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Seniors ~ Creative Writing

Now that we have discussed Chaucer's "Prologue" and several techniques for characterization, it's time to apply that knowledge in a verse of your own. Each of you are required to write a poem of at least 20 lines of Iambic Pentameter in rhymed couplets.

Iambic Pentameter = 5 iambic feet = 10 syllables with alternating stresses. Example: "Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean" (notice that when you read it, there are five stresses in the line)

Your subject must be a character of your imagination, but can be based loosely on a specific person or personality type. Do NOT give your character a specific name. Refer to him/her by a general term (as in Chaucer).

For your characterization, employ any of the methods used by Chaucer, including description of physical attributes/mannerisms, physiognomy, sensory imagery (touch, taste, smell, sight, sound), attitudes/actions, speech, etc.

The best way to get started is to brainstorm details about your character, mapping them out on a sheet of paper. Create a clustering diagram for Friday.

Please format the assignment according to MLA, and double-space the lines.

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