Literary Analysis of “The General Prologue” from The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
Due Date Monday, November 19, 2007

Requirements:
• 300-600 words
• Main Idea is preferably an Arguable Statement rather than a fact:
Example: Chaucer’s description of the Prioress criticizes her.
• Complete Thesis Statement consisting of a Main Idea and 2, 3, or 4 Supporting Ideas
Example: Chaucer’s description of the Prioress criticizes her in the way she looks and the way she acts.
• Introduction, Body, and Conclusion Paragraphs
• An Outline of the Main Idea, Supporting Ideas and Supporting Facts Example:
Complete Thesis: Chaucer’s description of the Prioress criticizes her in the way she looks and the way she acts.
I. The way she looks
A. What she wears
1. _______________
2. _______________
B. Her face and body
1. Face details
2. Body details
II. The way she acts
A. Swears
B. Speaks French
C.
D.
• Body paragraphs start with the topic sentence that you relate to the main idea.
Example: One thing Chaucer criticizes about the Prioress is her appearance.
main idea topic
• Every idea must have at least two pieces of evidence to support it.
• Quotations and Documenting of Direct Quotes
Example: Her “smile was simple,” Chaucer says (2). The line # is in parentheses.
• The Introduction ¶ begins with a hook, a sentence that grabs the reader’s attention. Use something related to your main idea. It is common in literary analysis to begin with a very short summary of the piece of literature along with the title and author. For example: Thirty Pilgrims travel together to Canterbury, telling stories on the way in The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.
• The Introduction ¶ ends with the complete thesis.
• The Conclusion ¶ begins with the complete thesis stated in different words.
• The Conclusion ¶ ends with a personal comment related to the thesis. For example, you might say something about people’s appearance, or about criticism, or about The Canterbury Tales or Chaucer. But you dont’ say “I think” Chaucer was a brilliant writer. You simply say, Chaucer was a brilliant writer, because it is understood that it’s your thoughts, since it’s your essay.

• Body ¶s begin with transistion words like One example of Chaucer’s description . . .

• Conclusion ¶ should not begin with “In conlusion.” You might say “Clearly the Prioress is not an ideal nun, according to Chaucer, in either the way she presents herself or in her behavior.