The Wife of Bath’s Tale What do women want most? The Cure to all Love’s Ills

What do women want most? Write the best response you got as you tell us the answer and age

How does answering this question help us understand human nature? Write your answer on a separate sheet, but leave space to revisit it later!

Frame Narrative/ Envelope structure The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer: 29 pilgrims on their way to… The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer: 29 pilgrims on their way to… Each Tale occurs within The Canterbury Tales Each Tale occurs within The Canterbury Tales “The Pardoner’s Tale” “The Pardoner’s Tale” “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” Tale within “Wife of Bath’s Tale” Tale within “Wife of Bath’s Tale”

Setting Thomas Becket Murdered: 1170 Thomas Becket Murdered: 1170 Time and Place of the Story The Canterbury Tales Time and Place of the Story The Canterbury Tales Spring time; Sometime after the Murder—some say as early as between ; some say much later 1381 Spring time; Sometime after the Murder—some say as early as between ; some say much later 1381 Time and Place of the Tale “The Wife of Bath” Time and Place of the Tale “The Wife of Bath” During the reign of legend King Arthur During the reign of legend King Arthur Long before 1170 Long before 1170

Wife of Bath An early Feminist An early Feminist Church’s anti-feminine tendencies Church’s anti-feminine tendencies Conflict b/t bookish male “auctoritee” (authority) and female “experience” Conflict b/t bookish male “auctoritee” (authority) and female “experience” Knowledge of books Knowledge of books Knowledge of the world Knowledge of the world

“Expert Wife” Final husband, Johnny, finally learned what women want most Final husband, Johnny, finally learned what women want most Knight demonstrates this idea Knight demonstrates this idea

Frame Narrative/ Envelope structure The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer: 29 pilgrims on their way to… The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer: 29 pilgrims on their way to… Each Tale occurs within The Canterbury Tales Each Tale occurs within The Canterbury Tales “The Pardoner’s Tale” “The Pardoner’s Tale” “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” Tale within “Wife of Bath’s Tale”: Tale within “Wife of Bath’s Tale”: King Midas King Midas

So…what do women want most? To be master over her husband or lover To be master over her husband or lover

How does the Knight learn this lesson? Let’s her choose what form to take Let’s her choose what form to take

Reflect 1 How does this tale reflect what we know of the wife of bath? How does this tale reflect what we know of the wife of bath?

Anticipate 1 What does this tale by Wife of Bath tell us about the Character’s motives? What does this tale by Wife of Bath tell us about the Character’s motives? What do women want most? What do women want most? To be master over her husband or lover To be master over her husband or lover

Wife of Bath Reflection Question In today’s society, where might you find individuals who would agree with the Wife and the philosophy she illustrates with her story? Who might argue against such opinions? Answer this reflection in a 5-7 sentence paragraph.