HIS 101
Chaucer Paper Assignment

This candle marks the stop where the shrine (built 1220) of Saint Thomas Becket (1118-1170) stood in the Trinity Chapel of Canterbury cathedral.  The candle is there because King Henry VIII (8) had the shrine destroyed in 1538 (and Becket's bones too).  While in existence, the shrine was an extremely popular site for pilgrimage, which serves as the frame story for Chaucer's tales.  Photo credit Pug!

Read Chaucer, Canterbury Tales (only those tales in the Dover Thrift paperback edition:  General Prologue, Knight's Tale, Miller's Prologue, Miller's Tale, Wife of Bath's Prologue and the Tale of the Wife of Bath.). Answer the following question in a one-page paper:

Citing specific evidence from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (not from the textbook), how "religious" was medieval society (or was it not religious)?

Before proceeding, you might wish to read the short notes and review the study questions on Chaucer. 

Your paper must follow this format:

• must have brief introduction and conclusion paragraphs (each not to exceed three lines); the introduction must directly respond to the assignment question and identify your analysis/thesis points.
• font size 10 or 12 only
• one-inch margins
• double-spaced
• page number citations for your quoted evidence
• name, and only your name, at the top left of the paper
• not to exceed one (1) page
• You may consider submitting a draft of your assignment to your instructor for feedback before submitting the assignment for the grade. At times, you may be asked to rewrite your essay.  This is done for your own benefit and will result in an improved grade.
  

Please take a moment to review Charlie's History Writing Center for specific information on the writing requirements for the assignments in the course. Please check this short explanation of what it means to cite historical evidence.

Your assignment should be submitted on Canvas.