THE WIFE OF BATH PROLOGUE AND TALE GENERAL

THE WIFE OF BATH PROLOGUE AND TALE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION We are going to do a quick study of the Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale. As this is coursework we will dip in and out rather than go for a full ‘exam’ study. You can use this for coursework if you want as a pre-1900 text but THERE IS NO OBLIGATION TO DO SO. We will be approaching the text to analyse the representation of women – as such it should be a useful piece of AO 4 for Paper 2 (where the representation of women in literature is the central approach for us) if you don’t use it for coursework. It might also be useful for Love Through the Ages Paper 1.

CONTEXT You can either write down the answers to these questions or make annotations in your booklets 1. When was Chaucer born ? When did he die ? 2. Name 3 important events in his life. 3. What type of English did he write in ? 4. How are the Tales organised ? 5. Name 3 events that were happening at the time Chaucer was writing The Canterbury Tales.

THE GENERAL PROLOGUE We are going to listen to the opening lines of the Prologue – these will be spoken in Old English but you can follow through the translation in the booklet. - At what time of year was the pilgrimage taking place ? - Why were they going there ? - Where was the starting point for the Tales ? - How many were going to ride together ? Looking into the notes booklet, what group of Tales does the Wife of Bath’s belong to ? Now as we listen to the description of the Wife of Bath in the General Prologue, note down 5 things about her appearance (or her life) that you think are significant

4 BIG QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER ABOUT THE WIFE OF BATH PROLOGUE AND TALE 1. Does this text suggest that women should have the right to an opinion on marriage and that they should be free to express it? 2. Does this text suggest that women’s thoughts about marriage are as valid as men’s thoughts about marriage? 3. Does this text make women’s experience in marriage seem to be a valid counterpoint to the authority of the male writers who argue that virginity is holier than marriage? 4. Does this text make the Wife seem monstrous… a grotesque expression of womanhood, something to be mocked and shunned? If so, does this portrait completely undermine the Wife’s argument about female expression and authority through and/or in marriage?

PROLOGUE TO THE WIFE OF BATH’S TALE, LINES 1 -168 The opening words discuss experience and authority: what kind of experience does she offer? What is “authority” in this context? What can we glean that the authorities are saying? Against whom does she position herself? That people should not remarry because it is a sin: bigamy, adultery, etc. ? (lines 9 -34) That women especially should not remarry? (lines 35 -46) That male-authored “learning” about marriage through the bible is somehow better than her own “learning” through actually participating in marriage? (47 -50) That marriage is bad because only virginity is holy? (65 -120) That “members of generation” were made primarily for purgation of urine and to tell males from females? (121 -140) That sex itself is bad? (155 -159) That men aught to have complete dominance over their wives? (160 -168)

HOMEWORK 1. Because there is no lesson on Wednesday, please read to line 502 of the Prologue (the Wife is explaining about how she behaved to her first 4 husbands), so you have a good idea about what the Wife is like– we will go through the reading in class. Make notes on anything you think significant about the character of the Wife. 2. Then write about a side on what you think abut the character of the Wife of Bath – use quotes to back up you views After today, we only have 4, possibly 5, lessons left until the end of term !