Theme+2+Chaucer+or+Beowulf

You should also check out the Theme Resources for more ways to improve your theme. Canterbury Tales //(You may need to read parts of TCT that you did not read for class)//
 * Theme #2**

1. Using //The Knight’s Tale// and //The Miller’s Tale//, discuss how Chaucer used the tales to both tell the reader more about parts of society. What was Chaucer saying? How does the placement of these two stories together facilitate the message? It may be helpful to discuss how the elements of these two tales complement each other in order to bring out this message.

2. Identify Chaucer’s positive message: what characters and characteristics does he extol? What does the author (as opposed to the narrator) admire about the pilgrims? Your thesis should focus on a couple of generalized qualities that become more concrete in your discussions of different pilgrims. Also, your argument can be complex: he doesn’t have to admire each pilgrim for the same reason or set of reasons; in fact, you should find some positive attributes even in his description of pilgrims whom he generally exposes to criticism.

3. After watching the full movie //A Knight’s Tale// outside of class, what are the ties between that movie and the prologue of //Canterbury Tales// and Chaucer’s //Knight Tale//? In the movie, we meet the character of Chaucer, as well as various pilgrims from the prologue. Discuss the historical basis for presenting Chaucer as he appears in the movie and then choose 1-2 other characters. How does the movie continue a theme from //The// //Canterbury// //Tales?//

Beowulf (Note: For the //Beowulf// topics, students will need to read parts of the epic that we did not cover in class.)

1. Analyze //Beowulf// as a manual that teaches leaders how to rule. What do we learn from the Dane and Geat leaders? How do they relate to foreign nations? What are there primary responsibilities? Why are they crucial to the well-being of a nation? Refer to specific kings and discuss their successes and failures.

2. Discuss //Beowulf// as a cultural document: what do we learn from it about ancient Germanic tribes – their values, practices, history and fate? What is the poet’s attitude toward this culture? Your analysis should cover the full breadth of the epic.

__**Schedule/Deadlines**__

Oct 15: Thesis Statement and Rough Outline (please list your explanations) Oct 16: Intro paragraph due Oct 21 (Sunday) – **optional**. Email me rough draft by 5pm Oct 23 & 24: Printed rough draft due in class; peer critique workshops Oct 25: Theme due in class in hard copy.

Please note, you must __meet each__ of the above deadlines. If on the assigned days, you have __an incomplete or missing__ outline or draft, your theme grade will be __reduce by 2 points.__


 * Length**: 850-1100 words

Essays should follow standard MBA theme format (see [|MBA Writing Center]). Reminders: double space, paginated, title page, works cited (line beneath essay, not a separate page, for citations see [|MLA Citation Guide]), and word count. Be sure to proofread closely.
 * Format**