In medieval society, the man is the dominant figure, but medieval literature portrays women as having different and versatile roles, which allows them to be the center of the conflict or plot, while the men have limited roles set in stone making them merely puppets in a woman's world. ... A plain and simple way to put men and women in their specific role is to say that a man is masculine and a woman is feminine. ... Even though we, as readers, delight in categorizing and labeling typical character roles in literature, there is no set role for the women in medieval literature. Of cours...

• Word Count: 2997
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School

Women in medieval society held a variety of roles. ... These conflicting views of what a woman is or should be often lead a woman into an unhappy marriage. ... In a medieval marriage, a woman was expected to submit to the will of her husband, to be obedient at all times. ... In medieval literature, we see women in two different types of relationships "with a husband and with a lover "and with a different role in each, that of the dominator and that of the dominated. ... It was not the inherent nature of medieval women to be sly, deceitful, and unfaithful; it was simply their way of...

• Word Count: 1537
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

The new landscape in which the people of medieval society found themselves in was much unlike that of the Old Roman Empire. ... In reference to the "mother-goddess," it seems that Signy, the twin sister and wife of Sigmund, plays this nurturer role to her husband when she takes him food while he is being held captive and also hiding in the forest. ... An example of the warrior-woman would be Hljod, who is portrayed as a shield-maiden that frequents many battlefields, appearing as a crow. ... This also shows that men still do have power, but these women were not afraid to defy their roles. ...

• Word Count: 1187
• Approx Pages: 5

Chivalry was a common moral practice for the medieval knight. ... His understanding response towards the woman shows his readiness to undertake his king's task while considering the warnings humbly. ... Throughout the medieval ages knights including Sir Torre, Chaucer's Knight, and Sir Galahad partook in quests that helped signify their role as an honorable servant to their monarch and religion. ... As seen in many quests throughout medieval ages, many quests the Knight took place in were located in strategic cities during the crusades. ... The Knight, a man said to be one of the mem...

• Word Count: 1399
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Women in the medieval society were sometimes treated fairly and sometimes not. ... Some of those roles were to her benefit. Some medieval women held jobs. ... Another bad thing about being a woman was that the woman could be tried for witchcraft. ... The women of the medieval society may have their bad roles, but they also have good ones too. ...

• Word Count: 583
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

In discussing Chaucers" The Canterbury Tales, an interesting illustration of the Medieval Christian Church is presented. ... This portrayal of the Medieval Church is also seen in London by Edward Rutherford, tracing its history through the years. ... In London the Church played a dominant role in the everyday lives of the people. ... In his tale, the Pardoner slips into his role as the holiest of holies and speaks of the dire consequences of gluttony, gambling, and lechery. ... Likewise, the Prioress in Chaucer's work is a rather worldly woman. ...

• Word Count: 1388
• Approx Pages: 6

The Life Of Medieval Women Was Very Hard Do you agree? I have been asked to write an essay on the subject of the role of women in the middle ages. ... What kinds of work did medieval women have to do? ... There were also many famous nuns and abbesses. - Source 18 A midwife was another occupation for a woman as no males were admitted to the ward when a woman was giving birth. ... If this did happen a woman would not have been given anything that was hers before she married and would nave been left penniless, as all her property would have become the property of her hu...

• Word Count: 1469
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

The Life Of Medieval Women Was Very Hard Do you agree? I have been asked to write an essay on the subject of the role of women in the middle ages. ... What kinds of work did medieval women have to do? ... There were also many famous nuns and abbesses. - Source 18 A midwife was another occupation for a woman as no males were admitted to the ward when a woman was giving birth. ... If this did happen a woman would not have been given anything that was hers before she married and would nave been left penniless, as all her property would have become the property of her hu...

• Word Count: 1860
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

It also brought along changes into the role of women economically. ... They challenged the medieval tendency to degrade women as temptresses and to exalt them as virgins (following the model of Mary). They praised woman in her own right, but especially their traditional vocation as mother and housewife. ... This wasn't just due to their role as the loving housewife. ... Education also gave them roles as authors of the Reformation. ...

• Word Count: 697
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Social status influenced the sort of life a medieval woman might lead. ... Among the interdependent peasant communities, medieval countrywomen had a variety of duties and responsibilities. "Women's work was crucial to the Medieval town economy" (Hause 192). ... When a medieval woman was expected to marry, she had to present her husband with a dowry. ... The value of the roles of women within this society had become recognized. ...

• Word Count: 762
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography

In the shadows, a step behind, and not as enchanting, one can find the tale of the medieval woman. ... Chaucer's vehicle to maneuver between the gender roles was the WB caricature. ... When the reader is first introduced to the WB in the GP obviously she is not a typical medieval woman. ... As a result of this behavior, WB may be seen as a threat to the medieval hierarchy of power relations between the sexes because she violates the conception of what woman should be according to medieval tradition (Biebel 64). ... The one weakness that comes forward in the WB character is when she steps ...

• Word Count: 2959
• Approx Pages: 12
• Has Bibliography

Through the selection of his story, the Knight displays a chivralic and romantic role in the medieval world. ... The main narrative kind of medieval literature was the Christian Romance. ... The Knight's Tale tells of two noble cousins that fall deeply in love with the same woman and deeply in hatred of each other. This very classical and romantic genre reflects the Knight's role in the medieval world. ... A well written collecting of poetry created for us today the remembrance of the Knight's role in the medieval society. ...

• Word Count: 567
• Approx Pages: 2

Wives of the medieval culture had limited freedom. Besides being riffraff, they had no real role in society. ... A wife's role in the medieval society was some to none. ... "Most of a woman's life was under guardianship of a man"" (qtd. in Gies 41). ... During medieval times, a woman's primary role was in her house. ...

• Word Count: 1030
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Some historians notice a certain impetus gained by this movement in what is classified to be medieval India, specifically in the 12th and 13th century. ... She highlights the idea that the woman's role is perceived to be confined to the household, as the wife and the child-bearer or the mother. ... Language seems to play a pivotal role in the expression of these noticeably radical voices. ... I'm the woman of love for my lord, white as jasmine.... "If they see breasts and long hair coming they call it woman, if beard and whiskers they call it man: but, look, the self that hove...

• Word Count: 2258
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Through a deceptive wife, a feminist woman, a lusty corrupt knight, and a chauvinist, Chaucer presents the contrasting views on marriage in the Medieval Age. ... " she is put forth as a feminist, her views evidence of Chaucer's feminist sensibilities- (Fleming) The Wife of Bath is a feminist; she revolts against the traditional role of women by gaining complete control of her husbands, as seen in her prologue. ... The Clerk is a chauvinist who holds true to the traditional medieval roles in marriage. ... Driven by lust and hormones he picks May a young and beautiful woman to marry....

• Word Count: 484
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

The role of women, the devoutness of the church, and the pilgrim's values and motives are satirized and questioned through the description of each, and the importance of social status and an essence of the lifestyle of late medieval times is clearly evident. ... Neither of these women embodies the ideal woman of the time, but each possesses some feature that can be considered typical. ... The need for the Wife of Bath to have a husband does indicate that in some way she is conforming to the social standards that a woman cannot exist on her own. ... The character of the Wife of Bath sup...

• Word Count: 1279
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Bisson states in Chaucer and the Late Medieval World. ... Giving way to brotherhood, friendship, and life, love plays its crucial role in the chivalric performance. ... "Their (women's) role is to learn, listening quietly and with due submission . they should keep quiet," Christian creeds suggests in the First Epistle to Timothy. ... By voicing Emilye, Chaucer makes it clear the inner conflict Emilye suffers under the performance of courtly love, which plays crucial role in gender relationship. While regarding the role of Theseus in the tale, his arrangement of the chivalric ma...

• Word Count: 3384
• Approx Pages: 14
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Many critics attribute this to the traditional role of a franklin in medieval times. However, this "traditional- role is often questioned. ... They were housemaids that observed roles as maids, mothers, and were generally viewed as inferior. ... The question must be asked that if a woman must use a man to gain power, how can a woman be truly independent? ... This is shown when the knight sees the group of fairies in the woods that transform into the old woman. ...

• Word Count: 2555
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography

The standard set to consider the "goodness " of a woman in this time period, then, must be her level of subscription to the patriarchal society in which she lives as well as her awareness of her role as woman in relation to that of a man. It is no secret that there was an extreme inequality amongst men and women in the medieval period where middle English literature resides. ... These transactions, similar to those used for goods and services, is an indisputable example of the low regard and respect woman possessed in the medieval period. ... However, one can also argue that what she does is ...

• Word Count: 1394
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Chaucer's masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales, reflects a very opinionated view of manners and the behaviors of medieval women. ... On the other end of the spectrum, we have the Prioress, who is a better example of womanhood in the medieval ages. ... The Prioress also known as the Nun represents a proper and feminine woman of the medieval period. ... Along with fer vow of chasity, this makes her a moral individual in the eyes of society and a leading role model for other woman. ... Chaucer portrays the proper and moral way for a woman to act during the medieval period, by comparing the rude...

• Word Count: 1384
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

Chaucer's masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales, reflects a very opinionated view of manners and the behaviors of medieval women. ... On the other end of the spectrum, we have the Prioress, who is a better example of womanhood in the medieval ages. ... The Prioress also known as the Nun represents a proper and feminine woman of the medieval period. ... Along with fer vow of chasity, this makes her a moral individual in the eyes of society and a leading role model for other woman. ... Chaucer portrays the proper and moral way for a woman to act during the medieval period, by comparing the rude...

• Word Count: 1384
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

Chaucer's masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales, reflects a very opinionated view of manners and the behaviors of medieval women. ... On the other end of the spectrum, we have the Prioress, who is a better example of womanhood in the medieval ages. ... The Prioress also known as the Nun represents a proper and feminine woman of the medieval period. ... Along with fer vow of chasity, this makes her a moral individual in the eyes of society and a leading role model for other woman. ... Chaucer portrays the proper and moral way for a woman to act during the medieval period, by comparing the ru...

• Word Count: 1389
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

He sees the Medieval Church and its clergy as corrupt. ... Chaucer satirizes the Medieval Church. ... He is known to make even a shoeless woman give him money. ... He spent time seducing woman and promised women husbands in return for sexual favors. ... The Friar, the Summoner, and the Pardoner all play the roles of corrupt church officials. ...

• Word Count: 1477
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

In doing so the Wife of Bath inverts the order of the normal narrative, and the common social order as women in medieval literature tended to only feature in tales in very stereotypical roles; as a beautiful lady, a love interest or an old wife. Chaucer created a woman never seen before in English Literature. ... A woman married five times, some for pleasure but mostly for money. ... Alisouns tale is so wonderful because it effectively condemns a Knights rape of a young woman by insisting that the knight must submit to the authority of a woman by the end of the tale. ... In his manipulatio...

• Word Count: 1803
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography

It is not until Genesis 2:22 that God uses one of Adam's ribs to create Eve-the first woman formed by God. Thus, man and woman became separate individuals with their own individual traits. ... Although the Hebrew Bible mentions more men than women, the role women played is too great to be overlooked. ... Traditionally, Jewish men pray daily to God and say, "I thank you Thee, God, for not have made me a woman." ... Regina Jonas was the first woman rabbi. ...

• Word Count: 1142
• Approx Pages: 5