You are not compelled to be at the feast, but you sure will be missing a good time and possible help on your exam grade if you miss it. The Riverside glosses lots of words at the beginning, but assumes you have seen the more common words later on, so keep up with the readings. Note that all readings should include the various prefaces on pages 1-22 in the Riverside. I also strongly recommend you keep your thumb or a bookmark in the Explanatory notes, which begin for the Canterbury Tales on page 795. Opinions have differed greatly about his works, and its fun to see who you agree with and why.
All readings refer to line numbers unless otherwise specified.
You should have read the whole assignment by the first day that it is assigned. Aug. 30 Intro. Labor Day 8 General Prologue, 445-858. On language and characterization. On the Humors etc., see the Explanatory Note to I.420.