Exercises page 90

» Understanding the text

1. How is the Wife of Bath described? Find information in the text about her profession,
behaviour, clothes, face, build, physical problems and past experience(s). Write a description of her
after finding the following information (90-100 words).

> Closer reading

2. Let's examine this famous pilgrim in depth.

a. Which colour is repeated twice in Chaucer's description of the Wife of Bath? What feeling is usually associated to it? RED
1. purity
2. passion

3. anger

4. jealousy

b. In lines 5-8 we read that she is generous in church, but gets angry if other women walk to the altar before her. How would you describe her temperament?

1. bossy and strong-willed
2. cold and restrained

c. Look at lines 9-13 and 26-29. How would you describe the kind of clothes she wears?

1. shabby and modest
2. expensive and eye-catching

d. In line 16 she appears a pious woman conforming to Christian precepts. Yet Chaucer adds a detail that disturbs this picture. What?

In the line five men pretending the girl are quoted, this is opposite to the Christian principals because polygamy goes against the Catholic Church precepts.

e. Has she got any children? What may this suggest about her personality?

She seems not to have any children; however, the reader is led to choose this option because the woman probably prefers to stay alone.

3. Focus now on the poet's language and style.

a. In describing the Wife of Bath, the poet employs one adjective twice. Which one, and where?

He repeats worthy in lines 1 and 15.

b. Do you think he is serious, or does the adjective take on an ironic connotation in the light of her overall description?

I don’t really know, but actually there are some elements that make me doubt of the text’s seriously.

c. Lines 8 and 23 contain two puns, one on the expression "to be put out of charity", and one on the verb "to wander". Can you explain them?

These expressions are quite enigmatic, the woman becomes aggressive and a time waster, she is not a good individual to meet.

d. Does the poet ever criticise the woman's behaviour?

No, whereas there actually are some veiled critics, for instance in line 23

e. Does he use discourse markers to comment on what he is saying (or omitting to say)? If so, where?

Yes, for example in line 15 when he uses what’s more or in line 18, with forsooth.

f. In conclusion, how would you define Chaucer's tone?
1. critical
2. humorous
3. informal
4. patronising
5. satirical
6. playful
7. moralising
8. formal
9. ironic


» Rounding it up
4. Complete the text choosing from the words below.

Chaucer's famous pilgrim from Bath is definitely a/an [1] strong and emancipated woman for her times. She is portrayed as a [2] feminine clothmaker who is very skilful at her work; She’s [3] likes wearing [4] showy clothes and being at the centre of attention, and reveals at times a bossy and [5] ironic personality too. She enjoys life pleasures such as the company of men, as well as chatting and [6] travelling. Chaucer's tone in the extract is mildly [7] unconventional, as he highlights how her behaviour actually [8] contradicts the respectability of her position.

> Over to you
5. You can't judge a book by cover, as the old saying goes; yet, clothes do
sometimes tell a lot about us and our personality. What do you like wearing? Does that change upon
occasion? If so, how? What's your favourite colour? Do you wear accessories, designer clothes, etc.?

I don’t really mind what I need to wear, obviously I care to be quite decent and to match colours a bit. I prefer wearing large and comfortable clothes and my favourite colour is yellow because it conveys happiness to the watcher.