The Merchant's prologue and tale

Question 1

The Merchant in the Prologue on the subject of his marriage

Answer 1

Were I unbounden, also moot I thee,

I wolde nevere eft comen in the snare

Question 2

the Merchant on January’s relationship with women

Answer 2

M – And folwed ay his bodily delit

On women, ther as was his appetit

Question 3

the Merchant on January’s possible reasons for wanting to marry

Answer 3

M – Were it for hoolinesse or for dotage,

I kan nat seye

Question 4

Quote linking to ‘holy bond’

Answer 4

M– ‘to live under that hooly boond

With which that first God man and womman bond

Question 5

Quote, that links marriage to Garden of Eden, demonstrates Merchant’s true views on marriage due to context and following statement

Answer 5

J – ‘that in this world it is a paradis’

M Thus seyde this olde knight, that was so wise.

Question 6

quote on wives

Answer 6

M – Thanne is a wife the fruit of his tresor

Question 7

description of marriage that indicates marriage is a burden or similar

Answer 7

M – Under this yok of marriage ybounde

Question 8

quote that further links women/wives and marriage to the Garden of Eden, significant for context

Answer 8

M – (a wife is) his paradis terrestre and his disport

Question 9

January’s aim to mould women, similar imagery used later by May to achieve her freedom

Answer 9

J – a yong thing may men gye

Right as men may warm wex with hands plye

Question 10

quote relating to January’s self-deception

Answer 10

J- Though I be hoor, I fare as dooth a tree

That blosmeth er that fruit ywoxen be

Question 11

further relating to Jan’s self-deception, imagery of laurel (plant)

Answer 11

J- all my lymes been as grene

As laurer thurgh the yeer is for to sene

Question 12

January’s reveals his intent and expects those around him to agree, relates to power and his status

Answer 12

J – And sin that ye han herd al myn entente

I prey yow to my wil ye wole assente

Question 13

the Merchant/ Narrator on January’s choice of May as his wife

Answer 13

N : For love is blinde alday, and may nat see.

Question 14

quote indicating that January used his power and land to get his wife

Answer 14

N: I trowe it were to longe yow to tarie
If I yow told of every scrit and bond
By which that she was feffed in his lond.’

Question 15

short description of the religious aspect of the marriage

Answer 15

N – Forth comth the preest, …

And made all siker ynogh with hoolinesse

Question 16

quote that contrasts the age difference between May and January. Sarcastic tone

Answer 16

N: Whan tender youthe hath wedded stouping age

Ther is swich mirthe that it may nat be written

Question 17

January seen as being in a ‘trance’, further describes his harmful aims

Answer 17

N: This Januarie is ravished in a traunce
At every time he looked on her face;
But in his herte he gan hire to manace.

Question 18

the Narrator on Damyan, undermines supposed role as a Medieval Chivalric Lover due to nature of attraction for May merely being lust

Answer 18

N (on Damyan) Almost he swelte and swowned ther he stood,

So soore hath Venus hurt him with hire brond

Question 19

quote that links Damyan to the Devil as a snake

Answer 19

N (of Damyan) Lyk to the nadre in bosom sly untrewe

Question 20

quote that is undermined in the Parson’s tale and context, reveals January’s self-deceit

Answer 20

J- A man may do no synne with his wyf,

Ne hurte hymselven with his owene knyf

Question 21

The view held by January that is undermined later in the Parson’s tale

Answer 21

J- A man may do no synne with his wyf,

Ne hurte hymselven with his owene knyf

Question 22

in spite of May’s negation in the wedding night scene, the descriptions of this relate to May’s physical feelings

Answer 22

N -He lulleth hire, he kisseth her ful ofte;
With thilke brustles of his berd unsoften,
Lyk to the skyn of houndfyssh, sharp as brere

Question 23

continuation of the wedding night description, only indicates what May is feeling?

Answer 23

N - The slake skyn about his nekke shaketh
Whil that he sang, so chaunteth he and craketh
But God woot what that May thought in hir herte

Question 24

undermines the possibility of the tale being a Medieval Chivalric romance, as intimate ‘lay’ ends up in a base place

Answer 24

N: And in the privee softely it caste

Question 25

January ensures that no one is allowed access to his Garden

Answer 25

N: That he wol no wight suffren bere the keye
Save for himself; for of the smale wiket
He baar alwey of a silver cliket

Question 26

demonstrates the possessive nature of January, especially when he experienced a loss of eyesight

Answer 26

N- Which jalousie it was so outrageous
… that he had hond on her alwey;
For which ful ofte wepeth fresshe May
That loveth Damyan so beningnely
That she moot outher dien sodeynly,
Or ells she moot han him as hir leste,
She waiteth whan hir herte wolde breste.

Question 27

links to the theme of sight and blindness, further reveals January’s self-deceit has always ensured that he is blind

Answer 27

M - O Januarie what myghte it thee availle,

Though thou myghte see as fer as shippes saille?

Question 28

May’s quote on herself as a wife to January, before her actions with Damyan in the tree

Answer 28

M: And of my wifhod thilke tender flour,
Which hat I have assured in youre hond
.. I am a gentil woman and no wenche.
Why speke ye thus?

Question 29

Damyan’s last actions of the tale

Answer 29

N: I kan nat glose, I am a rude man-

… Gan pullen up the smok, and in he throng

Question 30

despite January’s clear understanding of the event, May is able to significantly convince him that he did not see properly

Answer 30

J – God yeve yow bothe on shames deth to dyen!

He swyved thee; I saw it with myne yen

Question 31

the Host’s views on women that significantly relate to the Anti-Feminist Tradition

Answer 31

Host: For ay as bisy as bees

Been they, us sely men for to deceyve