Wife of Bath's Tale

What is the Wife of Bath's purpose in telling about the disappearance of the elves in "The Wife of Bath's Tale"?

• to introduce King Author and the queen

• to get her listeners' attention as she starts her tale

• to foreshadow the later transformation of the old woman

• to explain why the knight's behavior was so shocking

What is the Wife of Bath's opinion of holy friars, according to "The Wife of Bath's Tale"?

• They are holy men who help all who ask

• They are a danger to women

• They are worse than the elves

• They are useless as the elves.

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Why does the queen ask the king not to kill the knight in "The Wife of Bath's Tale"?

• She thinks justice will be better served if he learns a lesson.

• she thinks a woman should pass sentence on him.

• She wants to make an example of him for other men.

• She wants to avoid the loss of another of King Author's knights.

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According to "The Wife of Bath's Tale," why does the queen give the knight a chance to save his life?

• She think it is more important to teach him a lesson than to kill him.

• She knows that he is good at heart and will never rape another woman.

• She thinks kill is too severe a punishment for such a common crime.

• She believes that the knight will be loyal to her forever if she saves him.

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What question does the queen ask the knight in "The Wife of Bath's Tale"?

• Why do men and women not agree on their roles?

• What do all women desire above everything?

• What kind of husband do most women want?

• What must a man do to earn a woman's love?

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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.

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What is the main idea of the story of Midas in "The Wife of Bath's Tale"?

• Women do not want ugly men

• Women cannot keep a secret

• Some men look like animals

• Every man has some horrible secret

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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

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What question does the old woman ask the knights 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?

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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.

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