Chaucer and the Wife of Bath

What is the setting of the Wife of Bath’s story?

• Britain during the time of King Arthur

• Canterbury during Chaucer’s lifetime

• the land of the Elf-Queen in days of yore

• the Caucasus during the reign of Boethius

What problem does the knight encounter during his quest?

• People offer only vague answers to his question.

• One year is not enough time to fulfill his promise.

• People cannot agree about what women want.

• His lovely young wife becomes a homely old woman.

The Wife of Bath most likely retells the story of Midas to show that...

• she has read the works of Ovid.

• all that glitters is not gold.

• women cannot keep secrets.

• men are similar to donkeys

If the old woman can save his life, the knight promises to...

• marry her.

• do whatever she asks.

• spare her from his sword.

• bequeath his whole establishment upon her.

What does the knight tell the queen that women want?

• power over their husbands

• freedom to do as they please

• the opportunity to meet their Heavenly King

• wealth and treasure, flattery and pleasure

What is the first reason the knight gives for being unable to marry the woman?

• She is too old and ugly.

• He is of higher rank than she.

• God has forbidden him to wed.

• A great anguish churns inside his head.

Before the old woman transforms herself, she...

• convinces the knight to become a Christian.

• torments the knight and rebukes his gentility.

• cites the work of Roman philosophers to show her intellectual superiority.

• tries to reform the knight’s judgments and values.

What does sovereignty mean?

• nobility

• wealth

• obedience

• power

To bequeath is to...

• be lower than.

• rise above.

• leave in a will.

• inherit wealth.

What does rebuke mean?

• to avenge

• to climb again

• to challenge

• to criticize