Question

1. the wife of bath digresses, or wanders, from her story about the knight in lines 128 - 158 to tell the story of midas and his wife. what are some of the purposes of this interruption?
2. define crone.
3. define sovereignty.
4. what is the key to an understanding of women?
5. what deal does the knight make with the old woman he meets, and how does he fulfill his bargain with her?
6. what are the knight’s reasons for not being able to love his new wife?
7. what choices does the knight’s wife give him?
8. define bequeath.
9. define temporal.
10. according to the wife of bath, what gives a man the distinction of being a great gentleman?
11. define gentility. why does the old lady feel it necessary to explain her ideas about gentility to the knight?
12. what arguments does the old woman use to put the knight to shame?
13. why does the old woman’s speech (lines 285 - 394) go on for so long?

Explanation:

Answer:

1. To illustrate that women cannot keep secrets and to showcase the Wife of Bath's own talkative, digressive personality.
2. An ugly, withered old woman.
3. Supreme power or authority; in this context, the right of a woman to have control over her husband and her own life.
4. Understanding that what women most desire is sovereignty over their husbands and lovers.
5. The knight promises to do whatever she next requires of him in exchange for the answer to his quest; he fulfills it by marrying her.
6. He finds her too old, too ugly, and of too low a social birth (plain/poor).
7. To have her be old, ugly, but a true and humble wife, or to have her be young, beautiful, and take her chances with her fidelity.
8. To leave property or assets to a person or beneficiary by a will.
9. Relating to worldly as opposed to spiritual affairs; secular; or relating to time.
10. Performing virtuous deeds and living a life of "gentilesse" rather than relying on noble birth or inherited wealth.
11. Gentility is true nobility of character; she explains it because the knight insulted her low birth and lack of status.
12. She argues that true poverty is wanting what you don't have, and that her age and ugliness are virtues that ensure her loyalty.
13. To thoroughly deconstruct the knight's prejudices regarding social class, poverty, and physical appearance through a sermon on virtue.