The Wife of Bath's Tale Quiz

What is the author’s structural purpose in including the “Wife of Bath’s Prologue” in “The Wife of Bath’s Tale”?

• To maintain the frame story by keeping up with the other characters between the tales.

• To prepare the reader for the long narrative that is to come.

• To fill in background information on the storyteller.

• To keep the reader entertained with constant character changes.

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Read the dictionary entry below.

motion \mō'shәn\ n 1. the act or process of changing place 2. a formal proposal in a deliberative

assembly 3. melodic change of pitch 4. an impulse or inclination of the mind

Which definition best matches the word motion as it is used in line 12?

• Definition 1

• Definition 2

• Definition 3

• Definition 4

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In lines 29–62, how is the Wife of Bath’s personality conveyed through her comments and tone?

• Her use of formal diction indicates that she is better educated than most.

• Her comments about mythical figures indicate that she is playful and superstitious.

• Her comments about the holy friar indicate that she is moralistic and deeply religious.

• Her use of a knight character indicates that she is proper and chivalrous.

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Read the dictionary entry below.

saddle \săd'l\ v 1. to control 2. to burden or impose n 3. a seat for a rider on the back of an animal 4. the posterior part of a back

Which definition best matches the meaning of saddle in line 137?

• Definition 1

• Definition 2

• Definition 3

• Definition 4

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Which sentence best describes the significance of the story about Midas in lines 126–156?

• It shows the influence of Ovid’s frame story on the work of Chaucer.

• It proves to Chaucer’s readers that stereotypes about women are true.

• The original story by Ovid adds authority to the current tale.

• The original story about Midas also talks about the desire of women to be equal.

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In lines 320–338, what do comments about gentleness and poverty reveal about society at the time Chaucer was writing?

• A poor person may be of higher character than even the rich and wellborn if he is decent, noble, and moral.

• A duke or earl automatically qualifies someone to be a gentleman.

• Women or more gentle than men.

• A true gentleman lived up to his name.

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Choose the quote that best captures how women were viewed when Chaucer was writing in the 14th century.

• That we are gentle comes to us by grace / And by no means is it bequeathed with place.

• But gentleness, as you will recognize, / Is not annexed in nature to possessions. / Men fail in living up to their

  professions; / But fire never ceases to be fire.

• Lastly you taxed me, sir, with being old. / Yet even if you never had been told / By ancient books, you gentlemen

  engage, / Yourselves in honor to respect old age.

• That’s very near the truth, it seems to me; / A man can win us best with flattery. / To dance attendance on us,

  make a fuss, / ensnares us all, the best and worst of us.

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The role of the “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales is —

• to serve as the main dramatic monologue in the larger frame story

• to serve as just one narrative in a much larger frame story

• to serve as an introduction to common characters in mythology

• to serve as the backbone of the narrative epic structure

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Which two sentences best describe the connection between “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” and “The Wife of Bath’s Prologue,” a part of the larger frame story at work in The Canterbury Tales?

• The tale maintains the characters and narrative of the ongoing larger frame story.

• The prologue is the real narrative while the tale itself is actually unimportant.

• The tale expands upon the thoughts and opinions of the character telling the story.

• The prologue follows the characters that appear throughout the larger frame story.

• The tale is part of a larger story with tales of the same plot and theme.

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The Chaucer excerpt includes two sections, a prologue, and a tale. Mark the box/boxes that matches the description of

the characters and setting with "The Wife of Bath's Prologue".

• Characters live in ancient times.

• A character goes on a physical and moral journey.

• A character is interrupted by arguing characters.

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