WorksheetsThe Wife of Bath's Tale
Total questions: 17
Worksheet time: 8mins
a sonnet
an epic story
a frame story
a non-fiction story
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
In "The Wife of Bath's Tale," what does the knight do after hearing the queen's question and leaving her presence?
He searches all over and asks every woman he finds for the answer.
He leaves the kingdom and tries to find a safe place to hide.
He goes to prison because he could not answer the question.
He searches for the old woman to get her advice.
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.
In "The Wife of Bath's Tale," while the knight is returning to the castle, he sees young maidens dancing in the woods. When he rides up, he finds only the old woman. What can you infer about the woman from these events?
She is blind and did not see him coming or she would have escaped.
She is an elf or fairy, and she has transformed herself into an old woman.
She was too old and unable to slip away with the younger ladies.
She was sent by the queen to meet him in order to help him find the answer.
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 question does the old woman ask the knight after they are married in "The Wife of Bath's Tale"?
Do you want me to be young and poor or old and wealthy?
Why do men want young, wealthy wives instead of older wives?
Do you want me to be young and faithless or old and faithful?
Do you want me to be young and rule our marriage or old and obedient?
What was the knight choice and what was the outcome?
He chose her to become young and beautiful, and the outcome was she was unfaithful.
He chose nothing, and the outcome was she stayed the same
He chose to let her stay old and the outcome was she was faithful.
He let her chose, and the outcome was she became beauitful and stayed faithful
Based on the context of "The Wife of Bath's Tale," what is the meaning of the word extort in these lines?
I will concede you this: you are to go.
A twelvemonth and a day to seek and learn.
Sufficient answer, then you shall return.
I shall take gages from you to extort.
Surrender of your body to the court.
to enjoy
to offer up freely
to obtain by threat
to prevent
Based on the context of this sentence from "The Wife of Bath's Tale," what is the meaning of the word anguish?
Great was the anguish churning in his head.
When he and she were piloted to bed;
He wallowed back and forth in desperate style.
His ancient wife lay smiling all the while...
pleasure
nervousness
eagerness
torment
Based on the context, what is the meaning of the word churl in this sentence from "The Wife of Bath's Tale"?
You are no gentlemen, though duke or earl.
Vice and bad manners are what make you churl.
a humorless person
dangerous and wicked person
a rude and mean person
a wealthy person
