King Arthur's Knight: Justice and Desire

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Questions and Answers

Who was the King at the time?

King Arthur

Why were there no longer any magical creatures (fairies, elves, etc.)?

The friars blessed every part of the island to keep them away

What sin did the Friars commit?

The friars slept with sleeping women

What did the knight do to the young woman?

As he was leaving the river, the knight raped a young woman Signup and view all the answers

How did the kingdom react to what the knight did?

The kingdom was disgusted and mad Signup and view all the answers

How did the king react to what the knight did?

The king sentenced the knight to death (according to law) Signup and view all the answers

How was the knight supposed to die?

Decapitation Signup and view all the answers

Why did the knight get treated differently from the friars after raping?

The knight was from noble descent and represented the king's court Signup and view all the answers

Why did the Queen and the ladies of the kingdom ask for the knight's life?

They felt that the king should be merciful Signup and view all the answers

What was the Queen's decision on how to handle the knight?

She decided to send him on an educational journey Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of the educational journey?

To find what women really want the most Signup and view all the answers

Why did the Queen want the knight to know what women want most in the world?

So that he would treat women with respect Signup and view all the answers

In the end, did the result of the educational journey teach the knight what the Queen wanted him to learn?

True Signup and view all the answers

How long did the knight have to find out the answer?

A year and a day Signup and view all the answers

What other option did the knight have?

Death Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important that he 'never touched the coast'?

He never tried to run away Signup and view all the answers

What was the problem that the knight was experiencing?

No two women agreed Signup and view all the answers

What were the answers that he was receiving?

Wealth, treasure, jollity, pleasure, good in bed, remarriage, flattery, freedom to do as they please, to be thought of as wise, having no faults, and being thought of as discreet Signup and view all the answers

What allusion did one woman use to prove that women could not keep a secret?

The story of Midas and his wife Signup and view all the answers

In the story of Midas, what was the secret?

Midas had donkey ears Signup and view all the answers

Why didn't Midas want people to know? Who was the only person that he told?

He didn't want to be made fun of and have his reputation crushed. He told his wife. Signup and view all the answers

How did Midas' wife respond to his secret?

She couldn't keep the secret so she ran down to a river and whispered it to the water. Signup and view all the answers

What mood was the knight in as he rode home?

Sad, nervous, scared Signup and view all the answers

What did the knight see that 'vanished into thin air'?

More than 24 beautiful, dancing women Signup and view all the answers

After the women vanished, what remained?

An ugly, old woman Signup and view all the answers

What did the old woman ask the knight? What did they agree on?

She asked him what he was searching for. They made the agreement that he would do whatever she asked if she told him what women want. Signup and view all the answers

What did the old woman end up asking the knight to do?

To marry her Signup and view all the answers

When did the old woman say that he would know the answer?

She said he'd know the answer that night and that his life was guaranteed to be saved. Signup and view all the answers

What did the knight say all women wanted?

Women want to be in charge of themselves and their spouses Signup and view all the answers

How did the knight respond to the woman's proposal?

He was disgusted but was forced to marry her Signup and view all the answers

Did the knight and the old woman get married?

True Signup and view all the answers

How does the reaction of the knight to the request of the old woman parallel the reaction of the kingdom to the knight's original crime?

Both were disgusted after someone having their body taken by force but ended up giving a second chance Signup and view all the answers

What is a theme of the Wife of Bath's Tale?

Second chances Signup and view all the answers

Why did the knight not like the old woman's request?

Answer not provided Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Characters and Setting

King Arthur ruled during the tale.
Magical creatures like fairies ceased to exist because friars blessed the land to ward them off.

Knight's Actions

The knight raped a young woman as he left a river.
The kingdom expressed disgust and anger at the knight's crime.

Legal Consequences

King Arthur sentenced the knight to death according to the law.
Death was to occur by decapitation.

Nobility and Mercy

The knight, being of noble descent, was treated differently than the friars who committed similar sins.
The Queen and women of the kingdom urged mercy from the king for the knight.

The Queen’s Intervention

The Queen decided to send the knight on an educational journey instead of executing him.
The journey's goal was to discover what women truly desire.

Purpose and Timeframe

The knight had one year to find the answer to the question, or face death.
He never attempted to escape the challenge, symbolizing his commitment.

Challenges Faced

The knight struggled to gather consistent answers from women, as their desires varied greatly.
Responses included wealth, freedom, respect, and various pleasures.

Allusion and Secrets

An allusion to Midas illustrated women's inability to keep secrets.
Midas had donkey ears, a secret he feared would ruin his reputation.

Midas’ Secret

He confided only in his wife, who ultimately could not keep the secret and whispered it to a river.

Knight's Dilemma

While returning, the knight felt sad, nervous, and scared, leading to an encounter with more than 24 beautiful women who vanished, leaving an old woman.

The Old Woman's Proposition

The old woman asked the knight what he sought and struck a bargain: she would reveal what women want in exchange for his agreement to fulfill her request.

The Marriage Proposal

The old woman requested marriage, which the knight initially found repulsive.
He learned the answer that night: women desire autonomy and control in their relationships.

Marriage and Transformation

Despite his disgust, the knight married the old woman secretly the following day.
The knight's encounter and forced marriage mirrored the kingdom's initial outrage but later willingness to grant second chances.

Themes

A prevalent theme in the tale is the importance of second chances and redemption.

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Description

Explore the complex moral landscape of King Arthur's realm through the actions of a knight, his consequences for a heinous crime, and the Queen's unexpected intervention. This quiz delves into themes of nobility, mercy, and the quest to understand what women truly desire within this Arthurian tale.