The Canterbury Tales Name_________________
“The Wife of Bath’s Tale” Date_________________Per___
Answer the following questions on another piece of paper. Use complete sentences
and examples from the book whenever possible.
1. What was considered ideal knightly behavior?
2. According to the Wife of Bath, why have fairies disappeared?
3. What does her attitude toward friars seem to be?
4. At what time does the Wife’s story take place?
5. What crime did the knight commit and what was his punishment to be?
6. Who changes the king’s mind about the punishment, and what is her punishment for
the knight?
7. In what way is the question that the queen poses to the knight related to the crime that
he had committed?
8. What was the conflict to be found in lines 95-100?
9. What was the purpose of the Wife telling the story about Midas?
10. In line 165, why was the knight dejected?
11. What sight does he see at the edge of the woods
12. What happens when he approaches the dancers?
13. What deal does the old woman offer the knight?
14. Why does the knight think he should not marry the old woman? Use quotes from the
book.
15. In your own words, restate lines 285-300.
16. What does the old woman say about the knight criticizing her poverty? Use quotes
from the book.
17. What two choices does the old woman give the knight?
18. How does the knight’s statement in lines 405-411 relate to what he has learned about
“the thing that women most desire?”
19. What happens to the old woman after the knight agrees to abide by her decision?