Warm Up
• In our society what does it mean for a woman
to have power over a man?
Literary Element p133
• How is the old woman making fun of the
knight? Why does she appear to be unoffended by his aversion to her age and
appearance?
Literary Element p133
• How is the old woman making fun of the
knight? Why does she appear to be unoffended by his aversion to her age and
appearance?
She making fun of the knights lack of chivalry,
honor and gratitude. She is also amused
rather than offended because she harbors a
secret that the knight knows nothing about.
Reading Strategy p134
• Summarize and evaluate the old woman’s
argument against the knights accusation that
she is not a gentlewoman.
Reading Strategy p134
• Summarize and evaluate the old woman’s
argument against the knights accusation that
she is not a gentlewoman.
The old woman corrects the knight’s false
notion of gentility. She argues that gentility
does not stem from one’s ancestors but from
one’s own gentle and virtuous nature.
Big Idea p135
• How does the old woman use the power of
faith to support her argument?
Big Idea p135
• How does the old woman use the power of
faith to support her argument?
She contends that gentility is a gift from God,
not a privilege handed down by one’s
ancestors.
Big Idea #2, p135
• How does the old woman’s first argument
against the knight’s accusation of poverty
illustrate her religious faith?
Big Idea #2, p135
• How does the old woman’s first argument
against the knight’s accusation of poverty
illustrate her religious faith?
Since God himself, in the person of Jesus, chose
to live in poverty, it cannot be a shameful
conditions.
Reading Strategy p136
• The old woman has cited Dante, Valerius,
Boethius, Seneca, and now Juvenal. How well
do these citations support her argument?
Reading Strategy p136
• The old woman has cited Dante, Valerius,
Boethius, Seneca, and now Juvenal. How well do
these citations support her argument?
It does not really help her argument. Strictly
speaking, it is a logical fallacy. However, if the
authorities cited are eminent experts, their
words can help out the argument.
GOOD ARGUMENTS USE: logic, reasons, evidence.
Reading Strategy #1 p137
• Summarize the six reasons the old woman
uses to support her argument that poverty is
beneficial.
Reading Strategy #1 p137
• Summarize the six reasons the old woman uses to
support her argument that poverty is beneficial.
1) Poverty makes one fearless of thieves.
2) It is an incentive to work.
3) It teaches wisdom.
4) It teaches holiness.
5) It brings self-knowledge.
6) It enables one to identify one’s truest friend.
Reading Strategy #2, p137
• Summarize and evaluate the old woman’s
argument that the knight should not scorn her
for being old and ugly.
Reading Strategy #2, p137
• Summarize and evaluate the old woman’s
argument that the knight should not scorn her for
being old and ugly.
The old woman argues that the husband of an old
and ugly wife need never fear that his wife will
be unfaithful.
OR
Deny the validity of the argument , since an old,
ugly wife is repellent to her husband as well as
to potential rivals.
Literary Element
• Do you find any humor in the knight’s
response to the choice offered him by the old
woman? Explain
Literary Element
• Do you find any humor in the knight’s response to
the choice offered him by the old woman? Explain
Forced between two undesirable alternatives and
subdued by the old woman’s arguments, he
sensibly surrenders his powers of choice to his
wife. He gives her the thing that women desire
most: mastery over their husbands/lovers.
Literary Element p138
• Do you find any humor in the Wife’s prayer?
Explain…
Literary Element p138
• Do you find any humor in the Wife’s prayer?
Explain…
Her prayer can be seen as humorous because it
is a parody of a conventional prayer in its
worldly lust and pleas for revenge.