The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale

Why does the Wife of Bath consider herself an expert on marriage?

Because she's had five husbands

Which part of scripture does she use to justify her many marriages?

The part that says to be fruitful and multiply

What does she think her great power is?

Her sexual power

Why were three of her husbands "good" husbands?

Because they were old, rich, and submissive

How did The Wife of Bath dominate her old husbands?

By withholding sex until they did what she wanted

What did her fourth husband do?

He kept a lover, but one day died on a pilgrimage

What did The Wife of Bath's fifth husband do?

reated her horribly, beat her, and caused the deafness in one of her ears

Which of her husbands did she marry for love?

The horrible fifth husband

How old were the Wife of Bath and Jankyn when they met?

She was forty and he was twenty.

What's the "book of wicked wives"?

A book Jankyn liked to read to her about the most treacherous women in history

Who raped the maiden?

A knight

Who prevented the knight from being killed immediately after he committed the crime?

The Queen

What question did the Queen want the knight to find the answer for?

What do women most desire?

What did the group of 24 ladies turn into as the knight approached them?

1 old, ugly woman

What did the old, ugly woman ask for in return for her services?

To be married to the knight

What happened when the he kissed the woman?

She turned into a beautiful young lady

What was the answer to the question?

Sovereignty over their husbands

What is the tale about?

How women deserve to hold high public positions

Who said this? "I put me in your wise governance"

The knight

Who does this describe? "a fouler wight ther may no man devyse"

The loathly old lady

At the beginning, who has the most power? The knight or the old woman?

The knight

At the end, who has the most power? The knight or the old woman?

The woman

Who changes how the knight perceives the role of women?

The loathly lady

How old was the wife of bath when she first got married?

Twelve

Why didn't the wife like her fourth husband?

He was a rebel and had a mistress

How did her fourth husband die?

On a pilgrimage to Jerusalem

What did her fifth husband do to her?

Beat her often

Did the wife love her fifth husband?

Yes, despite his violent nature

How did the fifth husband always win her back?

By being coy and flattering in bed

How was her fifth husband different from her other four husbands?

She married him for love and not money

What did the fifth husband do for work & where did he stay before he met the Wife?

Poor ex-student, boarded with the Wife's close friend

What was the fifth husband's name?

Jankyn

Why did the Wife tell the fifth husband she'd marry him only if she were widowed?

She was already married to her fourth husband

What lie did the wife tell her fifth husband after meeting him?

That she dreamt he would kill her in her sleep

Why didn't the wife really feel like crying at her fourth husband's funeral?

Because she already had a new husband lined up

When did the wife really fall in love with Jankyn

When he carried her fourth husband's casket

What did Jankyn do to torment the wife?

Alisoun

What is the setting of the Wife of Bath's Tale?

In King Arthur's days, on an isle of Britain

What does the court think they should do to the young knight?

Be put to death by decapitation

What story does the wife of Bath retell to prove her point that women can't keep secrets?

Ovid's story of Midas

What did Midas have growing under his hair?

Two donkey ears

What ends up happening to the old woman?

She got what she most desired (ability to have authority over her husband) and turned beautiful and young, and stayed married to the knight for many years

What does the Wife of Bath conclude her tale with?

A plea that Christ sends all women young, handsome, long-lasting in bed men that will not outlive them