Wife of Bath's Tale: Summary (Norton 226)
863 In King Arthur's time; the land is full of fairies
888 Knight commits rape; sentenced to death
899 Clemency granted to knight if he passes test within 12 months: to learn What do women most want?
919 Knight goes wandering in search of answer but finds no agreement
958 Story of Midas's wife, who cannot keep husband's secret
989 Knight is returning at end of year, meets old woman in forest who asks what he seeks
1011 Their agreement: she will tell the Knight what to say
1029 Return to court: Knight's answer is accepted. Women want mastery
1052 Old woman claims the Knight as her husband
1079 They wed; Knight comes complaining to bed
1115 Wife reproves him: lecture on true gentility
1183 -- and on poverty being no sin
1213 -- on on the advantage of her being old and faithful
1225 Knight is offered choice: old wife or young and faithless
1234 Knight asks wife to choose: thus she gains mastery
1245 Wife becomes young and beautiful and will be faithful
1264 So may all husbands be governed
Document prepared March 15th 2007