NARRATOR AND FRAME STORY

“THE WIFE OF BATH’S TALE” FROM THE CANTERBURY TALES

BY: GEOFFREY CHAUCER

GEOFFREY CHAUCER

“The guilty think all talk is of themselves.”

WHY THIS TEXT?

• The Canterbury Tales is considered by many to be one of the greatest works in English Literature, In this lesson, students are exposed to elements of Chaucer’s Genius, such as his use of the frame story and multiple narrators to tell his tales.

ANALYZE STRUCTURE: FRAME STORYLINES 1-28 (RL.2.5)

• The prologue is part of a frame story in which the pilgrims converse with each other between tales. These interactions reveal their relationships with one another, ideas about medieval society and important aspects of their character.

• Identify lines that indicate the relationship between the Wife of Bath and the Friar.

• The Friar and the Summoner, a church official who brings people accused of violating church law to ecclesiastical court, also exchange words.

• Describe the tone between the Friar and the Summoner. How doe sthis exchange affect the portrayals of the pilgrims?

ANALYZE STORY ELEMENTS: NARRATORLINES 55-72 (RL.1.3)

• The Wife of Bath is the narrator of the tale. The reader can make inferences about her based on her style of storytelling.

• What aspects of the wife’s narrative style appear in the first part of her tale? (Is she wordy? Is she to the point? What kind of language does she use?) What do these elements of her style suggest about her character?

ANALYZE STRUCTURE: FRAME STORYLINE 79 (RL.2.5)

• In the prologue, the Wife of Bath is described as knowing “the remedies for love’s mischances, / An art in which she knew the oldest dances.” Consider what the queen demands of the knight in the tale.

• What does this line suggest about the wife’s tale?

ANALYZE STORY ELEMENTS: NARRATORLINES 93-130 (RL.1.3)

• The reader can make inferences about the Wife’s character from the kinds of details she includes in her story.

• Summarize the knight’s experiences as he travels the land asking people what women want most. What does this part of the tale tell you about the Wife of Bath herself?

• During the Middle Ages, women, other than the aristocratic class, has little education.

• Prove that the Wife of Bath is educated (think Roman history)? Why do you believe Chaucer gave her this trait?

ANALYZE STORY ELEMENTS: NARRATORLINES 153-156 (RL.1.3)

• This direct comment provides insight in to the Wife’s character.

• Does the trait reveled make her a likable character? Why or why not?

SUPPORT INFERENCES: DRAW CONCLUSIONSLINES 163-175 (RL1.1)

• In literature, the forest often represent a place untouched by civilization, the home of spirits or other untamed forces of nature.

• Based on that knowledge, what predictions can be made about the Wife’s tale based on the scene described in these lines?

ANALYZE STRUCTURE: FRAME STORYLINES 176-178 (RL.2.5)

• The Wife of Bath has had five husbands. In the General Prologue, her description indicates that although she is no longer young, she still considers herself to be marriage material.

• Explain how these lines might be interpreted in reference to the Wife herself.

ANALYZE STRUCTURE: FORESHADOWINGLINES 179-196 (RL.2.5)

• Foreshadowing is a literary device that gives clues to what might happen later in the plot.

• How does the Wife use foreshadowing in this part of the tale? What is the effect of foreshadowing on the reader?

DETERMINING THEMESLINES 211-216 (RL.1.2)

• Chaucer uses each individual tale to convey ideas about life and the human condition.

• What universal idea does the knight’s answer relate to?

DETERMINING THEMESLINES 220-245 (RL.1.2)

• Character behavior is often used to convey themes about human nature. This is particularly true when a character undergoes a major change (The A-HA! Moment).

• Look at what the knights says in lines 179-187. Now look at what he says in lines 220-245. Describe the contrast between the knight’s attitude towards the woman earlier in the tale and his attitude now. What does the knight’s behavior in this passage reveal about his character? How does this attitude relate to human nature?

ANALYZE STORY ELEMENTS: NARRATORLINES 247-271 (RL.1.3)

• In lines 247-256, the Wife is no longer telling the store, she is addressing the other pilgrims directly.

• What is the purpose of this digression from the tale?

DETERMINING THEMESLINES 272-286 (RL.1.2)

• Theme is brought on through the characters’ words and actions.

• Explain the irony of the knight’s calling the old woman “low-bred” in the context of the passage.

DETERMINING THEMESLINES 287-298 (RL.1.2)

• Look for the message Chaucer is trying to convey.

• According to the old woman, what is the definition of True Nobility? Cite details that support this definition.

SUPPORT INFERENCESLINES 345-364 (RL.1.1)

• To fully understand a text, it is often necessary for a reader to combine the details of the text with what the reader already knows to make logical assumptions.

• Explain the old woman’s function (Why is she there? What purpose does she have?) based on her speech to the knight? Why does Chaucer make her speech so long?

ANALYZE STORY ELEMENTS: NARRATORLINES 381-392 (RL.1.3)

• Why is the narrator’s focus on the old woman and not the knight at this point in the tale?

SUPPORT INFERENCESLINES 402-409 (RL.1.1)

• The turning point, or climax, of a story is the moment of highest tension after which the conflict is resolved or the change in a character can be seen.

• Why is this the turning point of the story? What can be inferred about the knight from what he says in these lines?

DETERMINING THEMESLINES 424-430 (RL.1.2)

• What message is implied by the old woman’s transformation into a young, beautiful woman?

ANALYZE STORY ELEMENTS: NARRATORLINES 431-438 (RL.1.3)

• What does the last stanza reveal about the Wife of Bath? What details support this claim?

INDIVIDUAL PRACTICEDUE FRIDAY• Analyzing the Text p. 90; 1-6.

• For each question, a constructed response that presents an appropriate claim, strong reason and appropriate evidence from the text should be written.

• Rubric: Reading Story Elements

• Score 15 In addition to score 10 performance, the student demonstrates in-depth inferences and applications that go beyond what was taught.

• Score 12 In addition to score 10 performance, partial success at score 15 content• Score 10 The student will analyze the impact of the author’s choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a grade-appropriate

story or drama (for example, where a story is set, how the action is ordered, how the characters are introduced and developed) (RL.11– 12.3)

• Score 7 No major errors or omissions regarding score 5 content, and partial success at score 10 content• Score 5 The student will recognize or recall specific vocabulary, such as action, analyze, author, character, develop, drama, element, impact,

introduce, relate, setting, story, text. The student will perform basic processes, such as describe the elements and author’s choices in a grade-appropriate text.

• Score 3 Partial success at score 5 content, and major errors or omissions regarding score 5 content• Score 2 With help, partial success.• Score 1 With help, minimal success. • Score 0 Even with help, no success or no work submitted.