Introduction

The Medieval period produced many important literary contributors. Among these, Dante Alighieri, Boccaccio, Geoffrey Chaucer and Sir Thomas Malory. Although war, power, wealth, glory, valor, and royalty are the most important characteristics of Medieval literature, lessons were learned after further review of the literature and how this affects one's life. These ancient masterpieces have come to represent a way of life; thus, even though this literature is not history, still there are valid reasons to explore the richness of these offerings.

While the stories that our four authors can rarely be taken as fact, everything about them illustrates the way things were at the time they were written. These pieces have come to be recognized as morality pieces as well as adventures. Because of its morality issues it becomes a focus for us as readers to decipher the lessons to be learned as it relates to good and evil. The literature that has been selected for you provides us with intriguing clues to life in the middle ages. Before these stories were set to paper, minstrals traveled from castle to castle to perform these tales. For this very reason the likely popularity of surviving medieval works becomes reason enough to study them. As the minstrals performed these tales, a certain atmosphere was created for all that listened. Fortunately for us, scholars have translated these works that retain the alliterative style and pacing to make our jobs a little bit easier.

Read. Enjoy. Try looking at the sections that your teachers will direct you to. Then go back to find out more. The four major works that this WebQuest explores will focus on, but is not limited to the following: religion, fortune, deception, love, the dead, unnatural cruelty, wit, and sex. The ancient masterpieces await you.

The Quest

What lessons can we learn from the great literature of the Middle Ages?

The Process and Resources

In this WebQuest you will be working together with a group of students in class. Each group will answer the Task or Quest(ion). As a member of the group you will explore Webpages from people all over the world who care about Medieval Literature. Because these are real Webpages we're tapping into, not things made just for schools, the reading level might challenge you. Feel free to use the online Webster dictionary or one in your classroom.

You'll begin with everyone in your group getting some background before dividing into roles where people on your team become experts on one part of the topic.

EVALUATION:
For grading purposes each student will receive two grades. One of the grades will be a group grade in which the finished product will be evaluated by rubric which will be explained fully in class. The other grade will be individual in nature. It will be based upon your individual work and effort by the rubric.

Every group member must research one of the authors that this WebQuest presents. and will be evaluated via two options:

1- Present a powerpoint presentation of atleast four slides detailing:
A) cover page
B) chilhood and education
C) highlights of his life
D) accomplishments detailing how he affected the
Medieval period and the future
E) download atleast one photograph

2- Create a six page digital magazine either burned on to a CD or design a web page with the following data:
A) Select an individual of interest of the Medieval times and write a biography demonstrating how and why this person was an important part of Medieval history.
B) Write three news articles highlighting noteworthy events this individual was part of.
C) Write an editorial in which you take a position concerning one event your individual is responsible for.
D) Create a political cartoon that takes a serious concern and pokes fun of the time period.
E) Write a historiography which is a news analysis drawing comparisons between literature and history. In this piece, no position is taken. You must only report what authors or journalists have written about the subject using quotes from literature while relating those quotes to history.
F) Create a logo and name your magazine. Group members will work in pairs to edit and proofread each other's final draft. Decide on the final format for the news page and how it will be produced.

Phase 1 - Background: Something for Everyone

Use the Internet information linked below to answer the basic questions of who? what? where? when? why? and how? Be creative in exploring the information so that you answer these questions as fully and insightfully as you can.

• Dante - A bio, information about the time period and an INFERNO guide for classroom use.
• Boccaccio - The DECAMERON Web to assist you of your understanding of the text.
• Chaucer - A bio, cyber guides and background information to understand THE CANTERBURY TALES.
• The Legend of Arthur - A site to assist students with the King of Britain.

Phase 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Individuals or pairs from your larger WebQuest team will explore one of the roles below.

2. Read through the files linked to your group. If you print out the files, underline the passages that you feel are the most important. If you look at the files on the computer, copy sections you feel are important by dragging the mouse across the passage and copying / pasting it into a word processor or other writing software.

3. Note: Remember to write down or copy/paste the URL of the file you take the passage from so you can quickly go back to it if you need to to prove your point.

4. Be prepared to focus what you've learned into one main opinion that answers the Big Quest(ion) or Task based on what you have learned from the links for your role.

DANTE'S INFERNO

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to DANTE'S INFERNO:

1. What three beasts does Dante encounter in the woods?

2. What do they represent? (English/Italian)

3. Who is Dante's guide?

4. Why was he famous?

5. Who are Paola and Frencesca? In what Canto are they found?

6. Describe their story.

7. What is the punishment?

8. Who is Beatrice and why is she important?

9. What is Francesca's full name, and who is her husband?

10. How many circles of Hell are there? List the type of sinners in each.

11. How did Vergil become the guide of Dante?

12. What are the various names used for the Devil?

13. Write and memorize the famous opening lines to Dante's INFERNO.

• THE INFERNO by Dante - An etext in Italian for your enjoyment.

BOCACCIO'S DECAMERON

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to BOCACCIO'S DECAMERON:

1.

• THE DECAMERON by Boccaccio - An etext in Italian, no less. Enjoy.
• THE DECAMERON by Boccaccio - An extext in English for your enjoyment.

CHAUCER'S CANTERBURY TALES

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to CHAUCER'S CANTERBURY TALES:

1. In 'The Prologue,' what is Chaucer's main objective?

2. Why are the pilgrims traveling to Canterbury?

3. Why do the pilgrims agree to tell tales during the journey?

4. How is Chaucer's characterization of religion which includes the prioress, the monk and others connected with the church shown?

5. What archetype does the Wife of Bath portray?

• THE CANTERBURY TALES by Chaucer - An etext of Geofrey Chaucer's tale of the pilgrims at the Tabard Inn.

MALORY'S LE MORTE D'ARTHUR

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to :

MY LORDS AND LADIES!! FIND THESE AND I WILL REWARD YOU.

1. HE WAS KILLED BY THE DOLOROUS STROKE.

2. SHE IS KING PELLES’ DAUGHTER.

3. THIS IS THE NAME OF LAUNCELOT’S CASTLE.

4. HE IS THE KNIGHT WITH THE RED SHIELD.

5. SHE WAS ROMANTICALLY LINKED TO MERLIN.

6. THIS KNIGHT KILLED MARGAWSE.

7. THIS KING QUESTED ALL HIS LIFE FOR THE BEAST.

8. THIS KNIGHT IS ARTHUR’S STEP-BROTHER.

9. SHE SIRED ARTHUR.

10. BEFORE BEING KNIGHTED, HE WAS KNOWN AS BEAUMAINS.

11. THIS IS THE NAME ARTHUR’S FATHER USED.

12. SHE SIRED SIR GALAHAD.

13. HE IS THE KNIGHT WITH THE BLACK SHIELD.

14. HE IS KNOWN AS THE KNIGHT WITH THE TWO SWORDS.

15. THIS IS THE CASTLE OF ADVENTURE.

16. HE RAISED ARTHUR AS A CHILD.

17. THIS KNIGHT KILLED KING PELLINORE.

18. HE IS THE KNIGHT WITH THE SILVER SHIELD WITH THE BLACK BANDS.

19. THIS IS ANOTHER NAME FOR MERLIN’S STONE.

20. THIS IS LANCELOT’S FALSE NAME.

21. SHE CAST A SPELL OVER LAUNCELOT WHEREBY HE HAD TO CHOOSE A PARAMOUR.

22. HE IS LAUNCELOT’S NEPHEW.

23. HE IS LAUNCELOT’S FATHER.

24. THIS IS A REASON WHY LAUCELOT WOULD NOT MARRY.

25. THIS IS ANOTHER EQUALLY IMPORTANT REASON.

26. HE WORE LAUNCELOT’S ARMOR FOR SAFETY REASONS.

27. THIS IS SIR LAMEROK’S FATHER.

28. LAUNCELOT DEFEATED THIS KNIGHT BY NEARLY BREAKING HIS NECK.

29. HE IS THE MOST OVERBEARING KNIGHT OF ALL TIME.

30. THIS IS THE NUMBER OF TIMES LAUNCELOT SAVES SIR KAY.

31. THIS IS THE NAME OF CASTLE WHERE THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE MEET.

32. SHE IS SIR GARETH’S LOVE INTEREST.

33. THIS IS THE COLOR OF SIR GARETH’S ARMOR.

34. HE IS THE KNIGHT WITH THE PLAIN BLACK SHIELD.

35. HE IS THE KNIGHT WITH THE COVERED SHIELD.

36. HE IS THE GREATEST KNIGHT EVER FROM CORNWALL.

37. HE IS THE JOUSTING TOURNAMENT CHAMP AT KING MARK’S COURT.

38. SHE TRIES UNSUCCESSFULLY TO SEDUCE LANCELOT.

39. SHE IS THE DAUGHTER OF KING LODEGREAUNCE.

40. THIS WAS KING ARTHUR’S GREATEST WEDDING PRESENT.

MY LORDS AND LADIES!! YOU WILL NEED TO SEARCH FAR AND WIDE TO FIND THESE GEMS.

41. THIS IS WHERE SIR PERCIVAL WAS TO CONCLUDE THE QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL.

42. THIS IS THE NUMBER OF BULLS AT THE FEEDING RACK.

43. METIPHORICALLY THIS IS WHAT THE FEEDING RACK REPRESENTED.

44. THIS IS THE LENGTH OF LAUNCELOT’S PENNANCE.

45. HE SLEW GARETH AND GAHERIS.

46. THIS IS ONE OF THE ARCHBISHOP’S PROTESTS OF MODRED’S ACTIONS.

47. THIS IS ANOTHER PROTEST OF THE ARCHBISHOP AGAINST HIM.

48. THIS IS THE REGION WHERE THE ARCHBISHOP RESIDED.

49. THIS IS THE SIZE OF MODRED’S ARMY.

50. THIS IS THE DATE THAT KING ARTHUR AND MODRED BATTLED.

51. THIS IS THE LOCATION ON THE BODY OF MODRED’S FATAL BLOW.

52. THIS IS WHERE KING ARTHUR RECEIVED HIS FATAL BLOW.

53. THIS KNIGHT RETURNED KING ARTHUR’S SWORD TO THE LADY OF THE LAKE.

54. THIS IS THE NUMBER OF TIMES HE BETRAYED THE KING BEFORE RETURNING IT.

55. THIS BECOMES THE FINAL RESTING PLACE OF KING ARTHUR.

56. THIS VISION WAS VOUCHSAFED TO LAUNCELOT FOR INSTRUCTION AND MISSION PLACED TO HIM AND HIS SIX
COMPANIONS.

57. HE BECOMES THE NEW KING OF BRITAIN.

58. THE NAME OF A PATCH OF GROUND IN BRITAIN WHERE JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA BUILT THE FIRST CHURCH.

59. THIS IS HOW ALL OF THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE ARE SEEN AFTER KING ARTHUR’S DEATH.

60. THIS IS WHERE THE ARCHBISHOP FLEES AFTER EXCOMMUNICATING MODRED.

• LE MORTE D'ARTHUR by Malory - An etext of the story that reveals the story of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.

Phase 3 - Debating, Discussing, and Reaching Consensus

You have all learned about a different part of Medieval Literature. Now group members come back to the larger WebQuest team with expertise gained by searching from one perspective. You must all now answer the Task / Quest(ion) as a group. Each of you will bring a certain viewpoint to the answer: some of you will agree and others disagree. Use information, pictures, movies, facts, opinions, etc. from the Webpages you explored to convince your teammates that your viewpoint is important and should be part of your team's answer to the Task / Quest(ion). Your WebQuest team should write out an answer that everyone on the team can live with.

Phase 4 - Real World Feedback

You and your teammates have learned a lot by dividing up into different roles. Now's the time to put your learning into a letter you'll send out for real world feedback. Together you will write a letter that contains opinions, information, and perspectives that you've gained. Here's the process:

1. Begin your letter with a statement of who you are and why you are writing your message to this particular person or organization.

2. Give background information that shows you understand the topic.

STATE THE TASK / QUEST(ION) AND YOUR GROUP'S ANSWER.

3. Each person in your group should write a paragraph that gives two good reasons supporting the group's opinion. Make sure to be specific in both the information (like where you got it from on the Web) and the reasoning (why the information proves your group's point).

4. Have each person on the team proofread the message. Use correct letter format and make sure you have correctly addressed the email message. Use the link below to make contact. Send your message and make sure your teacher gets a copy.

Your Contact is: Maryclaire Singer & Ralph A. Bucci

Conclusion