bliss Pertelote speaks like a learned lady When Chauntecleer becomes afraid of his dream she calls him I kan nat love a coward I can not love a coward Then she gives him medical advice and speaks of laxatives She says Taak som laxatyf Take some laxative The fox flatters and tricks like a clever courtier These animals act wiser and prouder than real men So Chaucer gives them full human minds and voices Satire and Humor The Nun s Priest s Tale is full of laughter and gentle satire Chaucer uses the simple farmyard scene to make fun of human pride and foolishness Chauntecleer feels proud of his voice and beauty while the fox tricks him with smooth and flattering words Chaucer says His coomb was redder than the fyn coral His comb was redder than the fine coral The story shows how easily people are fooled by praise and lose everything Even the serious discussion about dreams sounds funny when two chickens argue like wise scholars Through this humor Chaucer gently laughs at human weakness and vanity Few Characters A beast fable is short and has very few main characters Chaucer follows this rule perfectly The story happens in a small cottage beside a grove Here a poor widow lives with her two daughters The action mostly moves around only three animals Chauntecleer Pertelote and the fox The widow and her daughters appear only at the beginning to set the scene This simple number keeps the story clear and bright just like a classic fable such as The Fox and the Crow Symbolism Each animal in this tale stands for a type of human being Chauntecleer is the symbol of proud and learned men who love praise more than wisdom Pertelote shows the earthly woman caring only for health and daily life The Fox Daun Russell stands for flattery and deceit that destroy the proud The widow s small cottage stands for the simple life free from pride and sin Chaucer hides deep meanings under light animal talk Moral Lesson Every beast fable ends with a clear moral At the end of the story Chauntecleer learns a hard truth Wommennes conseils been ful ofte colde Women's counsels are very often fatal He also learns not to trust flattery again When the fox tricks him he cries out and the people and dogs chase the fox Chauntecleer finally says that he will never open his mouth for flattery again The tale teaches to beware of flatterers and also be wise not proud Thus Chaucer s laughter hides a sharp moral light In short The Nun s Priest s Tale is a bright and perfect beast fable It mixes laughter with lesson and play with wisdom Through a cock a hen and a fox Chaucer shows man s pride vanity and foolish trust The tale ends in joy but teaches deep truth It is simple funny and forever wise