Here is a possible new ending in 50-70 words: Griselda thought long and hard about Walter's request. Though he had caused her immense pain, she still cared for him deeply. However, she realized she deserved to be treated with love, respect and kindness. So Griselda told Walter she could not forgive him, and that while she wished him the best, she must move on and find happiness elsewhere. Walter was heartbroken but realized his mistakes, and hoped Griselda would find the happiness he failed to provide her.

1. THE CLERK’STALE
PATIENT GRISELDA
The CanterburyTales
By GeoffreyChaucer

2. 1. Who is the story about?
2. What is the problem in the story?
3. Does it have a happy ending?
4. Do you like this story?
5. What is a clerk?

3. What was a clerk?
Clerks were educated people able to
read and write. Not many people could
do that at that time.
The role of a clerk during the middle
ages was that of a civil service
employee whose primary responsibility
was to document and maintain the
handwritten records of the day-to-day
operations of city governments.
Besides that medieval clerks have
played a significant role in the copying
and preservation of literary works.

4. Patient Griselda
■ A beautiful young woman
■ From a poor family
■ Hardworking and caring
■ Loves her husband too much
■ Very patient
■ A good mother?

5. In a beautiful part of Italy, there was a
great lord namedWalter, who was
young, strong and handsome. He was
single, and his people did not like this.
Therefore, they advised him to get
married.They even offered him to find
a wife for him.
The lord told them that he would
choose a wife and marry soon.
1. Are there lord nowadays?
2. Why does the story say “his
people”?

6. In a little house near the lord’s house lived a poor girl
named Griselda. She was beautiful and kind. She
took care of her old father, and worked hard in the
house and in the fields.
Walter had seen her many times, and he fell in love
with her. He wanted to marry the girl so he talked to
her father and asked him if he could marry Griselda.
Both Griselda and her father accepted. But… Walter
put a condition that she must ALWAYS do what he
asked.
1. Why do you thinkWalter fell in love?
2. Why did he ask her father and not her?
3. Is it OK that she must ALWAYS do what he asks?

7. They lived happily for a long time until Griselda had a baby girl…

9. After some time,Walter saw that Griselda was busy with the
baby and he got jealous, so he took the baby away from
Griselda and sent her to Bologna for his sister to take care of
her. Griselda acceptedWalter’s decision, even though she did
not know the destiny of her child.
She continued loving her husband in the same way.
A second child was born, a boy! Sadly, he was taken away
too, with the approval of Griselda. She would accept anything
to please her husband.
One day,Walter had the cruelest idea. He told Griselda that
he wanted to have a new wife – a girl from a rich family.
Griselda accepted his decision again and left the house
wearing her old clothes and taking nothing more with her.
She went to her father’s house and continued with her life.

10. 1. Is it OK for a father to be jealous of his children?Why?
2. Is it OK for a mother to let her husband take away her children?
Why?
3. Why do you think she accepted that and continued taking care of
her husband?
4. Is it OK for a husband to change wives so sudden and surprisingly?
Why?
5. Is it OK that she left the house with nothing more than the clothes
she had on?Why?

12. After that,Walter asked her sister to bring his children back.
They were very handsome and dressed in fine clothes when they arrived.

13. Even more…Walter
brought his daughter to
the room and told Griselda
that he was going to marry
that beautiful woman.
Griselda claimed that the
girl was really beautiful and
fine and that he should be
kind to her.
Some time later,
Walter called
Griselda. He asked
her to be the
SERVANT of his new
wife… Surprisingly,
she accepted and
started working
immediately.

14. Finally,Walter realized for sure that Griselda really loved him, and
felt sorry for her.
He explained her everything and asked her to forgive him for
hurting her so much.
What do you think she did?

15. Well…
She forgave him, and they
lived happily ever after
with their children and
Griselda’s father.
THE END

16. 1. Do these situations occur nowadays?
2. Girls, what would you do if you had such a bad husband?
3. Boys, what would you do if you stopped loving your wife?

17. Finally,Walter realized for sure that Griselda really loved him, and
felt sorry for her.
He explained her everything and asked her to forgive him for
hurting her so much.
WHAT DOYOUTHINK SHE DID?
Write a new ending to the story.
Organize your ideas in a paragraph.
50 70 words.