Justice for the Wives: A Court of Folklore and History

Materials Needed

• A written or digital copy of Marie de France's lai, Bisclavret (a summary is acceptable if the full text has already been read).
• A summary of the historical case of Martin Guerre. The film The Return of Martin Guerre (1982) or Janet Lewis's novel The Wife of Martin Guerre are excellent resources, but a detailed encyclopedia article will also work.
• Paper and pen, or a digital word processor for notes and the final project.
• (Optional) Internet access for deeper research into medieval folk law or 16th-century French legal systems.

Lesson Plan Details

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Analyze the character motivations, societal roles, and personal agency of Bisclavret's wife and Bertrande de Rols (the wife of Martin Guerre).
• Compare and contrast how justice is conceived and delivered in two different contexts: the "folk law" of a medieval fairy tale versus the formal legal system of early modern France.
• Synthesize your analysis into a creative written piece that explores the themes of identity, betrayal, and justice from a nuanced, character-driven perspective.

Lesson Activities

Part 1: The Moral Dilemma (10 minutes)

Begin with a thought experiment. Consider these two scenarios:

1. Your spouse reveals a terrifying secret that makes you fear for your safety. They are, in a very real way, a monster. You have an opportunity to betray them and align yourself with another person who seems "normal" and safe.
2. Your cruel and unloving spouse, who abandoned you years ago, suddenly returns. However, this new version of your spouse is kind, loving, and a better partner in every way. You begin to suspect this person is an imposter.

Discussion Question: Which betrayal is more understandable? Is it the betrayal born of fear, or the betrayal born of a desire for happiness? Discuss your initial thoughts and reasoning. There is no right or wrong answer. This exercise is to frame the complex situations our two historical/fictional women faced.

Part 2: Investigation & Comparison (30-40 minutes)

Now, let's put these two women "on trial" by examining the evidence. Create a chart with two columns: "The Wife of Bisclavret" and "Bertrande de Rols (Wife of Martin Guerre)". We will fill it in together by answering the following questions for each woman.

• The Context: What was her life like before the main conflict? What were the societal expectations for a woman of her station?
• The Revelation: What shocking truth is revealed or suspected? (One is a werewolf, the other an imposter).
• The "Crime": What action did she take? (e.g., conspiring to steal the clothes, accepting the new man, bringing the case to court).
• The Motivation: Why did she do it? Was it pure fear? Self-preservation? A desire for a better life? Social pressure? Love?
• Source of Justice: How is "truth" revealed and "justice" delivered in the story?
  • Bisclavret: Folk Law / Supernatural Justice. The truth is revealed when the wolf physically attacks his wife and her new husband. The king interprets this animal behavior as a sign of their guilt.
  • Martin Guerre: Formal Law / Human Justice. The truth is determined through a formal trial with witnesses, evidence, and a judge's ruling.
• The Verdict & Punishment: What was her ultimate fate? Do you consider the outcome to be just? (Bisclavret's wife is exiled and her daughters are born without noses; Bertrande is publicly shamed and must beg forgiveness from her returned husband).

Part 3: Creation — The Defendant's Plea (45-60 minutes)

Your main task is to step into this world and create a powerful argument. Imagine you are an advocate for one of these women. Your goal is not to prove her innocent in a modern sense, but to make a court of her peers (or a modern audience) understand the complexity of her situation and question the "justice" she received.

Choose ONE of the women and ONE of the following creative projects:

1. A "Lost" Diary Entry: Write a first-person monologue from the perspective of either wife after her trial is over. Have her reflect on her actions, her husband (the original and/or the new one), and the verdict. Did she do the right thing? Does she regret it? What does she think of the "justice" she received?
2. A Modern "True Crime" Podcast Script: Frame the story for a 21st-century audience. Write a 500-700 word script titled "The Wolf and the Woman" or "The Imposter in the House." Explain the historical context, analyze the wife's motivations, and argue for a more nuanced understanding of her actions. Use a compelling, narrative tone.
3. The Defense's Closing Argument: Write the powerful closing speech a lawyer (or the woman herself, if she were allowed to speak) would give at the trial. Use persuasive language to appeal to the judge's or king's sense of reason, empathy, and fairness. Challenge their definition of truth and identity. For example: "My lords, you seek to punish this woman for rejecting a monster, but is not the true monstrosity to live a life devoid of safety and peace?"

Part 4: Reflection & Extension (10 minutes)

• Share your creative piece. What was the most difficult aspect of defending or embodying your chosen character?
• Did this creative exercise change your perspective from the warm-up discussion? How?
• Optional Extension: Research the concept of "trial by ordeal" from the Middle Ages. How does this compare to the supernatural justice seen in Bisclavret? How do both differ from the evidence-based (though still flawed) trial of Martin Guerre?

Assessment

Your creative project will be the primary assessment for this lesson. It will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Clarity of Argument (5 points): Your piece presents a clear, consistent, and compelling perspective on the character's actions and motivations.
• Textual & Historical Fidelity (5 points): Your argument is well-supported by specific details from the story or historical account, accurately reflecting the character's world.
• Creativity & Voice (5 points): Your project effectively uses the chosen format (diary, podcast, speech) to create a distinctive and engaging voice.