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...
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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 Style: Narrativ...
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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 s...
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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...
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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...
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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, known...
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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...
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Notes (22)
- Use of Digressions as a Rhetorical Device in The Nun's Priest's Tale
- Chaucer's Treatment of Dreams in The Nun's Priest's Tale
- Justify “The Nun's Priest's Tale” as a beast fable.
- What Moral Lesson Do You Find in "The Nun's Priest's Tale?”
- What Mock-Heroic Elements Do You Find in "The Nun's Priest's Tale?”
- Bring Out The Blend of Serious and Comic Elements in “The Nun's Priest Tale.”
- How can you differentiate between a fable and a tale?
- How did Pertelote scold Chaunticleer for his cowardice in "The Nun's Priest's Tales"?
- What did Pertelote say against the importance of dreams in "The Nun's Priest's Tale"?
- How did the fox flatter the cock and seize him in "The Nun’s Priest’s Tale"?
- Describe the Fox after "The Nun's Priest's Tale."
- What Medicine did Pertelote Suggest for Chaunticleer's Nightmare?
- Write a short note on Pertelote's character in "The Nun's Priest's Tale".
- What does Chaucer mean by “The double sorrow of Troilus?"
- Who is Pertelote?
- What does the Nun's Priest say at the end of his story?
- How did the fox flatter the cock and seize him?
- Discuss the husband-wife relationship after 'The Nun's Priest's Tale'.
- Brief Question in “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale”
- What does Chaucer satirize in 'The Nun's Priest's Tale”?
- How did Pertelote scold Chaunticleer for his cowardice?
- Narrate the circumstances that helped Chaunticleer escape from the mouth of Sir Russell, the fox.