Wedenday, 11/5/14: The Wife of Bath's (K)Night(mare)

  * Open

• Please reflect and write in your composition book (notes section):
• Generally, what do men and women want from their beloved in a romantic relationship  today (courting, dating, engaged, or married)? 
• Specifically, what do you hope to have in your present or future relationship?

Recent reading (and rereading):

• Part I "The Prologue"
• Part II "The Pardoner's Tale" 
• Part III "The Wife of Bath's Tale"

* Journal 12 continued in groups (Begin today, finish during block period):

11.  Why do you think this tale is set in King Arthur's days?  How has the knight violated the code of chivalry? 

12. How does the Wife of Bath view the fairy superstitions of old?  How does she view the church's friars that disabused Britons of the superstitions?

13. Find and explain three remarks within the tale (not the prologue) that remind us that the Wife of Bath is telling this tale. 

14. What does fire symbolize in this story?  Explain.  

15. "The Wife of Bath's Tale" both compares with (contrasts) and compares to (similarities) Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in its plot and characterization.  Describe two similar and two contrasting aspects of the pieces. 

16. How does this story square with a biblical view of marriage concerning husbands and wives?  Use three or more scriptures to defend your answer (here are a few to get started...but dig a bit yourself, please).

17.  In the end, this is a man's view (Chaucer) of a woman's view (The Wife of Bath) of women.  In the final analysis, do you think he is correct?  Do you think he is fair in his treatment?  Where would you say that he has fallen short?  

18.  Cultural Questing:  
A. (treated in class already, so skip for the journal). In this story, a rapist is pardoned.  Is this a morally evil way to explore a theme in literature?  How did Chaucer make the forgiveness more plausible?  What about rape today?  What do you think the penalty should be?

B. How do you think a seemingly innocent young person can grow up to become a rapist?  What are some wise steps you can take now to protect yourself and also protect yourself from becoming a sad threat to another?

 

HW: Review Chaucer, phrases and clauses