2. The Wife of Bath’s Tale

3. Romance Plot structure: Hero battles an enemy and ultimately prevails Three Stages of a Romance Dangerous Journey A Test to Determine the True Qualities of the Hero A Return to the Point where the Journey Started

4. Romance Includes: Supernatural Elements Good vs. Evil Element Quest

5. The Wife of Bath’s Tale Romance Love Quest Supernatural/Magic

6. The Wife of Bath’s Prologue 862 lines She speaks with the Pardoner in this excerpt She claims to be an expert in marriage Evidence that she is well read

7. The Wife of Bath’s Tale Knight’ quest is to find what women most desire Lines 101-114 The pilgrim digresses and injects her own beliefs Lines 118-124 What criticism of women does the Wife offer?

8. The Wife of Bath’s Tale Wife contends –Women can be hypocritical –Women cannot keep secrets How does the Knight display chivalry in lines 159-164? What element of magic happens in lines 166-180?

9. The Wife of Bath’s Tale What is the irony in the answer to the riddle? In return for the answer, the Knight must marry the old woman. Old woman gives a sermon Lines 293-294 “Gentility is given by God, not by social rank”

10. The Wife of Bath’s Tale In her lecture, the old woman is talking about gentility and virtue The woman then gives the knights a choice 1. Have an old, but faithful wife 2. Have a young, but unfaithful wife What is the knight’s answer? What is said at the end of the poem (437- 440)?