ENG404 -- Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales

Prof. Eileen Joy (Fall 2003)

Oral Pronunciation Exercise

In order to understand Chaucer's achievement as a poet, you must be able to pronounce his language aloud as well as well as read and translate it silently, and therefore, after you have undertaken the exercises provided in "Teach Yourself to Read Chaucer" (Lessons 1-10; hyperlinks provided on website syllabus), you are to practice and perform an oral pronunciation of a substantial portion of Chaucer's verse of your choosing (30-50 lines). You can then demonstrate your mastery to me in one of two ways:

A) schedule a time to come to my office and read the passage aloud (you may have your book with you as an aid, and you may do more than one recitation if you don't like your first one),

OR,

B) record your recitation onto a cassette tape or CD-ROM, and submit that to me. Be sure to label the tape or CD with your name and the title of the passage you have selected (with accompanying line numbers from Benson edition, so that I can read along while listening).

You may choose a passage for which an audio file already exists online, although I do look favorably on those students brave enough to choose a passage for which no audio file exists. You will be judged on accuracy of pronunciation and the ability to read the verse line for meaning and sense (i.e., appropriate pauses and emphases). Consult the Chaucer Audio Files at the Chaucer Metapage website for assistance with this exercise.

Office recitations or tapes/CDs must be completed by: Thursday, Sep. 25

Times Available for In-Person Recitations