Modern Canterbury Tales

Each year, students in the Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition class at Alliance High School channel their inner Chaucers and write a modern version of his Canterbury Tales. 

This year, the class voted on a unique scenario: Our characters are gathered around a car in a showroom, with their hands on the vehicle. The last one standing wins the car. To entertain themselves while they wait, all agree to swap stories. 

Just like Chaucer’s original, our volume has no conclusion. Who wins the automobile? Is it the narcoleptic Brony? The sad clown? The waitress? Don’t ask us. 

We hope you enjoy our humble efforts. If we inspire even one person to seek out Chaucer’s verse, our work will not have been in vain. 


Chris Schillig

AP English teacher 

Alliance High School