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"I would prefer to remain a widow, if that would please you."
Federigo's Falcon (The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio ) Group Work: So this work is not from The Canterbury Tales - but instead, from the work that inspired Chaucer to write his tales. Like with Chaucer's "Wife of Bath's Prologue" - there is much here (directly & ironically) that addresses the plight of women in medieval Europe. It is also great to bring in a nonBritish (it's Italian) text to our discussion.
Lesson Overview
Lesson Overview
In addition to the Group Work (see below in Handouts) - there is also a Power Point Presentation (complete with page numbers from the text book) that can be used to guide a discussion if you choose to do that over a Group Work. However - I do think in this case the Group Work is the preferred method (though it lacks the reference to Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure" found in the Power Point). Here are some of the ideas covered in the assignment (see my page on Group Work for more):
Connections between The Canterbury Tales & The Decameron.
Using the House on Mango Street and this story as connection between how culture creates dire situations for the oppressed.
What is "happy" about the ending for the Monna Giovanna - in the story? She is forced into a marriage she doesn't want.
A connection between this story and the precepts of The Art of Courtly Love.
A connection back to the historical background on the treatment of women that they studied in their Primary Sources Group Work (for the Middle Ages)
We don't know what we've got till it's gone - playing the song by Joni Mitchell and drawing connections to the story (also with the O'Henry story - "The Gift of the Magi"
Various connections to everything we've covered so far in this class...
For more on this Group Work - see the handout below.
Handouts
Handouts
Most Recent Handouts & Quizzes
Most Recent Handouts & Quizzes
Federigo's Falcon Group Work Docx PDF
See the handout or the description above for more on this handout. On one side is the Group Work - on the other is an excerpt from The Art of Courtly Love - that is used as a Primary Source in the assignment. You may notice a reminder about "The Wife of Bath's Prologue" - sometimes these get out of order - for instance, when I need an assignment for the sub while I'm absent. See my page on Group Work for more.
A version of the Group Work that combines (on 2 respective sides) "The Wife of Bath's Tale" and "Federigo's Falcon". Docx PDF This was put together to try and use the full new Block Schedule.
Reading Quiz - Federigo's Falcon (and The Decameron background) Docx PDF (
I only did this one or two years - I believe it had to do with timing. The actual Power Point was a combination of "Federigo's Falcon" and "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" so it might have been an attempt to combine two readings into one day of class. In any case, I've divided it up here - this is only the "Fredrigo's Falcon" portion - but there is some pretty cool stuff here.
For one thing, it begins by setting up and then showing the ending of Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure" - where the poor unhappy nun is forced to marry the man who has been attacking her for the entire play. What a great connection to the sad ending of "Fredrigo's Falcon". And in both cases - these are supposed to be "happy ending" stories. Well, not for the woman.
For the video - you will have to find a video of the very ending of "Measure for Measure". There are a few on The YouTube....
You can find "Federigo's Falcon" on the net (here is one place) - and here are a sample of the notes I took while reading it for my class.
Remote Enhancements
Remote Enhancements
See the Power Point presentation above - it works great for remote.
Links
Links
This is the music that I play: "Big Yellow Taxi" by Joni Mitchell. The idea of you don't know what you've got till it's gone - perfectly echoes what happens in the story....
Class Recordings (for registered members)
Class Recordings (for registered members)
Audio
Audio
Video
Video
Canterbury Tales End of Unit 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 rests with Ms. Leki-Albano. In this project the students create a work of art based on a character from The Canterbury Tales.
WHAT CAME BEFORE:
WHAT CAME BEFORE:
Thoughts on the Lesson
Thoughts on the Lesson
If I had continued teaching - I hope that I would have combined the material from the Power Point Discussion - namely, the inclusion of Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure" into the Group Work. Perhaps showing it to the students at some point during the class - and their group reacting to it (without a pointed question that gives the idea away).
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