Lesson Plan: The Accused Wife - Justice in Folklore and History
Subject: World Literature, History, Law & Society
Grade Level: 12th Grade / Advanced (suitable for a motivated 18-year-old homeschool student)
Time Allotment: 2-3 hours, plus time for reading and the main project
Materials Needed
- A copy of Marie de France's lai "Bisclavret." (A good public domain translation can easily be found online).
- A detailed summary or account of the historical case of Martin Guerre. The book "The Return of Martin Guerre" by Natalie Zemon Davis is the gold standard, but a reliable historical article or documentary summary will also work.
- Notebook or word processor for taking notes.
- Access to a computer for the creative project.
Lesson Overview
This lesson moves beyond simple comparison to an exploration of justice, societal expectations, and female agency as seen through two compelling French narratives: one from folklore and one from history. The student will act as an investigator, analyzing the actions and motivations of two wives who accuse their husbands, and ultimately judge their cases through a creative, application-based project.
1. Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to:
- Analyze and compare the characters, motivations, and societal pressures of Bisclavret's wife and Bertrande de Rols (Martin Guerre's wife).
- Evaluate the concepts of "justice" and "truth" as they are presented in a medieval lai (fairy tale) versus a 16th-century legal case.
- Synthesize their analysis into a creative project that demonstrates a deep understanding of the texts and their contexts.
- Articulate a reasoned argument about which wife's actions were more justifiable, using textual and historical evidence.
2. Lesson Activities
Part I: The Warm-Up - A Question of Loyalty (15 minutes)
Begin with a thought experiment. Pose the following scenario to the student:
"Imagine your partner or a very close family member has a secret that is strange, possibly dangerous, but doesn't directly harm you. They refuse to tell you what it is. Later, you discover the secret, and it fundamentally changes who you thought they were. At what point is your loyalty to them broken? Is it ever acceptable to betray their secret for your own safety or well-being? Discuss your immediate thoughts."
This discussion primes the student to think about the core dilemmas faced by both women in the stories, connecting the historical/fantastical context to modern ethical questions.
Part II: Guided Inquiry - Gathering the Evidence (45-60 minutes)
After having read both "Bisclavret" and the account of Martin Guerre, the student will create a "Case File" comparison chart. This chart helps organize their thoughts before the main project. Use the following prompts to guide the note-taking:
| Guiding Question | Bisclavret's Wife | Bertrande de Rols (Martin Guerre's Wife) |
|---|---|---|
| The Husband's "Crime" or Secret: What did the husband do or become? | ||
| The Wife's Initial Reaction: How did she react upon learning the truth/suspecting a change? | ||
| The Accusation/Betrayal: What specific action did she take against her husband? | ||
| Motivation: Why did she do it? (Fear, ambition, love, social pressure, personal gain?) | ||
| The "Justice System": Who decided the outcome? (A king's court, a legal court, public opinion?) How did it function? | ||
| The Final Verdict/Outcome: What happened to the wife in the end? Was this "just"? |
Part III: Main Activity - The Court of Historical Opinion (Creative Project)
The student will now apply their analysis by choosing one of the following creative projects. The goal is not just to report the facts, but to embody a perspective and argue a case, demonstrating a deep understanding of the characters' motivations and the world they lived in.
Project Option A: The Court Transcript
Write a "lost" court transcript where Bertrande de Rols is put on trial for her complicity with the impostor, but she calls the spirit of Bisclavret's wife as a "character witness." The student will write the opening statement for the prosecution, Bertrande's defense of her actions, and the "testimony" of Bisclavret's wife, who might either condemn or sympathize with Bertrande. The piece must reflect the legal and social norms of the time.
Project Option B: The Investigative News Report
Create a script for a modern investigative TV show (like "60 Minutes" or "Dateline") titled "Betrayed or Betrayer?" The episode covers both cases. The student will write the host's narration, "interviews" with historical experts explaining the context, and dramatic reenactments with voice-overs from the wives explaining their perspectives. This format allows for a direct comparison of the two stories' impact on our understanding of history and folklore.
Project Option C: The Dual Diary
Write a series of diary entries from the perspectives of both wives. The entries should be dated just before, during, and after their fateful decisions. This project focuses on the internal, emotional journey of each woman. What were their fears? Their hopes? Did they feel guilt or justification? The student must use a voice that feels authentic to the character and her time period, drawing on evidence from the texts.
3. Assessment
The main creative project will be assessed based on the following criteria:
- Analytical Depth (40%): Does the project demonstrate a clear understanding of the characters' motivations, the societal pressures on them, and the central conflicts of each story? Is the comparison between the two women insightful?
- Use of Evidence (30%): Does the project incorporate specific details from "Bisclavret" and the Martin Guerre case to support its arguments and characterizations?
- Creativity and Voice (20%): Is the chosen format executed creatively? Does the project establish a consistent and believable tone/voice?
- Clarity and Polish (10%): Is the final product well-organized, clear, and free of major errors?
4. Reflection & Synthesis (15 minutes)
After the project is complete, hold a concluding discussion. Use these questions to synthesize the learning:
- In your final opinion, which wife was more "just" in her actions? Why?
- How does "folk law" (the justice in fairy tales, where a werewolf biting off a nose is proof of guilt) differ from the formal justice system of 16th-century France? What are the pros and cons of each?
- Both women were punished for their actions. Were their punishments fair? What do these punishments tell us about the value placed on women and loyalty in their respective eras?
- If these events happened today, how would the media and the legal system treat each wife?
5. Optional Extension Activity
Research another "impostor" or "monstrous transformation" tale from a different culture (e.g., the Japanese Kitsune/fox-wife stories, or historical impostors like Perkin Warbeck). Write a brief, one-page report comparing the wife's/family's reaction in that story to the reactions of Bertrande and Bisclavret's wife. How do cultural contexts change the nature of the betrayal and the response to it?