Week 23 Literature wife of Bath

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4,5

Welcome to English class!

Welcome 

class V2A

Let's discuss the SO

The Canterbury Tales

What do you remember
about the Canterbury Tales?

The Miller's Tale is a 'fabliau'. What is a fabliau?

The Wife of Bath

- Dame Alison is one of the storytellers

- She stands out as a remarkable character

Take 5 minutes to read the prologue: page 47 Alquin

- What kind of book does her fifth husband read?

- Why is Alison/The Wife of Bath annoyed and what happens next?

- Why is the Wife of Bath such a remarkable character?

What kind of book does her fifth husband read and why does it annoy Alison? What does she do?

How does the wife of Bath get her own way?
What is the outcome?

Why is the Wife of Bath such a remarkable character?

"And when I'd mastered him, and out of deadlock

Secured myself the sovereignty in wedlock,

And when he said, "My own and truest wife,

Do as you please for the rest of your life,

But guard my honour and my good estate,"

From that day forward there was no debate. "

The Wife of Bath's Tale

Read page 48 Alquin

The Wife of Bath's Tale

How does the wife of Bath convey her own ideas on marriage in the last part of her tale?

Why does the knight leave the choice up to his wife eventually?

In the Middle Ages women were portrayed as wilful, sensual, and a bad influence on men. Is this kind of thinking displayed in the portrayal? Explain why (not).

What 'lesson' did the wife of Bath's story teach the men (male pilgrims)?