson
Thoughts on the Lesson
On the shelf next to my desk is a small clay figure of the Wife of Bath. It was made by a visually impaired student in my class a very long time ago. It's a reminder not only of that student - but of how I needed to try harder to reach all of my students.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse