Prioress’s Tale

1. What do you make of the tale’s setting in Asia? Does it make a difference to the rest of the tale? To the representations of Jews and Christians?

2. How are Jews represented? Christians? What are their differences and similarities?

3. Look at the Prioress’s opening Prologue. How does she portray herself? What are the affinities between the Prioress in GP and her Prologue and the little clergeon?

4. How does the maternal function in this tale? What are mothers like? How do the portrayals of women in general compare to other portrayals of women we’ve seen?

5. How does this tale “quite” the Shipman’s Tale?

6. Why does Chaucer assign this tale to the Prioress? What is the relationship between teller and tale?

7. What kind of imagery do you find in this tale? Do you see patterns? How does imagery relate to theme?