Wife of Bath

What question does the old woman ask the knight after they are married in "The Wife of Bath's Tale"?

Do you want me to be young and faithless or old and faithful?

What is the main setting of the story about the knight in "The Wife of Bath's Tale"?

England in the time of King Arthur

contemptuous

Feeling hatred; scornful

Who wrote the Wife of Bath's Tale and the Canterbury Tales?

Geoffrey Chaucer

According to "The Wife of Bath's Tale," why was the knight condemned to die?

He attacked a maiden.

In "The Wife of Bath's Tale," after the knight and the old woman are married, the old woman gives him two choices. What are they?

He can have an old, faithful wife or a young wife who is unfaithful.

In "The Wife of Bath's Tale," the knight decides to return to the queen and meet his fate even before he meets the old woman. Why?

He gave his word he would return.

In "The Wife of Bath's Tale," what does the knight do after hearing the queen's question and leaving her presence?

He searches all over and asks every woman he finds for the answer.

What is the moral of "The Wife of Bath's Tale"?

It is best for husbands and wives when women rule the marriage.

Where does the Wife of Bath's Tale take place?

Long Ago during the time of legends and King Arthur

In "The Wife of Bath's Tale," while the knight is returning to the castle, he sees young maidens dancing in the woods. When he rides up, he finds only the old woman. What can you infer about the woman from these events?

She is an elf or fairy, and she has transformed herself into an old woman.

According to "The Wife of Bath's Tale," why does the knight agree to marry the old woman?

She promises him that she knows the secret to what all women want.

According to "The Wife of Bath's Tale," why does the queen give the knight a chance to save his life?

She thinks it is more important to teach him a lesson than to kill him.

Why does the queen ask the king not to kill the knight in "The Wife of Bath's Tale"?

She thinks justice will be better served if he learns a lesson.

Where does Canterbury Tales take place?

Southwark, London, England and on the road to Canterbury, England

In the final scene of the story in "The Wife of Bath's Tale," the ugly old woman transforms herself into a beautiful young wife. How do you know she might be a fairy?

The Wife of Bath suggests the existence of fairies when she frames the tale.

According to "The Wife of Bath's Tale," near the end of the story, the knight correctly answers the queen's question. Why does the old woman suddenly leap up and claim her reward in front of the queen?

The knight will not be able back out on his promise.

What is the Wife of Bath's opinion of holy friars, according to "The Wife of Bath's Tale"?

They are a danger to women.

What question does the queen ask the knight in "The Wife of Bath's Tale"?

What do all women desire above everything?

What is the main idea of the story of Midas in "The Wife of Bath's Tale"?

Women cannot keep a secret.

According to "The Wife of Bath's Tale," in the story of Midas, his wife tells her secret to the water. What is the point of this story?

Women cannot keep secrets to themselves.

In "The Wife of Bath's Tale," the old woman insists the knight marry her as her reward. What does the word misalliance mean in his reply? "My love?" said he. "By Heaven, my damnation! Alas that any of my race and station Should ever make so foul a misalliance!" Yet in the end his pleading and defiance All went for nothing, he was forced to wed.

a bad marriage

What is a pilgrimage?

a religious journey

churl

a rude person

implored

begged

What kind of story is the Canterbury Tales?

frame story

bequeathed

handed down as an inheritance

esteemed

highly respected

What does the word reprove mean in these lines from "The Wife of Bath's Tale"? Some say the things we most desire are these:Freedom to do exactly as we please,With no one to reprove our faults and lies,Rather to have one call us good and wise.

scold

rebuked

scolded

anguish

severe mental or physical pain or suffering

What is the Wife of Bath's purpose in telling about the disappearance of the elves in "The Wife of Bath's Tale"?

to foreshadow the later transformation of the old woman

extort

to obtain by force or threat

relates

v. tells

How did Chaucer feel about women?

"What is better than wisdom? Woman. And what is better than a good woman? Nothing."

prowess

(n.) distinguished bravery; superior skill or ability

When was the Canterbury Tales written?

1400

Chaucer died before he could complete the Canterbury Tales. How many stories did he finish?

24

How many people are travelling together to Canterbury in this story?

29