Meet Chaucer's Nun

A writer may use a number of techniques to develop a character.

1) By making a statement about him or her.
2) By showing character indirectly through action, thought, or dialogue.
3) Through observation and comment made by others in the story.
4) By using physical appearance and habits of the person to reveal his or her character.

Geoffrey Chaucer, the second most famous British writer of all time (Shakespeare is the first) was a master of characterization. In The Canterbury Tales, he parades a variety of 29 characters past the eyes of his readers. here's a paraphrase of one of his characterizations- that of the nun who traveled to Canterbury with a group of pilgrims.

In this piece Chaucer uses three of the techniques mentioned at the top of this page. Show which lines of the poem demonstrate each technique by selecting the appropriate number 1 - 4.