Wife of bath
Whom does the knight meet in the forest ? What does he agree to ?
He meets one old woman, crouched upon the green. He promises her that if she tells him what women most desire, he would pay her hire.
How does the knight behave toward the bride that night in bed ? What does he a use her of ? How does she respond ?
He treats her terribly and accuses her of being ugly and poor. She responds to her lower status by saying that Christ intends us to take our gentleness from Him, and to work for virtuous ends. She makes him feel really bad, and he finally agrees to let her choose the best for both of them
Inversion
Roles of men and woman Chivalry
Imitation
Setting:fairy tale Knights and maidens Fairies Quest
How does the old woman offer to dissolve the Knights complaints ? What choices ? Responses ?
She gives him the choice of her being ugly and faithful, or pretty and not loyal. He tells her to choose whatever she wants best, and since he answered correctly, the old lady decides to turn young, pretty, faithful, and good.
Why does the wife tell the story of Midas ?
She tells the story of Midas to make a point that women cannot keep a secret to themselves. The barber tells Midas' secret in Ovid's version, but in The Wife of Bath's version, she whispers it to the river and the river spreads it.
What happens to the old woman and how does the knight respond ? Do they live happily every after ? What is the WOB wish ?
She turns young, pretty, good, and faithful, and the knight is in perfect bliss. "His heart went bathing in a bath of blesses, and melted in a hundred thousand kisses". They live ever after to the end in perfect bliss. She asks Christ to send women husbands meek and young and fresh in bed. The wife of Bath wishes she could meet a loyal, good, and handsome man instead of having to put her skirt over her head every Sunday after Church.
What does the knight do wrong ? How is he judges and sentenced ?
The knight rapes a girl, and knights are supposed to be chivalrous. The king judges his sentence by telling the knight he's going to lose his head by course of law. He isn't executed because the queen and other women implored the king to exercise his grace. The king gave the queen the case, and the queen decided to ask the Knight one question in return for his life. The question was: "What is the thing women most desire?"
What answer does the knight give the queen ? Is she satisfied ?
The knight says that women desire to be more powerful than their lover (husband). The Queen is satisfied with his answer.
Where and when was the wife's story set
The story takes place during the reign of King Arthur.
What does the old woman demand ? Does she get it ? Why? What is the Knights reaction ? What sort of wedding do they have ?
The woman demands marriage, and she gets it because he promised her and they were in front of everyone. They have a hidden wedding, and the knight is embarrassed.
Does the knight have trouble finding answers ? What's wrong with the he ones he gets ?
Yes, the Knight has trouble finding the true answer. The answers he has been getting have been varying and were superficial. No two people were agreeing with their answers, so he did not get an exact one.
