The Belles of Canterbury: A Chaucer Tale Out of School

"The Belles of Canterbury: A Chaucer Tale Out of School" by Anna Bird Stewart is a humorous one-act play that blends classic literature with the everyday lives of modern schoolgirls. The tale unfolds within a school setting where girls struggle with understanding Chaucer, leading to a magical encounter where the characters from "The Canterbury Tales" materialize, offering their own unique perspectives and challenging the girls' modern views. A central theme revolves around a Junior girl's frustration with Chaucer's old-fashioned language, which turns into a personal journey of understanding as she interacts directly with these literary figures. The play uses witty dialogue and unexpected situations to explore the values of appreciating literature, fostering respect for the past, and encouraging individual development, culminating in a scene where the girls return to find the Junior transformed by her enlightening experience.