Short questions and answers on “The Wife of Bath’s Prologue”
1. “Experience, though noon auctoritee” Explain the meaning of ‘auctoritee’.
Ans:- Here ‘auctoritee’ means no written command; the authority of the
scriptures.
2. “For, lordinges, sith I twelf yeer was of age” What is the meaning of ‘lordinges’ in
this line?
Ans:- Here in this line ‘lordinges’ means something like “Ladies and gentlemen”.
3. Explain the meaning of the line “sholde lete fader and moder, and take to me.”
Ans:- The meaning of this line is that a man shall leave his father and mother and
shall cleave to his wife. (Gospel of St. Mathew 19,5)
4. Who is referred to as “Th’Apostel” in line no 64?
Ans:- In line no 64 St. Paul is referred to as “Th’Apostel”.
5. Why does Wife of Bath give reference to the name of Lameth in case of bigamy?
Ans:- Wife of Bath refers to the name of Lameth in case of bigamy because
Lameth is the first man mentioned in The Bible as to have taken two wives.
6. What was “Almageste” and who wrote it?
Ans:- “Almageste” was a book on astronomy and the translated version of the
treatise “al majisti”. Ptolemy of Alexandria, a great astronomer, wrote it.
7. What is the meaning of “Statut holde” in line no 198?
Ans:- The word may mean the bond between husband and wife but Wife of Bath
is more forthright and her remark is directed at the impotence of her husbands.
8. What is the name of Wife of Bath?
Ans:- The name of Wife of Bath is Alisoun.
9. Why does Wife of Bath give reference to “Essex at Dunmowe”?
Ans:- In Dunmowe in Essex, bacon was given as a prize to a couple who claimed
that they had never quarrelled. Wife of Bath refers to this because she has no
interest in such a prize.
10. What is the name of the fifth husband of Wife of Bath?
Ans:- Jankin is the name of the fifth husband of Wife of Bath.
11. At what age was The Wife of Bath first married?
Ans:- The Wife of Bath was 12 when she was first married.
12. Name two arguments that the wife uses in her defense of the married state.
Ans:- Her arguments for marriage include : God would not have given humans sexual
organs if He did not intend for them to be used and many people have too much sexual
energy for the celibate state.
13. What is the Wife of Bath’s philosophy of marriage?
Ans:- The Wife of Bath’s philosophy of marriage is that the wife must control the
marriage in all areas.
14. How has the Wife of Bath changed as she has aged?
Ans:- Wife of Bath has become less attractive and less energetic when she has aged.
15. In what way were her fourth and fifth husbands different from the first three?
Ans:- The first three were old and easy to control but the last two were young and tried to
control her.
