Fable (fabliaux)
The Nun’s Priest’s Tale is an example of the literary style “bestiary” - a beast fable - in which animals are presented with human characteristics, and written with the intention of conveying a moral value. As a fable, it can also be used to make comment on human fault and and aspirations.
The main lesson of the story, is to never trust a flatterer, which is evident in two situations. Firstly when the fox convinces Chaunticleer to sing and the flattery blinds the bird to his treachery, illustrating that we ought to keep a level mind and not let other’s compliments get to our head. Similarly, flattery also enables Chaunticleer’s escape when he uses it to provoke the fox into boasting his catch and as a result, open his jaws and let Chaunticleer fly away. This relates to the human instinct to brag about our achievements, when we should instead keep it to ourselves or at least not gloat.
The main lesson of the story, is to never trust a flatterer, which is evident in two situations. Firstly when the fox convinces Chaunticleer to sing and the flattery blinds the bird to his treachery, illustrating that we ought to keep a level mind and not let other’s compliments get to our head. Similarly, flattery also enables Chaunticleer’s escape when he uses it to provoke the fox into boasting his catch and as a result, open his jaws and let Chaunticleer fly away. This relates to the human instinct to brag about our achievements, when we should instead keep it to ourselves or at least not gloat.
Contrast/Irony
Geoffrey Chaucer’s tale uses the technique of a “mock-heroic,” meaning the story is written as an epic work when in fact it is simply about a bunch of barnyard animals - it takes a trivial event and transforms it into something of great universal importance. Chaunticleer is portrayed as a great epic hero, and when he’s taken away by the fox, the chase that follows includes every animal on the farm, the poor widow and her daughters, as well as all the neighbours. This is similar to the heightened action and language used in great epic pieces, and the chase itself could be compared to when Achilles chases Hector in Illiad. By contrasting the story with that of legends and tales, Chaucer conveys a sense of importance and urgency, especially concerning getting the moral lesson across.
The Nun’s Priest’s Tale also effectively contrasts the two human classes of rich and poor, by describing the simple life of the poor widow and her daughters in the small cottage, in contrast to the elegant Chaunticleer in all his magnificence.
The Nun’s Priest’s Tale also effectively contrasts the two human classes of rich and poor, by describing the simple life of the poor widow and her daughters in the small cottage, in contrast to the elegant Chaunticleer in all his magnificence.
Comment on Anti-Feminism
At one point in the story, the narrator also touches on the problem of women’s position in society at the time Geoffrey Chaucer was alive. Traditionally, women were viewed as the source of all evil, for reasons such as temptation, simple mindedness, poor judgement among other things. Eve was always criticized for causing the fall of mankind, for tempting Adam to eat the apple. This is similar to Mistress Pertelote persuading Chaunticleer to dismiss his dream of having no importance. However, the “Nun’s Priest” - the narrator of the tale - claims he doesn’t have anything against women, arguing he only mentions it because it is the perspective of the rooster.