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.
MCQs:
- Who tells The Wife of Bath’s Tale?
A) The Prioress
B) The Wife of Bath
C) The Miller
D) The Pardoner
Answer: B) The Wife of Bath - What crime does the knight commit?
A) He steals from the king
B) He kills a nobleman
C) He assaults a maiden
D) He betrays the queen
Answer: C) He assaults a maiden - How does the knight avoid execution?
A) He fights a duel
B) He escapes from prison
C) He agrees to marry a princess
D) He must find out what women most desire
Answer: D) He must find out what women most desire
The Wife of Bath’s Tale - Who gives the knight the correct answer?
A) A young princess
B) A group of fairies
C) An old, ugly woman
D) A wise scholar
Answer: C) An old, ugly woman - What answer does the knight give to Queen Guinevere?
A) Women desire wealth
B) Women desire power over their husbands
C) Women desire to be loved unconditionally
D) Women desire to be free of marriage
Answer: B) Women desire power over their husbands - What does the old woman demand in return for her help?
A) A bag of gold
B) The knight’s land
C) Marriage
D) A noble title
Answer: C) Marriage - What choice does the old woman offer the knight?
A) She can be old and loyal or young and unfaithful
B) She can be a queen or a peasant
C) She can marry him or leave him forever
D) She can take revenge on him or forgive him
Answer: A) She can be old and loyal or young and unfaithful - How does the knight respond to the old woman’s choice?
A) He asks her to be young and beautiful
B) He lets her choose for herself
C) He refuses to answer
D) He leaves her
Answer: B) He lets her choose for herself - What happens to the old woman at the end of the tale?
A) She transforms into a beautiful and faithful wife
B) She divorces the knight
C) She becomes a queen
D) She curses the knight
Answer: A) She transforms into a beautiful and faithful wife - What is the main theme of The Wife of Bath’s Tale?
A) The importance of wealth
B) The power of magic
C) The need for female sovereignty in relationships
D) The dangers of jealousy
Answer: C) The need for female sovereignty in relationships
| 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 |