Curated OER
A Changing Society
Seventh graders examine Chaucer's work about the medieval times. In groups, 7th graders imagine what modern activities could replace some tasks used in medieval times.
Curated OER
Learning Festival
Fifth graders at this age are very interested in the adventures of knighthood and life in the past, so the unit will serve as a basis for teaching skills while maintaining high interest.
Yale University
Yale: The Illusion of the Renaissance
A curriculum unit on perspective, detailing the differences between medieval and Renaissance art. This is designed as a studio art course for 8th grade through high school, and contains some good information and activities. Illustrations...
University of Virginia
University of Virginia: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
The University of Virginia provides the full text of the Middle English narrative poem "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight."
Luminarium
Luminarium: Geoffrey Chaucer
Luminarium offers Chaucer quotes, a biography, a collection of Chaucer's works, both in Middle and Modern English, a selection of essays about his times and his works and links to much of the other scholarly information about Chaucer on...
Luminarium
Luminarium: Sir Thomas Malory
In addition to providing both Modern English and Middle English texts of Malory's "Morte d'Arthur, Luminarium provides several biographies, and essays on Malory and his works.
Luminarium
Luminarium: "Everyman" (After 1485)
This site provides a detailed overview of "Everyman," and includes the full text of the work, related essays and articles, and additional resources.
University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh: Images of Medieval Art
This clickable image of the front facade of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Reims allows students to view enlarged details of the gothic statuary. There is also a link to a representation of medieval Reims.
TheatreHistory.com
Theatre History: The Medieval Drama
This informative article contains a wealth of information on the development of drama, and its Greek and Latin origins.
Other
Online Historical Fencing Manuals & Texts
Links to historical fighting manuals and analysis of these manuals. Intriguing reading for those with an interest in Renaissance fighting techniques.
Bartleby
Bartleby.com: Later Transition English Middle English Lyrics
A discussion of middle English lyrics, examining both religious and secular lyrics with examples. Excerpt from The Cambridge History of English and American Literature.
University of Notre Dame
Medieval Institute Library: Medieval Seals
A catalogue of different kinds of medieval seals. They are organized into many categories, e.g., by institution, country, century, type of insignia, etc. Each seal is accompanied by a description and a high quality image.
New Advent
Catholic Encyclopedia: Geoffrey Chaucer
Quotations and a bibliography accompany this biography of Geoffrey Chaucer from The Catholic Encyclopedia.
Books in the Classroom
Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site: Catherine, Called Birdy
Cross-curricular online resource on the book "Catherine Called Birdy," by Karen Cushman. Includes discussion questions and engaging learning activities.
Other
Educastur: Caballeros Y Castillos
Terrific introduction to the Middle Ages, in Spanish. Learn about the people, cities, and life by clicking through beautifully illustrated screens while a jester narrates. Click objects, e.g., the castle gate, a cathedral door, or a...
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy: Baruch Spinoza
This site from the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy provides an in depth look at the life and works of Baruch Spinoza. Includes links to related material.
Harvard University
Harvard: The Geoffrey Chaucer Page: John Lydgate
Resource provides a brief biography and general critique of his "high style" English lyric poetry, with links to several of his works, some annotated. Beautiful color picture from "Sege of Thebes."
Harvard University
The Geoffrey Chaucer Page: A Brief Chronology
This timeline of Geoffrey Chaucer's life and times from 1300 to 1400 provides a historical and social context for The Canterbury Tales. Features links to related topics.
Harvard University
The Geoffrey Chaucer Page: Clerk of the Works
Transcript of a document instructing the poet Chaucer, as Clerk of the Works, to oversees the building of jousting tournament scaffolds.
Harvard University
The Geoffrey Chaucer Page: Tournaments and Ceremonies
Note on the jousting tournament and its cultural meaning and literary representation (such as in Chaucer's "The Knight's Tale").
Harvard University
The Harvard Chaucer Page: English Romance
A survey of Geoffrey Chaucer's work, which was much influenced by romance, the dominant mode of secular fictional narrative in his time.
Harvard University
The Harvard Chaucer Page: "The Tale of Gamelyn"
Full text of the Middle English 14th century verse romance, "The Tale of Gamelyn," which was popular during Chaucer's lifetime.
Harvard University
The Harvard Chaucer Page: 14th Century English
This site from The Geoffrey Chaucer Page of Harvard University provides biographical information on Chaucer, specifically on his social class and his learning/speaking/writing French. Explanation for why the commoners and aristocrats...
Harvard University
The Harvard Chaucer Page: "Piers Plowman"
Full text of William Langland's (1332?-1400?) middle English narrative poem "Piers Plowman." Includes scholarly introduction that notes parallels between the poem and Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.