The Canterbury Tales: The Wife of Bath's Tale Study Guide

The Canterbury Tales: The Wife of Bath's Tale

The Canterbury Tales: The Wife of Bath's Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer

"The Wife of Bath's Tale" is a story in The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer with themes of chivalry, justice and feminism. After raping a maiden, a knight is offered clemency if, after a year of searching, he can answer the question of what women want most. Finally he makes a bargain with an old hag, who offers him the answer: women want sovereignty over husbands. In return, the knight must marry the hag, which he does, and after respecting her freedom, she becomes young and beautiful.

The Canterbury Tales: The Wife of Bath's Tale Book Notes

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