Reference no: EM132442070 , Length: word count :- 500

PROMPTS

Question 1. Working with a single portrait in the General Prologue, examine how Chaucer manages to convey both criticism and praise in his description of an individual pilgrim. Consider how appearances relate to wealth, status, and identity. Be sure to work closely with individual details as you explore what is problematic and what is attractive in the pilgrim you analyze.

Question 2. The Wife of Bath's Prologue takes the form of a mock sermon in which she "preaches" her own theology of marriage based on her experiences with five different husbands. While Chaucer could hardly be called a feminist, it's worth thinking about how the Wife presents an oddly ambiguous character. She's not an ideal wife, and yet, she is also much more than an antifeminist caricature of a bad wife. Look at the final episode of the Wife's Prologue where she describes her fifth marriage. Why does the Wife choose to end her prologue with this marriage?the basis for your analysis, consider how these lines change our understanding of her views on marriage.

Question 3. In the Wife of Bath's tale, the old hag is the character who most resembles the Wife herself. Look at the hag's speech to the knight who is her reluctant husband. Here she reprimands him for not behaving better towards her, especially given the fact that she just saved his life. What does the hag's speech reveal about the Wife of Bath? What kind of meaning does it add to the fairy tale she tells? Describe and analyze how her tale relates to her prologue.

Question 4. According to any moral standard of judgment, the Pardoner is hypocritical, corrupt, and totally sleazy. But Chaucer's depiction of him does not just ask us to condemn him. His sermon and tale are among the best told stories on the entire pilgrimage and he clearly is very good at what he does, namely, cheat people out of their money by making them fear damnation for greed (and assorted other sins). Your task is to write a defense of the Pardoner. Why doesn't he deserve our total condemnation? In what ways does Chaucer want us to admire him?