Wife of Bath’s Tale summary and analysis
Introduction
Lines 857-881
o Set in legendary time of ‘Kyng Arthour’ when country was ‘fulfild of faierie’.
Set ‘manie hundred years ago’ in King Arthur’s court- common technique with medieval writers as King
Arthur was popular legendary figure.
Arthurian fairy-tale- common trope of medieval Literature.
Facilitates W’s manipulation of her tale.
Criticism to society/church- at a careful distance- clever way of satirising society at a distance.
o Opens in more formal fairy tale-like discourse/courtly diction than naturalistic Prologue (conversational).
‘Once upon a time’ style- associated with children’s fairy stories.
o Medieval Courtly Romance genre- refers to popular courtly stories e.g. King Arthur.
Contrasts with abrupt conversational opening of prologue.
o Reference to ‘fairie’- draws attention to pagan society- suggesting more idyllic than Christian medieval society.
Blames religion for loss of romance in society
o C soon defies/undermines this- changes tone and mood early on by introducing ‘modern’ friars whose
Christianity W says drove fairies out.
‘lymytours and othere hooly freres’- W’s anti-clericalism surfaces as she launches attack on friars-
responsible for ridding land of fairies and guilty of luring under bushes to dishonour maidens.
Friars swore oaths of poverty, chastity and obedience to their religious order.
Wyclif- complained medieval church was increasingly materialistic.
Simile and listing ‘as thikke as motes in the sonne-beem/Blessynge halles, chambres, kichenes,
boures’- emphasises view of friars as invasive plague on society.
C uses W as vehicle through which to criticise church’s corruption.
o ‘incubus’ = malignant spirit believed to have sex with women as they sleep- highlights friars’ poor reputation
in this era.
W states friars seduce and dishonour women.
o Critique of 2 key male figures in society- friar and knight in quick succession highlights purpose of opening to
tale = discrediting men.
Nameless knight’s rape of innocent women therefore intended to be seen as common aspect of men.
Defying conventions and using as prism to criticise men.
o Wife’s purpose = to discredit men in general so the crime that follows seems a common aspect of male
behaviour.
Knight rapes young women
Lines 882-888
o ‘lusty batchelor’- can mean energetic/vigorous not just lascivious.
Knights not as idealised in late 14thC- more of a military figure.
o W describes way one of King Arthur’s knights rapes a young maiden.
Central event of tale and provides basis for all that follows.
Blunt terms ‘by verray force, he rafte hire maidenhead’.
C’s use of word ‘rafte’ derived from ‘reeve’- meant ‘to spoil’ property- shows how K views maiden
as piece of his property.
Rhythm stresses young women’s purity making emphasis placed on knight’s violent force all the
more shocking/immoral.
‘rafte’- connotations of criminal/sinful behav.
‘maidenhed’ = young, pure, virginity.
Would have been ruined socially- considered tainted, unclean and idyllic purity valued by society.
o A knightly romance- subverts conventions of genre as instead of honourable knight rescuing damsel in distress-
dishonourable knight is ‘rescued’ by foul old women.
Crime made more awful but fact its committed by one of King Arthur’s knights who were sworn to
protect the innocent.
Introduction
Lines 857-881
o Set in legendary time of ‘Kyng Arthour’ when country was ‘fulfild of faierie’.
Set ‘manie hundred years ago’ in King Arthur’s court- common technique with medieval writers as King
Arthur was popular legendary figure.
Arthurian fairy-tale- common trope of medieval Literature.
Facilitates W’s manipulation of her tale.
Criticism to society/church- at a careful distance- clever way of satirising society at a distance.
o Opens in more formal fairy tale-like discourse/courtly diction than naturalistic Prologue (conversational).
‘Once upon a time’ style- associated with children’s fairy stories.
o Medieval Courtly Romance genre- refers to popular courtly stories e.g. King Arthur.
Contrasts with abrupt conversational opening of prologue.
o Reference to ‘fairie’- draws attention to pagan society- suggesting more idyllic than Christian medieval society.
Blames religion for loss of romance in society
o C soon defies/undermines this- changes tone and mood early on by introducing ‘modern’ friars whose
Christianity W says drove fairies out.
‘lymytours and othere hooly freres’- W’s anti-clericalism surfaces as she launches attack on friars-
responsible for ridding land of fairies and guilty of luring under bushes to dishonour maidens.
Friars swore oaths of poverty, chastity and obedience to their religious order.
Wyclif- complained medieval church was increasingly materialistic.
Simile and listing ‘as thikke as motes in the sonne-beem/Blessynge halles, chambres, kichenes,
boures’- emphasises view of friars as invasive plague on society.
C uses W as vehicle through which to criticise church’s corruption.
o ‘incubus’ = malignant spirit believed to have sex with women as they sleep- highlights friars’ poor reputation
in this era.
W states friars seduce and dishonour women.
o Critique of 2 key male figures in society- friar and knight in quick succession highlights purpose of opening to
tale = discrediting men.
Nameless knight’s rape of innocent women therefore intended to be seen as common aspect of men.
Defying conventions and using as prism to criticise men.
o Wife’s purpose = to discredit men in general so the crime that follows seems a common aspect of male
behaviour.
Knight rapes young women
Lines 882-888
o ‘lusty batchelor’- can mean energetic/vigorous not just lascivious.
Knights not as idealised in late 14thC- more of a military figure.
o W describes way one of King Arthur’s knights rapes a young maiden.
Central event of tale and provides basis for all that follows.
Blunt terms ‘by verray force, he rafte hire maidenhead’.
C’s use of word ‘rafte’ derived from ‘reeve’- meant ‘to spoil’ property- shows how K views maiden
as piece of his property.
Rhythm stresses young women’s purity making emphasis placed on knight’s violent force all the
more shocking/immoral.
‘rafte’- connotations of criminal/sinful behav.
‘maidenhed’ = young, pure, virginity.
Would have been ruined socially- considered tainted, unclean and idyllic purity valued by society.
o A knightly romance- subverts conventions of genre as instead of honourable knight rescuing damsel in distress-
dishonourable knight is ‘rescued’ by foul old women.
Crime made more awful but fact its committed by one of King Arthur’s knights who were sworn to
protect the innocent.
