Ways of Seeing It's entertainment, poking fun at human nature and the issues of the day. It provides an alternative perspective on themes like marriage and the role of women, which are picked up elsewhere in the text. It challenges and criticises many of the assumptions of the corrupt medieval church and other scholarly writers. It reveals the concerns of medieval society. The Battle of the sexes will always be a popular topic. Major Areas of Study The Character of the Wife - teller and tale The Battle of the Sexes Chaucer's storytelling skill Humour in the Tale Marriage Sample Questions How far does the 'Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale' suit its teller? "Chaucer is a supremely talented story-teller." How far is this borne out in 'The Wife of Bath's Tale'? "Power is more important to the Wife than sex, love or money." Discuss. Discuss the struggle between 'experience' and 'authority' in 'The Wife of Bath's Prologue'. "The Wife's attitude to marriage is above all ambivalent." Discuss with reference to her Prologue and Tale. "Chaucer is a master of comic poetry." Discuss with reference to 'The Wife of Bath's Tale'.