Question

In the ballad "Get Up and Bar the Door," why does the wife not want to close the door?

A. She is lazy and doesn't want to get up
B. She is afraid of the dark
C. She wants her husband to do it
D. She believes it's the man's job

Answer 1

In "Get Up and Bar the Door," the wife doesn't want to close the door because she insists it's the man's responsibility, leading to a humorous standoff reflecting on gender roles.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the ballad "Get Up and Bar the Door," the wife does not want to close the door because she believes it's the man's job to do it. This scenario sets the stage for the central conflict of the poem, which is essentially a battle of wills between the husband and wife, each determined not to be the one to get up and bar the door. The humorous tale is rooted in the examination of gender roles and the stubbornness of both characters in trying to assert their stance.