The Wife of Bath AO4 Flashcards
why is the word “Experience” significant as the opening word?
medieval people had the utmost respect for authorities, and especially the absolute authority of the Bible and other scriptures
what were the gender roles in a medieval marriage?
the man was the master and the wife promised obedience to him
what was the attitude to sex outside marriage?
adultery was a deadly sin and meant eternal damnation of the soul
what were the views of women in terms of expressing themselves?
the vast majority of women had subservient positions and rarely had opportunities to express themselves or act independently
what were the views of women in terms of education?
women could not be priests and were therefore debarred from universities
how did Adam and Eve have an effect on the views of women?
women were often despised as weak, an attitude deriving from how Eve succumbed to the Devil’s temptation and then tempted Adam
a literary work in contrast to the Wife’s views of female dominance
“patient” Griselda in “The Clark’s Tale”, who undergoes fearful treatment at the hands of her husband, and stands as the representative type of pure Christian and marital obedience
the audience’s reaction to the Wife’s views
may well have been amused by the Wife’s outrageous and outspoken views, but would have been in no doubt that she was flouting the morality and attitudes of the Church
medieval literature
almost all of it was expected to have a purpose that is to be something beyond just entertainment, and it had a moral or religious purpose
significance of Chaucer’s tales
they would be expected to offer moral teaching or guidance
significance of the Wife
the Wife, a character engaged in a Christian pilgrimage, could be expected to deliver a Christian message
Chaucer seems to present…
a whole range of opinions and attitudes, and the Wife of Bath’s is one of the most extreme
another writer who shows bawdiness
Boccaccio
another tale that presents bawdiness
The Miller’s Tale
what was the Peasants’ Revolt
social unrest and rebellion caused by increased taxation, and resulted in a march on the city of London and demands for the eradication of serfdom
