The Nun's Priest's Tale
Poetry
|
Geoffrey Chaucer
The Nun’s Priest’s Tale Full Poem
A WIDOW poor, somewhat advanced in age,
Lived, on a time, within a small cottage
Beside a grove and standing down a dale.
This widow, now, of whom I tell my tale,
Since that same day when she’d been last a wife,(5)
Had led, with patience, her straight simple life,
For she’d small goods and little income-rent;
By husbanding of such as God had sent
She kept herself and her young daughters t...
Read The Nun’s Priest’s Tale Full Poem
The Nun's Priest's Tale key Info
Key Facts:
Poet: Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1340 - 1400)
Title of the Poet: Father of English Literature, Father of English Poetry, Father of English Language, Grandfather of the English Novel
Written Date: Between 1387 and 1400
Published Date: 1476
Original Title: “The Canterbury Tales” (“The Nun’s Priest’s Tale” is a part of it.)
Genre: Beast Fable, Mock Epic
Tone: Humorous, Satirical...
Expand The Nun's Priest's Tale key Info
The Nun's Priest's Tale Themes
Themes:
Dream: Chaunticleer dreams of being attacked by a beast-like creature, which scares him. He believes that dreams can warn of danger. Pertelote, his wife, mocks him and says dreams mean nothing. She thinks bad dreams come from a bad stomach. Chaunticleer disagrees and tells stories to show that dreams can be true. In the end, his dream comes true when the fox tries to catch him. The tale...
Expand The Nun's Priest's Tale Themes
The Nun's Priest's Tale Literary Devices
Digression: In "The Nun's Priest's Tale," digressions pause the main story to explore ideas like dreams, fortune, and classical stories. Chaunticleer's discussion about the meaning of dreams is an example. These digressions develop the theme of fate and chance. While they distract from the plot, they add humor, philosophy, and warnings to enrich the tale.
Irony: The tale uses irony, particularly i...
Expand The Nun's Priest's Tale Literary Devices
The Nun's Priest's Tale Quotes
Quotes:
“Me mette how that I romed up and doun
Within our yeerd, where as I saugh a beest
Was lyk an hound, and wolde han maad areest
Upon my body, and wolde han had me deed.”- Chaunticleer
Modern English: (I dreamed how I roamed up and down / Within our yard, where I saw a beast / Was like a hound, and would have seized / Upon my body, and would have had me dead.)
Explanation: Chaunticleer d...
Expand The Nun's Priest's Tale Quotes
The Nun's Priest's Tale Characters
Character List with Features:
Chaunticleer (Chauntecleer): Proud, noble, talented rooster with a beautiful red comb, black beak, and golden feathers. Best singer in the land, wise yet easily flattered, fond of debate and literary references. He has seven wives but loves his hen Pertelote.
Pertelote: A hen of exceptional beauty, courtesy, wisdom, and gentleness, Chauntecleer’s beloved wife, kn...
Expand The Nun's Priest's Tale Characters
The Nun's Priest's Tale Summary
Summary
The Simple and Peaceful Life of the Poor Widow: A poor widow lived in a small cottage. She was somewhat old. Her house stood beside a grove, in a low valley. After her husband’s death, she lived a very simple life with great patience. Her wealth was very little. She managed her living through her own hard work and the small blessings that God had given her. She had two daughters. She kept...
Expand The Nun's Priest's Tale Summary
Notes
Explore 22 detailed notes related to The Nun's Priest's Tale. Each note provides in-depth analysis, explanations, and critical insights.