The article by Alex Mueller that we read for today engages with the question of genre in the Nun’s Priest Tale. Which genre would you classify the tale as; allegory, fable, epic, epic romance, fabliau or other? Does it even have only one genre, or can it be a mix of several? Provide evidence from the texts to support your answers.

What were the most difficult parts during the writing process for you to decide if you wanted to choose historical accuracy or take creative licence? How did you decide?

There are recurring themes in the Franklin’s Tale involving pledges, promises, freedom and submission. Most of the characters are bound to each other in some capacity. Compare and contrast a relationship between characters who seem to engage with one or more of these themes. In what ways do they show this?

In class, we often discuss how each character’s prologue influences their tale, or position it as a reflection of their beliefs. How is the Wife of Bath’s Tale related (or unrelated) to her ideas about the perfect marriage or just marriage in general?

In class, we have talked about the way that Chaucer portrays the female characters in the Book of the Duchess, The Knight’s Tale, the Reeve’s Tale and the Miller’s Tale. Pick a female character from one of these works and explain the way Chaucer chooses to write about them. Comment about what kind of agency they have, how their bodies are written, what their attitudes are, or anything else interesting about them.