The Wife of Bath – Flashcards

The Knight undertakes a quest to- a. discover the most beautiful noblewoman in England b. find a perfect wife for himself c. learn what it is women want most d. protect women from evil upon the road to Canterbury

The knight's quest is a(n)- a. task given to him by the queen b. test of courage set by the king c. ambitious mission he sets himself d. duty imposed on him by the church

Before he sees the old woman in the woods, the knight sees- a. the figure of Death b. more than twenty-four ladies dancing c. his own face reflected in a pool of water d. his own future in a dream

According to the old woman, what women really want is- a. money, jewels, and treasure b. to be flattered and attended to c. freedom and entertainment c. mastery over their husbands

As a reward for giving him the answer that will save his life, the old woman demands- a. a large sum of money b. to learn the secret of youth c. to marry the knight d. to be pardoned by the queen

The knight shows that he has learned what women want most when he- a. keeps his promise to return after a year and a day b. agrees to marry the old woman c. pays the old woman as much as she asks d. asks his wife to decide which form she will take

The old woman makes an eloquent philosophical argument about- a. the harmfulness of greed b. true and false gentility and virtue c. the differences between men and women d. the magical beauty of nature

The Wife of Bath's philosophy of marriage shows that she- a. is a strong person with a keen sense of her own rights b. tends to say one thing and do the opposite c. cares only for pleasure, not for right and wrong

Chaucer's characterizations of the Prioress, the Monk, and others connected with the church are mainly- a. idealized b. realistic c. flattering d. satirical

Who narrates the tale about the knight and the old woman? a. the knight b. the old woman c. the Wife of Bath d. Chaucer

The narrator of the story should not be confused with a. the author b. the main character c. one of the minor characters d. the storytelling voice

Which adjective does not describe the Wife of Bath's narrative voice? a. mournful b. witty c. lively d. earthy

Which of the following quotations from "The Wife of Bath's Tale" is a couplet? a. "In honor to us both, I don't care which;/ Whatever pleases you suffices me." b. "The knight thought long, and with a piteous groan/ At last he said, with all the care in life..." c. "His heart went bathing in a bath of blisses/ And melted in a hundred thousand kisses..." d. "May I go howling mad and take my life/ Unless I prove to be as good and true..."

The Wife of Bath's opinions suggest that she may be described by all of the following words except- a. well-read b. humorous c. modest d. bossy