STUDENT: Isabella Muncie

PROJECT ADVISOR: Kara Stone

ABSTRACT

In medieval times, poetry established a rigid set of gender roles for both males and females. These archaic ideals solidified the assumptions that men were wise in the sense that they possessed knowledge; while women were “good” if they performed in socially acceptable ways. Two poems of this time period, “How the Good Wife Taught Her Daughter” and “How the Wise Man Taught His Son”, unmistakably embody the stereotypical aspects for both sexes. “How the Good Wife Taught Her Daughter” portrays the ideal woman as a submissive, obedient servant to her husband. Contrarily, “How the Wise Man Taught His Son” advises men to dominate women as they are “superior”. Any challenges to these firm roles were met with severe disdain from society, particularly towards women. In essence, these pieces of medieval literature paint a certain picture on how members of society should act. Remarkably, many of these stereotypes depicted in the poems are still prevalent in modern day. Fortunately, these Middle Age conventions are starting to dissipate.