Introduction
Chaucer’s ‘Canterbury Tales’ include a story told by a much-married lady from Bath named Alison. She prefaces it by complaining at great length that she has been made to feel guilty for marrying five times, and still more so for demanding some equality in the home. Yet, she says, sometimes that works out rather well.
ONCE upon a time, one of King Arthur’s knights robbed a girl of her maidenhood. For such a breach of chivalry, said the King, the punishment was death; but he would resign the final judgment to Queen Guinevere.*
The Queen decreed that the knight would have a year and a day to discover the answer to a question that troubled her mightily: What do women really want? If he could provide no convincing answer, then the King’s sentence of death would be carried out.
So the knight went his way, asking England’s women what they most wanted in life. Some said riches, some flattery or fine clothes; others demanded to do whatever they pleased. After a year and day, the knight felt none the wiser.
Just when he was ready to despair, he saw twenty-four pretty young girls dancing in a field; but even as he galloped towards them, the dancers vanished like mist – leaving behind one, ugly old maid.
Note that this story, which in the surface is about women obeying their husbands, begins with Arthur deferring to his wife.
Précis
A knight in King Arthur’s court was sentenced to death for rape, but Arthur allowed Queen Guinevere to give him a chance of redemption. He was allowed a year and a day to discover what women really want; but when the deadline came he had only conflicting answers. At last, one ugly old maid remained to be asked. (58 / 60 words)
A knight in King Arthur’s court was sentenced to death for rape, but Arthur allowed Queen Guinevere to give him a chance of redemption. He was allowed a year and a day to discover what women really want; but when the deadline came he had only conflicting answers. At last, one ugly old maid remained to be asked.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, despite, just, not, or, unless, whereas, who.
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
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