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"By God, if women had but written stories / Like those the clergy keep in oratories,
More had been written of man’s wickedness / Than all the sons of Adam could redress…."
The Wife of Bath's Prologue - A Discussion in Thought & Song: If I had to hold one older (pre-twentieth century) text to try and disprove the now almost universally excepted view that only modern, demographically diverse texts can hold interest or "speak" to modern students - this - "The Wife of Bath's Prologue" would be that text. If you want to see true learning take place in a classroom - this is the work to teach. I have had so many students over 30 years come in despising Alison (the wife) - finding her manipulative, cruel, even evil. By the time we look at the text - the context - and listen to some songs - most of us come out of that experience feeling transformed.
Lesson Overview
Lesson Overview
For the longest time, this lesson existed as a Teacher Led Discussion (Ringmaster Teacher) interspersed with songs related to the "Prologue". However, I always felt so overwhelmed by the wealth of the material. Like going to giant book sale - I never know where to begin and feel like I'm drowning under the potential of so many powerful words. I have included below those notes that I used to use. the last several years that I taught "The Wife of Bath's Prologue" I used a Vertext - to both focus our discussion, to frame the songs we listen to, and to make sure that we got to the most important quotes.
A couple of things about the text of "The Wife of Bath's Prologue". 1) The version I include below (and that the students read is heavily censored). I think that's fine - it eliminates anything inappropriate reaching the reader. 2) The students' actual textbook - much newer (well it came out the year I started, 1988), did not include "The Wife of Bath's Prologue". That is a shame! The Prologue is much better - and much more important a work than her "Tale" (which they did include). Her tale also is made even better - when put in the context of her Prologue - otherwise, it seems little more than a fairy tale. I can only surmise they did it to avoid controversy - which, again, is a shame. In a few years these students will be off to college - and if we don't give them these works - in context - where will they get it? Also due to the nature of the Lesson's Discussion - it is possible to prevent and to address physical abuse (see my thoughts on this Lesson at the bottom of the page).
How to use this Lesson: In the Vertext (or even my classnotes) when a song is referenced - we would stop the Presentation and listen to the song. The lyrics can be found below. Depending on time - we would either discuss the song - or more often than not - I would leave it up to the students (ah - where the critical thinking comes in) to make the connection.
The Vertext - Power Point Discussion of "The Prologue to the Wife of Bath's Tale". See my page on classroom discussions for more on Vertexts (see the Power Point below for more details). Here are some of the ideas covered through the quotes from the translated Prologue.
The hypocrisy of the church when it comes to "women"
Why the Wife of Bath had to do the things she did - given the context of the time period
How marriage was used to control women
Misogyny in general
The idea of how women dress (yes, this was an issue in the 14th century)
The idea of "putting women on a pedestal" while simultaneously considering them as sinners
How little things have fundamentally changed since this was written (there are a few modern slides of things like panels on Women's Health that are made up entirely of men.
Men write the stories - so they control the narrative
The VERY DIFFICULT subject of Alison (the Wife) liking her last husband best - though he is the one that beat her - and treated her the worst. The teacher must be incredibly sensitive here, and yet it is an important subject that over the years has led to many students seeking help for themselves or for a friend. There is a song by the Blues pioneer, Bessie Smith that echoes this sentiment. In the handout, I also include a short article on how asking "Why do some women stay? (it's the wrong question)" along with places and phone numbers that they can go for help.
The Music
Again - interspersed throughout this Lesson are songs - designed to bring this text from the Middle Ages, into our own. I've included the playlist here - and their spot is marked in the Power Point (Vertext) presentation.
The Wife of Bath's Prologue with my notes
The Wife of Bath's Prologue with my notes
The Wife of Bath's Prologue with my Notes (most recent and detailed) - it should quickly become obvious HOW much there is in this text, and why I decided to go with a Vertext - to keep the focus tight.
The Wife of Bath's Prologue with my Notes (alternate) sometimes things get misplaced and I think that's what happened here - but there are lots of notes - though just a small fragment of what there are with the other version.
Again, there are a lot (30 years) of notes here and it should be quickly apparent both why I moved to a Vertext and why this text is so indespensible to our students' education.
The Vertext (Power Point) & Lesson Notes
The Vertext (Power Point) & Lesson Notes
Vertext (Power Point Presentation)
See the above description (or the Power Point itself). This is not only Vertext (quotes only), but also includes some observations and places for the songs to be played. These are very pointed quotes designed to prompt a Class Discussion. See my page on Class Discussions for more on Vertexts.
Lesson Notes PDF - there is SO much in these notes - I know that I never could have gotten to all of it. Another reason, I'm sure, that I switched to a Vertext as soon as I knew how to create one. I also believe that I used the reading with my notes on it (see above) to run the class.
The Reading & The Quiz
The Reading & The Quiz
"The Prologue to the Wife of Bath's Tale" PDF
This is what the students read for homework. It's fairly long - especially for a Prologue. You want to let the students know beforehand - so that they give it enough time. Once they start reading, they all almost always (on their own) see what an important text this is.
Prologue Handout
Prologue Handout
Song Lyrics & Help on Domestic Violence Handout Docx PDF
Though it is impossible to play all of the songs - and your students will surely suggest new songs that fit with this text - the information on Domestic Violence (places to seek help) and "Why some Battered Women Sometimes Stay" are so important for helping any students that see their own lives reflected in Chaucer's text. See below for a playlist with all of the songs.
Remote Enhancements
Remote Enhancements
The Power Point Presentation given above is ideal for Remote Learning (in fact, I did use it that way).
Songs played during class
Songs played during class
Rather than give the links for YouTube versions of these songs, I have included the Spotify Playlist. All of the song lyrics are on the handout found above. Here are the songs that I actually play (though there are more on the playlist): "Behind the Wall" by Traci Chapman, "Outside of That" by Bessie Smith, "Love the Way you Lie - Part III" by Sklar Grey, "Try" by Pink, "Birmingham" by Amanda Marshall, "Change" by Patty Griffin, "Change" by Churchill.
Most of these songs were, over the years, recommended by students after we had this lesson together - and they were incorporated (like so much of what we do) into my class.
WifeofBathsPrologueDisc_2015.mp3Class Recording
Class Recording
One of the most important discussions of the year. There is a Power Point for this Vertext (reading and discussing of quotes); make sure you download it before you begin listening. We talk about the Wife of Bath - her attitudes towards marriage, and we play some songs that are closely linked to the themes covered. And we do cover so much - both from the text and from the very important ideas that are covered within in this marvelous text about what is arguably British Literature's first feminist character.
Now that the students have read and discussed the incredible "Wife of Bath's Prologue", the tale she tells carries so much more weight. Without it (the prologue) it is an interesting, clever fairy tale from Arthurian times - but like her introduction, it tries to get the reader to see exactly what women are up against - and that what they want - is not that different from what their male counterparts desire. This group work (with a little more historical background) is designed to help students see that. Of course, the Middle Ages Group Work and reading on primary sources - especially those related to women - add to their understanding.
WHAT CAME BEFORE:
WHAT CAME BEFORE:
Canterbury Tales 4 - The Pardoner's Prologue and Tales Group Work
Thoughts on the Lesson
Thoughts on the Lesson
There is a story that I always tell the students when we get to the part in "The Wife of Bath's Prologue" where Alison talks about men judging women based on the clothes they wear. The students cannot believe how topical this idea is. I tell them about a student I had who was rebuffed by a dean after going to them for being harassed - and the dean told them it was to be expected, given how they were dressed. I gave the student some further advice (I had advised them to go to the dean) - which they took. 15 years laters I met the student again (while taking a walk) and they told me how greatful they were for the advice - and for what we did in class.
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