Lines 77 114 Main Argument God did not command virginity Translation It is okay to enjoy marriage Technique Rhetoric Syntax change the emphasis Of myn estaat I nil nat ID: 589267
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Slide1
Wife of Bath’s Prologue
Lines 77 - 114Slide2
Main Argument
God did not command virginity!
Translation: It is okay to enjoy marriage.Slide3
Technique - Rhetoric
Syntax
change the emphasis
‘Of
myn
estaat
I nil
nat
make no
boost
’
‘that am
nat
I
’
Double negatives
emphatic
‘so
nis
it no
repreve
’
‘I nil
nat
make no boost’Slide4
Technique - Language
Homely language
(apostle Paul) ‘he
yaf
me
leve
/ Of indulgence’
(apostle Paul) ‘He meant as in his bed or in his
couche
’
sexual
‘God lust give it of his might’ lust?
(God) ‘lord in his household’
God is less absolute in power
(God) ‘
S
om
this,
som
that, as him
liketh
shifte
’ unimportant
Seeking to lend strength to her argument, YET by using such language she diminishes the apostle Paul’s and God’s authoritySlide5
Technique - Language
Humble language
‘I nil
nat
make no boost’
‘by
youre
leve
, that am
nat
I’
Seeking to make herself look better in the eyes of her audience, YET emphasis on ‘I’ in both quotes shows her self importance Slide6
CharacterisationSlide7
Intelligent
Familiar with Biblical passages
‘
thogh
that he
wroot
and
saide
’
‘But
Crist
, that of
perfeccion
is
welle
/ Bad not every
wight
’
Women were generally uneducated in Chaucer’s time thus the
WoB’s
familiarity with scripture would be uncommonSlide8
Cheeky
Cheeky/ witty
Euphemism for sex: ‘
fyr
and
tow (hay)’
‘Ye know what this ensample may resemble’
Internal rhyme
jocular toneSlide9
Brash
Brash/ Bold
‘Of
myn
estaat
I nil
nat
make no boost’
‘And
lordinges
, by
youre
leve
, that am
nat
I’
‘I
wol
bistowere
the flour of al
myn
age/ In the
actes
and in fruit of marriage’Slide10
Lust
Lust concealed
‘I
wol
bistowe
the flour of al
myn
age/ In the
actes
and in fruit of marriage’
‘Flour’ = metaphor for beauty
‘
Actes
of marriage’ = Sex
‘Fruit of marriage’ = Sexual enjoyment OR Children
If interpreted as children, shows the
WoB
to be contradictory as she does not appear interested in children at all
Slide11
THE END