The Wife of Bath’s Tale MCQs & Summary

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman | Last updated: June 3, 2025

Summary:

“The Wife of Bath’s Tale” is one of the most well-known stories in The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. It is a Breton lai, a type of medieval romance that often features elements of magic, chivalry, and moral lessons. The tale is told by the Wife of Bath, a strong-willed and experienced woman who has been married five times.

The story takes place during the time of King Arthur. A young knight commits a crime by assaulting a maiden. King Arthur intends to punish him with death, but Queen Guinevere and the ladies of the court intervene. They give the knight a chance to save his life by answering a question: “What do women most desire?” He has one year and a day to find the correct answer.

The knight searches everywhere, but no two people give him the same answer. Finally, as time runs out, he meets an old, ugly woman who promises to give him the correct answer—if he agrees to marry her. Desperate, the knight accepts.

In court, he tells the queen that what women most desire is sovereignty over their husbands and lovers. The queen and the ladies agree, and the knight’s life is spared. However, he now must marry the old woman.

On their wedding night, the knight is miserable. The old woman offers him a choice: she can remain old and faithful, or she can become young and beautiful but may not be loyal. The knight finally lets her decide, granting her sovereignty. Because he gave her the power to choose, the old woman transforms into a beautiful and loyal wife.

The tale reinforces the Wife of Bath’s belief that women should have control in relationships, and true nobility comes from character, not birth.

The Wife of Bath’s Tale
The Wife of Bath’s Tale
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1. : Who tells The Wife of Bath’s Tale?



2. : What crime does the knight commit?



3. : How does the knight avoid execution?



4. : Who gives the knight the correct answer?



5. : What answer does the knight give to Queen Guinevere?



6. : What does the old woman demand in return for her help?



7. : What choice does the old woman offer the knight?



8. : How does the knight respond to the old woman’s choice?



9. : What happens to the old woman at the end of the tale?



10. : What is the main theme of The Wife of Bath’s Tale?



 

Question Answer
Tale Name The Wife of Bath’s Tale
Author Geoffrey Chaucer
Part of The Canterbury Tales
Genre Breton lai (Medieval Romance)
Setting King Arthur’s Court
Main Characters The Wife of Bath (narrator), The Knight, The Old Woman, Queen Guinevere
Major Themes Female Power, Marriage, Nobility, Sovereignty
Conflict The knight must answer the queen’s question to save his life
Resolution The knight gives the correct answer, and the old woman transforms into a beautiful wife
Moral Lesson Women desire control in relationships, and true nobility comes from character, not birth
Significance One of the most famous tales in The Canterbury Tales, often studied in feminist literature

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