The document proposes an assignment analyzing how The Wife of Bath challenges gender roles of her time. The analysis will: 1) summarize The Wife of Bath's tale; 2) provide context on Chaucer's social circles; 3) describe accepted female norms; and 4) show how The Wife of Bath refutes ideals of female piousness. The character defies expectations of female behavior and asserts women's dominance through her defiance and reinterpretation of the Bible.
The Wife of Bath argues that women should be allowed to marry as many times as they wish and that marriages are happiest when the wife is in charge. She supports her points using references from the Bible and discussions of biology, while also satirizing common misogynistic texts to challenge stereotypes of women. However, her accounts of dominating her husbands could also be seen as supporting the idea of women as unruly and domineering.
The document summarizes the character of the Wife of Bath from Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. She is described as being pretty with rosy cheeks, though she has a gap in her teeth and large hips and feet. She has been married five times and enjoys sexual intercourse. She believes that in marriage, one spouse must be in control, and since men are more reasonable, they should be the patient ones who agree to their wife's demands.
This document provides an analysis of the Wife of Bath character from Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. It summarizes key details about her appearance and background as a thrice-married seamstress who seeks wealth over love in her marriages. The document also summarizes the plot of the Wife of Bath's Tale, in which a knight is given a year to determine what women truly desire and is told by an old hag that women wish to have sovereignty over their husbands.
Antony and cleopatra (Critical Study & Analysis)Muhammad Qasim
This is a brief & precise study-guide of One of the top plays of the father of English William Shakespeare.
(Equally important for examination point of view and for study in general.)
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen follows the character development of Elizabeth Bennet and her prejudices against Mr. Darcy based on first impressions. As the novel progresses, Elizabeth's pride in her own judgment is challenged as she learns Mr. Darcy intervened to separate her sister Jane from Mr. Bingley due to a misunderstanding. Mr. Darcy also explains his past interactions with George Wickham. By the end, Elizabeth's prejudices are broken as she accepts Mr. Darcy's marriage proposal, and the novel concludes with marriages between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, Jane and Mr. Bingley, and others.
The document provides background information on Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein. It discusses that the novel is considered an early example of scientific fiction and uses a frame narrative structure with stories within stories. It also analyzes how the novel draws from the myths of Prometheus and Narcissus, with the protagonist Victor Frankenstein taking on aspects of both figures through his scientific experiments that go too far and his narcissistic personality.
Doctor Faustus as a Morality Play discusses Christopher Marlowe's play Doctor Faustus. It defines a morality play as a 15th-16th century drama that uses allegorical characters to portray the soul's struggle for salvation through exhibiting a conflict between good and evil to offer a moral lesson. It then identifies elements of morality plays found in Doctor Faustus, including the presence of the Good Angel and Bad Angel guiding Faustus, embodiments of the Seven Deadly Sins, the demon Mephistophilis who tempts Faustus, Faustus' vision of Hell, and its allegorical nature.
The Wife of Bath argues that women should be allowed to marry as many times as they wish and that marriages are happiest when the wife is in charge. She supports her points using references from the Bible and discussions of biology, while also satirizing common misogynistic texts to challenge stereotypes of women. However, her accounts of dominating her husbands could also be seen as supporting the idea of women as unruly and domineering.
The document summarizes the character of the Wife of Bath from Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. She is described as being pretty with rosy cheeks, though she has a gap in her teeth and large hips and feet. She has been married five times and enjoys sexual intercourse. She believes that in marriage, one spouse must be in control, and since men are more reasonable, they should be the patient ones who agree to their wife's demands.
This document provides an analysis of the Wife of Bath character from Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. It summarizes key details about her appearance and background as a thrice-married seamstress who seeks wealth over love in her marriages. The document also summarizes the plot of the Wife of Bath's Tale, in which a knight is given a year to determine what women truly desire and is told by an old hag that women wish to have sovereignty over their husbands.
Antony and cleopatra (Critical Study & Analysis)Muhammad Qasim
This is a brief & precise study-guide of One of the top plays of the father of English William Shakespeare.
(Equally important for examination point of view and for study in general.)
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen follows the character development of Elizabeth Bennet and her prejudices against Mr. Darcy based on first impressions. As the novel progresses, Elizabeth's pride in her own judgment is challenged as she learns Mr. Darcy intervened to separate her sister Jane from Mr. Bingley due to a misunderstanding. Mr. Darcy also explains his past interactions with George Wickham. By the end, Elizabeth's prejudices are broken as she accepts Mr. Darcy's marriage proposal, and the novel concludes with marriages between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, Jane and Mr. Bingley, and others.
The document provides background information on Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein. It discusses that the novel is considered an early example of scientific fiction and uses a frame narrative structure with stories within stories. It also analyzes how the novel draws from the myths of Prometheus and Narcissus, with the protagonist Victor Frankenstein taking on aspects of both figures through his scientific experiments that go too far and his narcissistic personality.
Doctor Faustus as a Morality Play discusses Christopher Marlowe's play Doctor Faustus. It defines a morality play as a 15th-16th century drama that uses allegorical characters to portray the soul's struggle for salvation through exhibiting a conflict between good and evil to offer a moral lesson. It then identifies elements of morality plays found in Doctor Faustus, including the presence of the Good Angel and Bad Angel guiding Faustus, embodiments of the Seven Deadly Sins, the demon Mephistophilis who tempts Faustus, Faustus' vision of Hell, and its allegorical nature.
Gustave Flaubert wrote Madame Bovary in 1856, set in rural Normandy, France between 1827-1846. It follows Emma Bovary, who is bored by her dull husband Charles and seeks passion through adulterous affairs. Despite warnings from her lover Rodolphe and friend Leon, Emma spends herself into debt trying to fund a lifestyle of luxury. Overcome by shame and despair, she poisons herself. The novel examines themes of inadequacy of language to capture emotion, the powerlessness of women, and the dissatisfaction of the middle class.
The document summarizes the characters from Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. It describes each character's occupation, physical characteristics, and behaviors. It also indicates whether they are satirized or provided as a positive example. The characters include religious figures like the prioress and monk who are heavily satirized for their hypocrisy, as well as middle and lower class characters who are generally depicted more positively or received only light satire.
This document provides context and analysis for studying Shakespeare's play "Macbeth" for a GCSE English Literature course. It includes summaries of key scenes and characters, with a focus on analyzing Macbeth's character development and declining mental state over the course of the play through his increasing guilt and paranoia. Lady Macbeth is also discussed, highlighting clues about her role in Duncan's murder revealed in her sleepwalking scene in Act 5.
The document provides context about the setting and time period of Thomas Hardy's novel "Far From the Madding Crowd" including:
1) The story is set in the fictional county of Wessex in rural England in the late 19th century as agricultural practices were changing.
2) The main characters include independent woman Bathsheba Everdene and the three men that suit her - humble farmer Gabriel Oak, unstable soldier Frank Troy, and rigid landowner William Boldwood.
3) Themes explored include the precariousness of romantic relationships, the relationship between people and nature, and how characters are responsible for their own actions and suffering.
The document provides a detailed summary and analysis of "The Wife of Bath's Tale" from Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. It examines the wife's progressive views on female independence, sexuality, social class, and nobility. The wife uses her experience and sexuality to gain wealth and power in a patriarchal society. She believes women should have sovereignty over their lives and husbands. Her tale critiques chivalric ideals of knighthood by depicting a dishonorable knight who learns women desire mastery over men.
A brief synopsis of one of Geoffrey Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales". Please allow for the slides to advance as you read along. Enjoy this simple, but effective, presentation for your secondary English Language Arts class!
Volpone pretends to be dying in order to trick greedy men into thinking they will inherit his fortune, but is ultimately outed as alive and punished along with his accomplice Mosca. Volpone and Mosca deceive Corvino, Corbaccio, and Voltore into believing they will each be named the heir in exchange for gifts, going so far as to have Volpone disguise himself and seduce Corvino's wife Celia. However, their schemes are uncovered and Volpone, Mosca, and the deceived legacy hunters are all punished by the court.
This document provides an introduction to William Shakespeare and his famous play Romeo and Juliet. It discusses that Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon and later became a member of The Lord Chamberlain's Men theatrical company in London. Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies, telling the story of the doomed love between the young title characters from feuding families in Verona, Italy. It also lists the main characters from the two families involved and others in the play, as well as providing some historical context about Shakespeare and theaters of the time.
This document provides an overview of different types of comedy. It discusses romantic comedy, comedy of humour, comedy of manners, black comedy, and sentimental comedy. Romantic comedy is a popular form that combines comic and tragic elements with realistic depictions. Comedy of humour focuses on exaggerating particular human passions or follies through stock characters. Comedy of manners satirizes manners and behavior of the upper classes through settings like clubs and coffee houses. Black comedy questions moral values and presents life as a tragic force. Sentimental comedy aims to present moral sentiments but feels unrealistic and lacks appeal.
Charles Dickens' 1850 novel David Copperfield is considered a classic Bildungsroman that follows the protagonist's journey from childhood to maturity. Through David's experiences and relationships with various characters, the novel explores themes of disciplining one's emotions and finding one's place in society. While some characters like Agnes Wickfield demonstrate maturity and wisdom, others like Uriah Heep and James Steerforth lack discipline. David develops a disciplined heart through his personal growth over the course of the story. The novel was praised by critics like Tolstoy and influenced many other authors.
The document defines epics as long narrative poems about heroic deeds and actions of great people. Characteristics include divine intervention, supernatural forces, and heroes embodying societal values. Mock-epics parody epics through trivial themes and mocking stereotypes. In the 18th century, mock-epics exposed societal follies and moral corruption. The Rape of the Lock follows epic conventions like invoking a muse but for trivial themes, making petty things more ridiculous through contrast with great things. It is considered a successful example of mock-heroic style.
This document discusses the structures and characteristics of tragedy and comedy in Shakespeare's plays Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Twelfth Night, and The Merchant of Venice. It outlines the typical plot structure of a tragedy, with rising action leading to a climax and then catastrophe. It also describes the tragic hero and how Shakespeare uses techniques like soliloquies to develop complex characters. For each play, it summarizes the key plot points and how they illustrate tragic or comic elements.
John Donne was a 17th century English poet, satirist, lawyer and priest best known for his Metaphysical poetry. Some of his most famous works explored religious, spiritual and philosophical themes through unconventional metaphors and poetic devices. His Holy Sonnets dealt with themes of faith, death, and salvation through Christ. In poems like "The Good-Morrow" and "The Canonization", Donne celebrated the profound effects of romantic love through elaborate conceits and rhetorical questions.
The document provides information about the Romantic Era in literature from 1798-1832. Some key aspects discussed include:
- Romanticism focused on imagination, emotion, individual experience, and freedom over reason and rules.
- Several historical events influenced the rise of Romanticism in Britain, including the French Revolution, Industrial Revolution, and the rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte.
- The six major British Romantic poets - William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Blake, Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and John Keats - explored themes of nature, emotion, and individualism in their revolutionary poetry.
This document discusses the main stylistic features of Francis Bacon's essays, including his use of utilitarianism, aphorisms, antithesis, parallelism, comparison and contrast, metaphor, simile, analogy, allusions, ellipsis, Latin words, and punctuation. It provides examples for each feature from Bacon's essays to illustrate how he employs techniques like antithesis, parallel structure, analogies, and allusions. The document analyzes Bacon's concise yet insightful writing style.
The play All My Sons by Arthur Miller is set after World War 2 and focuses on two families, the Kellers and Deevers, who were business partners producing aircraft parts. Joe Keller was convicted of selling defective parts that led to the deaths of 21 pilots, though he blamed his partner Steve Deever. The play examines themes of the American Dream, guilt, ethics, and the consequences of wrong choices through the characters of Joe, his wife Kate, and sons Chris and the missing Larry. It also questions putting profits over human life.
George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright born in 1856 who became a prominent socialist figure. After being exposed to irregular schooling and poverty in his youth, he moved to London in 1876 and joined the Fabian Society, a socialist organization. He wrote over 60 plays that addressed political and social issues through witty dialogue. His most famous play, Pygmalion (1912), tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl who is taught to speak like an upper-class woman in a bet between Professor Henry Higgins and Colonel Pickering. The play examines the rigid class divisions in Victorian society and whether a person's identity can truly be changed by their speech and manners.
Here is a brief presentation on the text "A Tale of Tub" by Johnathan Swift. Swift's First work and one of the Influential Satire in 18th Century and today as well.
The document provides information about the characteristics of epics and mock heroic epics, as well as background on Alexander Pope and his poem "The Rape of the Lock." It discusses how Pope uses supernatural elements and trivial events to mock the conventions of epic poetry in his work. The poem satirizes society and issues like the emphasis on physical beauty, religion, and the trivial concerns of the aristocracy. Clarissa gives a speech emphasizing virtue over physical appearances. The summary focuses on how Pope subverts epic conventions to critique society.
The document provides an analysis of themes in Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice. It discusses how the novel examines the importance placed on marriage, wealth, and social status in Georgian England. It analyzes how the characters, particularly Mrs. Bennet, view marriage as the only way for women to improve their social and economic circumstances. The document also discusses Austen's examination of class and gender roles at the time through her characters.
The document provides an analysis of Geoffrey Chaucer's character The Wife of Bath from his work The Canterbury Tales. It discusses how the Wife of Bath challenged gender norms of the medieval period by refusing to conform to expectations of female subservience, piety, and domesticity. Through her interpretation of the Bible, she justified having five husbands and asserted her sexual desires and sovereignty over men. While some of her actions would not be considered feminist by today's standards, she represented a bold challenge to the patriarchal order and lack of power and agency for women during the Middle Ages.
This proposal compares the gender roles and expectations for women in Chaucer's time with the character of the Wife of Bath from his work. The student will analyze how the Wife of Bath challenges these norms by having a strong, outspoken personality and interpreting the Bible in her own way. Specific points that will be covered include providing context on societal norms, the Wife of Bath's refutation of ideals of piousness, and a comparison of her character with what was typically acceptable behavior for women in the 14th century.
Gustave Flaubert wrote Madame Bovary in 1856, set in rural Normandy, France between 1827-1846. It follows Emma Bovary, who is bored by her dull husband Charles and seeks passion through adulterous affairs. Despite warnings from her lover Rodolphe and friend Leon, Emma spends herself into debt trying to fund a lifestyle of luxury. Overcome by shame and despair, she poisons herself. The novel examines themes of inadequacy of language to capture emotion, the powerlessness of women, and the dissatisfaction of the middle class.
The document summarizes the characters from Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. It describes each character's occupation, physical characteristics, and behaviors. It also indicates whether they are satirized or provided as a positive example. The characters include religious figures like the prioress and monk who are heavily satirized for their hypocrisy, as well as middle and lower class characters who are generally depicted more positively or received only light satire.
This document provides context and analysis for studying Shakespeare's play "Macbeth" for a GCSE English Literature course. It includes summaries of key scenes and characters, with a focus on analyzing Macbeth's character development and declining mental state over the course of the play through his increasing guilt and paranoia. Lady Macbeth is also discussed, highlighting clues about her role in Duncan's murder revealed in her sleepwalking scene in Act 5.
The document provides context about the setting and time period of Thomas Hardy's novel "Far From the Madding Crowd" including:
1) The story is set in the fictional county of Wessex in rural England in the late 19th century as agricultural practices were changing.
2) The main characters include independent woman Bathsheba Everdene and the three men that suit her - humble farmer Gabriel Oak, unstable soldier Frank Troy, and rigid landowner William Boldwood.
3) Themes explored include the precariousness of romantic relationships, the relationship between people and nature, and how characters are responsible for their own actions and suffering.
The document provides a detailed summary and analysis of "The Wife of Bath's Tale" from Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. It examines the wife's progressive views on female independence, sexuality, social class, and nobility. The wife uses her experience and sexuality to gain wealth and power in a patriarchal society. She believes women should have sovereignty over their lives and husbands. Her tale critiques chivalric ideals of knighthood by depicting a dishonorable knight who learns women desire mastery over men.
A brief synopsis of one of Geoffrey Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales". Please allow for the slides to advance as you read along. Enjoy this simple, but effective, presentation for your secondary English Language Arts class!
Volpone pretends to be dying in order to trick greedy men into thinking they will inherit his fortune, but is ultimately outed as alive and punished along with his accomplice Mosca. Volpone and Mosca deceive Corvino, Corbaccio, and Voltore into believing they will each be named the heir in exchange for gifts, going so far as to have Volpone disguise himself and seduce Corvino's wife Celia. However, their schemes are uncovered and Volpone, Mosca, and the deceived legacy hunters are all punished by the court.
This document provides an introduction to William Shakespeare and his famous play Romeo and Juliet. It discusses that Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon and later became a member of The Lord Chamberlain's Men theatrical company in London. Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies, telling the story of the doomed love between the young title characters from feuding families in Verona, Italy. It also lists the main characters from the two families involved and others in the play, as well as providing some historical context about Shakespeare and theaters of the time.
This document provides an overview of different types of comedy. It discusses romantic comedy, comedy of humour, comedy of manners, black comedy, and sentimental comedy. Romantic comedy is a popular form that combines comic and tragic elements with realistic depictions. Comedy of humour focuses on exaggerating particular human passions or follies through stock characters. Comedy of manners satirizes manners and behavior of the upper classes through settings like clubs and coffee houses. Black comedy questions moral values and presents life as a tragic force. Sentimental comedy aims to present moral sentiments but feels unrealistic and lacks appeal.
Charles Dickens' 1850 novel David Copperfield is considered a classic Bildungsroman that follows the protagonist's journey from childhood to maturity. Through David's experiences and relationships with various characters, the novel explores themes of disciplining one's emotions and finding one's place in society. While some characters like Agnes Wickfield demonstrate maturity and wisdom, others like Uriah Heep and James Steerforth lack discipline. David develops a disciplined heart through his personal growth over the course of the story. The novel was praised by critics like Tolstoy and influenced many other authors.
The document defines epics as long narrative poems about heroic deeds and actions of great people. Characteristics include divine intervention, supernatural forces, and heroes embodying societal values. Mock-epics parody epics through trivial themes and mocking stereotypes. In the 18th century, mock-epics exposed societal follies and moral corruption. The Rape of the Lock follows epic conventions like invoking a muse but for trivial themes, making petty things more ridiculous through contrast with great things. It is considered a successful example of mock-heroic style.
This document discusses the structures and characteristics of tragedy and comedy in Shakespeare's plays Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Twelfth Night, and The Merchant of Venice. It outlines the typical plot structure of a tragedy, with rising action leading to a climax and then catastrophe. It also describes the tragic hero and how Shakespeare uses techniques like soliloquies to develop complex characters. For each play, it summarizes the key plot points and how they illustrate tragic or comic elements.
John Donne was a 17th century English poet, satirist, lawyer and priest best known for his Metaphysical poetry. Some of his most famous works explored religious, spiritual and philosophical themes through unconventional metaphors and poetic devices. His Holy Sonnets dealt with themes of faith, death, and salvation through Christ. In poems like "The Good-Morrow" and "The Canonization", Donne celebrated the profound effects of romantic love through elaborate conceits and rhetorical questions.
The document provides information about the Romantic Era in literature from 1798-1832. Some key aspects discussed include:
- Romanticism focused on imagination, emotion, individual experience, and freedom over reason and rules.
- Several historical events influenced the rise of Romanticism in Britain, including the French Revolution, Industrial Revolution, and the rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte.
- The six major British Romantic poets - William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Blake, Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and John Keats - explored themes of nature, emotion, and individualism in their revolutionary poetry.
This document discusses the main stylistic features of Francis Bacon's essays, including his use of utilitarianism, aphorisms, antithesis, parallelism, comparison and contrast, metaphor, simile, analogy, allusions, ellipsis, Latin words, and punctuation. It provides examples for each feature from Bacon's essays to illustrate how he employs techniques like antithesis, parallel structure, analogies, and allusions. The document analyzes Bacon's concise yet insightful writing style.
The play All My Sons by Arthur Miller is set after World War 2 and focuses on two families, the Kellers and Deevers, who were business partners producing aircraft parts. Joe Keller was convicted of selling defective parts that led to the deaths of 21 pilots, though he blamed his partner Steve Deever. The play examines themes of the American Dream, guilt, ethics, and the consequences of wrong choices through the characters of Joe, his wife Kate, and sons Chris and the missing Larry. It also questions putting profits over human life.
George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright born in 1856 who became a prominent socialist figure. After being exposed to irregular schooling and poverty in his youth, he moved to London in 1876 and joined the Fabian Society, a socialist organization. He wrote over 60 plays that addressed political and social issues through witty dialogue. His most famous play, Pygmalion (1912), tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl who is taught to speak like an upper-class woman in a bet between Professor Henry Higgins and Colonel Pickering. The play examines the rigid class divisions in Victorian society and whether a person's identity can truly be changed by their speech and manners.
Here is a brief presentation on the text "A Tale of Tub" by Johnathan Swift. Swift's First work and one of the Influential Satire in 18th Century and today as well.
The document provides information about the characteristics of epics and mock heroic epics, as well as background on Alexander Pope and his poem "The Rape of the Lock." It discusses how Pope uses supernatural elements and trivial events to mock the conventions of epic poetry in his work. The poem satirizes society and issues like the emphasis on physical beauty, religion, and the trivial concerns of the aristocracy. Clarissa gives a speech emphasizing virtue over physical appearances. The summary focuses on how Pope subverts epic conventions to critique society.
The document provides an analysis of themes in Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice. It discusses how the novel examines the importance placed on marriage, wealth, and social status in Georgian England. It analyzes how the characters, particularly Mrs. Bennet, view marriage as the only way for women to improve their social and economic circumstances. The document also discusses Austen's examination of class and gender roles at the time through her characters.
The document provides an analysis of Geoffrey Chaucer's character The Wife of Bath from his work The Canterbury Tales. It discusses how the Wife of Bath challenged gender norms of the medieval period by refusing to conform to expectations of female subservience, piety, and domesticity. Through her interpretation of the Bible, she justified having five husbands and asserted her sexual desires and sovereignty over men. While some of her actions would not be considered feminist by today's standards, she represented a bold challenge to the patriarchal order and lack of power and agency for women during the Middle Ages.
This proposal compares the gender roles and expectations for women in Chaucer's time with the character of the Wife of Bath from his work. The student will analyze how the Wife of Bath challenges these norms by having a strong, outspoken personality and interpreting the Bible in her own way. Specific points that will be covered include providing context on societal norms, the Wife of Bath's refutation of ideals of piousness, and a comparison of her character with what was typically acceptable behavior for women in the 14th century.
The document provides an analysis of The Wife of Bath character from Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. It discusses how the Wife of Bath establishes her authority on marriage through her experience with five husbands. While she dominated the first three marriages, she struggled more for control in her last two marriages. The document examines how her prologue and tale both emphasize women's dominance over their husbands. It analyzes the similarities between the Wife of Bath's fifth husband and the knight in her tale, and how both men had to give their wives control to live happily.
The Wife of Bath values sex, power, and money in marriage above all else. In her tale, she tells the story of a knight who is spared execution for raping a woman on the condition that he discovers what women truly want. He is given a year to find the answer. With no success, he encounters an old woman who promises to save him if he does what she asks. When presented to the queen, he says that women want sovereignty over their husbands. The old woman then reveals herself and gives the knight a choice between an ugly but faithful wife or a beautiful wife who may be unfaithful.
The document summarizes the Fourth Annual Quaker Genealogy & History Conference which focused on Southwest Ohio Quaker women and their involvement in reform movements from 1800-1860. It discusses the religious motivations and varying views around women's roles, including quotes from figures like Margaret Fell advocating for women's ability to preach and prophesy. The summary also briefly outlines different eschatological views on the millennium and how they impacted perspectives on women's place in society and religious activities.
This document provides context for understanding The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer. It discusses the social status of the Wife of Bath as a member of the rising merchant class. It then examines the literary context of The Canterbury Tales and the genres of the Wife's Prologue and Tale. Finally, it analyzes the relevant social, historical, and religious contexts of late 14th century England, including the rigid social hierarchy, impacts of the Black Death, role of the church, and status of women.
CACIOLA. Discerning Spirits Divine and Demonic Possession in the Middle Ages.pdfssuser2db638
This document provides a summary of the book "Discerning Spirits: Divine and Demonic Possession in the Middle Ages" by Nancy Caciola. It discusses medieval debates around distinguishing true divine possession from deception by demons, focusing on controversies surrounding religious women. The book examines behaviors deemed signs of possession, symbolic interpretations of such experiences, and the role of exorcism in establishing spiritual authority and disciplining those deemed falsely possessed.
Jesus treated women with great respect and dignity, which was unusual for the time. He showed mercy and compassion to women who were social outcasts. He had close female friends and disciples who helped support him and were the first to witness the resurrection. While Jesus only chose male apostles, it was likely due to cultural limitations of the time rather than a rejection of female leadership.
This document analyzes Chaucer's Wife of Bath character and explores whether she empowers women. It introduces research questions around Chaucer's intent in creating her and if he advocates for women. The thesis is that through allowing the Wife's experience to override male authority, including the loathly lady motif, Chaucer experiments with gender equality. The document then examines the Wife's prologue and tale, how she discounts male views of women based on her marriages. It analyzes how the loathly lady represents women gaining sovereignty and compares the Wife to Christine de Pizan, another women's advocate of the time.
The document analyzes the use of rhetorical devices in speeches from Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar. It discusses how Brutus and Antony use ethos (appeals to credibility), pathos (appeals to emotion), and logos (appeals to logic) in their funeral orations to persuade the Roman citizens regarding Caesar's assassination. Brutus relies heavily on ethos by emphasizing his reputation for honesty and integrity. Antony is more effective through his use of pathos, stirring the emotions of the crowd against the conspirators through his rhetoric and actions. Both characters employ these persuasive techniques to sway public opinion about Caesar's death.
Dissertation (before edit for application)Greg Clarke
This document provides an overview of the historiography surrounding the connection between women and witchcraft in early modern Europe. It discusses how the rise of women's history in the 1970s led scholars to view witchcraft prosecutions as a form of misogyny and oppression of women. However, more recent research has presented alternative perspectives. The document examines various theories for why women were more often associated with witchcraft, including religious ideas of women's inferiority and sexuality. It also explores the role of binary thinking in gender relations and evaluates whether witchcraft was truly misogynistic or the result of other social and economic factors during this period. The aim of the dissertation is to reevaluate these assertions and argue that male witches
The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ - Blessed Anne Catherine EmmerichJasterRogueII
This document provides a preface and introduction to meditations based on the visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich, a Catholic nun. The preface discusses how Emmerich's visions were recorded and evaluated based on Church doctrine regarding private revelations. It was determined that her visions promoted piety and were not contrary to faith. The introduction provides context on Emmerich and encouragement for publishing her meditations from Church authorities who knew her, including two Bishops. It states the meditations are intended as Lenten reflections, not history, and summarizes the contents of the document.
The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer is considered the foundation of English literature as it was one of the first works written in English. The stories follow a group of pilgrims traveling together who each tell tales to pass the time. One of the most vivid characters is the Wife of Bath, who uses her prologue to challenge stereotypes of women as lustful and uncontrolled. Her tale focuses on themes of power dynamics between men and women, justice, and the desire for control, especially in marriage. It presents a sympathetic view of female sexuality at a time when virginity was highly valued.
1. The Wife of Bath
Chaucer’s Challenge of Gender Roles
2. My Proposal
I propose to do my final assignment on the challenging of gender roles that is continuously shown throughout The Wife of
Bath’s Tale. I will compare what was an acceptable role of women in this era versus the strong, outspoken points of view
displayed by The Wife of Bath. Chaucer tests his audience by reveling in the character, The Wife of Bath, expanding their limits
on what they view as acceptable behavior by a woman and encouraging open-mindedness and equality with the sexes.
I shall do this by:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Providing my audience with a general overview/summary of The Wife of Bath’s Tale.
Give a brief background on Chaucer’s history of who he grew up and whom he socialized with.
Specify cultural accepted norms for women of the period, to include sexual inequality.
Provide details of how The Wife of Bath refutes these Christian piousness ideals.
Conclude comparisons and analysis
Show “Works Cited” page
4. Overview of the Wife of Bath
• She has been married five times and now considers herself and expert on the
institution of matrimony.
• Interprets the Bible differently than the mainstream; asserts that woman are
the dominant sex.
• Her tale tells of a knight whom commits rape, is sentenced by the Queen to
answer the question of what women want. He is tricked into marrying a hag
who ends up being a young maiden but he doesn’t see this until he admits
defeat and her sovereignty over him.
5. Overview of the Wife of Bath (cont)
• Her tale of the knight represents her beliefs that if men would only realize
that women should be in power.
• She tells her tale to anyone who will listen and backs up her claims with
biblical examples.
6. The Wife of Bath
Ellesmere Manuscript
Hunting Library (Jokien)
7. Chaucer through his artistic contribution of The Wife of Bath gives us a brilliant example of a woman whom tradition, religion and society
could not force into the mold of medieval societal expectations. She was determined to be seen, to be heard and to live her life according to her
interpretation of the Bible. While many people try to analyze her behavior and choices through a feministic point of view, the feminine movement
as we know it was not present in the 13th century therefore she was a stand-alone character; one quintessential to exposing the bigotry and sexism
that was deemed an acceptable way of life for the majority of women in many medieval societies. While class and vocation had much to do with
what was expected for and from a woman, for the most part subservience, piety and domesticity was the norm. Philip of Novare urged that women
not be taught to read and write, since this knowledge would expose them to sin, especially illicit communications with lovers. He recommended
instead that girls be kept busy with weaving and spinning so that they would not be idle (Stoertz 28).
In creating the Wife of Bath, Chaucer drew upon a centuries-old tradition of misogynist writing that was particularly nurtured by the
medieval church. In their conviction that the rational, intellectual, spiritual, and, therefore, higher side of human nature predominated in men,
whereas the irrational, material, earthly, and, therefore, lower side of human nature predominated in women, St. Paul and the early Church fathers
exalted celibacy and virginity above marriage, although they were also obliged to concede the necessity and sanctimony of marriage (Greenblatt
282). The Wife most definitely did not accept this view of women; she wanted her views and experiences to be heard, and she was going to tell
8. anyone predisposed to listening…“she herself is a creation of speech, and speech – its perpetual use and frequent abuse – is a very
dominant element in her life” (Storm 307).
The acquiescence of women can be found in multiple texts, quite plainly describing the patriarchal society’s views of women, their roles
and the lack of importance of their feelings and/or opinions. As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the
churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask
their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church (The Holy Bible, 1 Corinthians 14:34-35).
Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves they
should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion (The Holy Bible 1 Corinthians 7 8:9). The Wife construed multiple texts and
lessons in the Bible to benefit herself; she did not take them as such black and white messages. She married all the men she slept with,
understood her passions and needs and effectively directed them towards relationships that she deemed beneficial. Alison makes much of the
fact that her husbands were much older than she, and she refers pointedly to the resulting effects on the marital relationship when she speaks of
her husbands who can only with difficulty “the statue holde” (198) and pay the marital debt (Storm 306).
Alyson justifies her marriages by using biblical examples of polygamy such as Solomon, Abraham and Jacob. She completely accepts that
9. that she is not on a level of virginity or innocence as many others “Yit lived they evere in parfit chastitee./I nil envye no virginitee:/ Lat hem
be breed of pured whete seed,/And lat us wives hote barly breed” (Chaucer 147-150) but asserts that she is still living in accordance with God’s law
all her marriages were legitimate and binding as they performed by men of God.
Societal status was very important in medieval times; if you were a higher class person then you were smarter, attractive, had more freedoms
and went places that peasants were not allowed. By Alyson marrying these richer, older men she was ensuring her place in the social order; for
many women marriage was the only option to better themselves and safeguard a life of security and possibilities and this was all they were taught.
Marriage plans influenced girls' early education, place of residence, and treatment (Stoertz 22). Virginity and purity were of the utmost importance.
Women in particular had to be mindful of their reputations (Goldberg 20).
10. The Wife of Bath
MS Cambridge GG.4.27 (Jokien)
11. Works Cited
Arnell, Carla. "Chaucer's Wife Of Bath And John Fowles's Quaker Maid: Tale-Telling And The Trial Of Personal Experience And
Written Authority." Modern Language Review 102.4 (2007): 933-946. Academic Search Complete. Web. 17 Oct. 2013.
Chaucer, Geoffrey. “The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale.” The Norton Anthology of English Literature: The Middle Ages. Vol A.
Ed. Steven Greenblatt. New York:W. W. Norton & Company, 2012. 282-310. Print.
Greenblatt, Steven. Introduction. The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale. By Geoffrey Chaucer. 2012. Vol A. New York:W. W. Norton
& Company, 2012. 282. Print.
Goldberg, Jeremy. "The Right To Choose." History Today 59.2 (2008): 16-21. Academic Search Complete. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
Hilton, Rodney H. "Women Traders In Medieval England." Women's Studies 11.1/2 (1984): 139. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 22
Oct. 2013.
12. Works Cited (page 2)
Jokinen, Anniina. "Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale in Images." Luminarium: Anthology of English Literature. n.p., 30 Aug
2012. Web. 18 Oct 2013.
Stoertz, Fiona Harris. "Young Women In France And England, 1050-1300." Journal Of Women's History 12.4 (n.d.): 22.
SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
Storm, Melvin. "Uxor And Alison: Noah's Wife In The Flood Plays And Chaucer's Wife Of Bath." Modern Language Quarterly
48.4 (1987): 303. Academic Search Complete. Web. 17 Oct. 2013.
The Holy Bible, New International Version. Colorado: International Bible Society, 1984. Print.
Katy Perry. “Roar.” Prism. Capital Records. 2013. CD.