The Wisdom of Old Women: Alisoun of Bath as Auctrice

Author / Editor
Minnis, Alastair.

Title
The Wisdom of Old Women: Alisoun of Bath as Auctrice

Published
Helen Cooney, ed. Writings on Love in the English Middle Ages (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006), pp. 99-114.

Description
In the Wife of Bath, Chaucer radically remakes La Vieille from the Roman de la Rose, granting her true wisdom and authority. The Wife of Bath successfully uses Latin tradition and academic techniques in WBP, and WBT reflects the profound wisdom of old women. Minnis considers the authenticity of the six disputed passages in WBP (44a-f, 575-84, 605-8, 609-12, 619-26, and 717-20).

Alternative Title
Writings on Love in the English Middle Ages.

Chaucer Subjects
Wife of Bath and Her Tale.
Sources, Analogues, and Literary Relations.