Merchants Tale Quotes

Question 1

this quote tells us how old January is, and how he used to spend his time..

Answer 1

Sixty year a wyflees man was he,
And followed ay his bodily delit,
On wommen, ther was his appetit.

Question 2

January assumes that a wife will always be faithful and comply to his wishes

Answer 2

For, who kan be so buxom as a wyf?

Question 3

view of the Merchant, on a womans woman’s purse

Answer 3

mighte engendren him an heir

Question 4

Merchant’s view, security and deception

Answer 4

his lyf is set in sikernesse

he may nat be deceyved

Question 5

a short quote which reminds us of the role of women in medieval society

Answer 5

to love and serve

Question 6

this quote reminds us of what January believes a wife will be- reference to the garden of eden

Answer 6

His paradis terrestre

Question 7

this quote is a comparison between women and the creation of Eve for Adam. What January forgets is how Eve was the one who tempted Adam and thereby led to the first sin and sownfall of mankind.

Answer 7

That womman is for mannes helpe ywroght

Question 8

An apostrophe which describes wedlock as blissful and (precious)

Answer 8

O blissful ordre of wedlok precious

Question 9

this description of marriage is once again far from the truth- it is not sweet

Answer 9

marriage hony sweete

Question 10

January explains that he is on the edge of his grave, yet fit for marriage

Answer 10

pites brinke

Question 11

January refuses to take a wife who is older than 20

Answer 11

I wol noon oold wyf han in no manere

Question 12

this disgusting comparison of a woman to meat contrasts starkly with the previous description of marriage as “hony sweete”

Answer 12

Oold fissh and yong flessh

Question 13

animalistic, objectified view of woman

Answer 13

tendre veel

Question 14

phallic connotation

Answer 14

And blosmy tree is neither drye ne deed

Question 15

Justinus, the voice of reason in this marriage debate, argues that marriage needs deep consideration before taking the plunge, so to speak. It’s not as easy as a game

Answer 15

I warne yow wel, it is no childes pley

Question 16

Justinus argues that nothing in this world is perfect, and that wedlock is therefore not as perfect as January thinks. However, this quote sounds more like the discussion over a property up for sale than over a woman

Answer 16

Noon in this world that trotteth hool in al

Question 17

sexual fantasies

Answer 17

Heigh fantasye and curious bisynesse

Question 18

contrast his idea, serious and responsible

Answer 18

have beaute in hir face…. hire sadnesse and hire beningnitee

Question 19

his wife and the consequences of marriage are his responsibility

Answer 19

his owene auctoritee

Question 20

love is blind

Answer 20

For love is blind alday

Question 21

appearance has more importance

Answer 21

Hir fresshe beautee and hir age tendre

Question 22

repetition of the word to emphasise the severity of his choice, creates connotations of suspense

Answer 22

Choys

Question 23

although May was beautiful, she was not riich

Answer 23

which that of beautee hadde greet renoun, Al were it so she were of smal degree.

Question 24

January’s squire, Damian, is a traitor

Answer 24

O servant traitour

Question 25

another reference to the Garden of Eden in the sex scene between January and May. Control and ownership

Answer 25

His fresshe May, his paradis, his make

Question 26

A man cannot rape his own wife, nor hurt himself with his own wife. This is clearly Chaucer’s way of subtly criticising this idea.

Answer 26

A man may do no sinne with his wyf. Ne hurte himselven with his owene knyf

Question 27

the way January describes the idea of having sex with May- like trespacing

Answer 27

I moot trespace

Question 28

misogynistic, as it is saying that all woman take the opportunity to be adulterous

Answer 28

To any womman, for to gete hire love

Question 29

ownership, January wants to retain the garden for himself and May

Answer 29

no wight suffren bere the keye

Question 30

Although January is old, he thinks he is young and agile

Answer 30

Thogh I be hoor, I fare dooth a tree/ That blosotheth er that fruit ywoxen bee

Question 31

First time May speaks she concetrates on money and being faithful, which establishes her hypocrisy

Answer 31

a soule for a kepe as well as ye, and also myn honour.

Question 32

We are positioned to agree with Pluto, as he shows evidence of the unreliability of woman

Answer 32

Alle wommen after…