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“The Nun’s Priest’s Tale” by Geoffrey Chaucer is a narrative poem with a well-developed plot, setting, characters, and sequence. This analysis of “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale” covers the themes and literary devices used in the poem. To see the content summary, analysis, and an overview of the poem, click here.

Themes in “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale”

Prominent themes in “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale” include pride, gullibility, the dangers of flattery, the significance of dreams and omens, and layered narration. The following sections discuss these themes in detail.

1. Pride and Vanity and the Dangers They Bring

Chanticleer is quite prideful and self-absorbed. His vanity and ego led him to fall prey to the fox. This theme shows the need for humility.

2. Dreams: Foretelling the Future

Chanticleer had a dream of an impending omen. Although he states that it is unwise not to heed the warning, he still let his guard down as time passed. This shows that dreams carry messages, and we should not dismiss them without proper consideration. Rather, we should take precautions to avoid the fulfillment of an omen and to enhance the fulfillment of good dreams.

3. Flattery and Deception

The fox used flattery to lower Chanticleer’s guard, and Chanticleer employs the same tactic to escape the fox’s grip. This shows that flattery is not innocent praise; it can be manipulative, even when based on truth, and praises the true character of the recipient. The tale also demonstrates that flattery can be a problem and inherently ill-intentioned.

Therefore, the narrator pins the problem on the flatterer, making the story appealing to a larger audience, even the nobles. This way, the message of the negative effects of vanity seeps through to the readers.

4. Learning from Mistakes

Chanticleer foolishly believed the fox, stretched his neck, and sang with his eyes closed, exposing himself to dire danger. However, he learns his lesson as the fox runs off holding him by the neck. Chanticleer applies wisdom and escapes the fox’s grip and no matter what the fox said, refused to repeat his mistake.

This shows that we can learn from our mistakes and that we can correct and not repeat them.

5. Moral Lessons

“The Nun’s Priest’s Tale” is rich in moral lessons, and the lessons are woven into the story.

The main lesson is to never trust flatterers. The fox flatters Chanticleer and captures him.

Another lesson in the narrative is the dangers of pride, vanity, and gullibility. These lessons are portrayed in the character Chanticleer. Chanticleer’s pride in his singing made him gullible to the fox’s flattery and ignore wisdom.

Furthermore, the tales encourage wit and caution in the face of flattery and deceit. Chanticleer realizes how dire his situation with the fox had become and employs the same tactics to make the fox open his mouth. He seized the opportunity to escape.

Finally, “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale” teaches to heed warnings from dreams. Chanticleer had a prophetic dream that predicted the harm coming his way. However, he disregards his dream and tries to prove himself based on Lady Pertelote’s persuasive advice.

6. Layers of Narration:

The narration of “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale” comes in layers – first the writer, the Nun’s Priest, the rooster, and the host. The tale also serves to balance the idea of social forms, as at the time presented throughout “The Canterbury Tales”. The rooster, Chanticleer, shares his controversial idea about women.

Read also:

Content Analysis of The Nun’s Priest’s Tale

The Nun’s Priest’s Prologue

The Nun’s Priest’s Tale

Literary Devices in “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale”

Geoffrey Chaucer employed different literary devices to make the narrative poem interesting. Some of these literary devices are discussed below.

1. Metaphor

“The Nun’s Priest’s Tale” is a metaphor – rather than telling the moral of the story directly as advice, it tells a tale from which the lessons are portrayed.

2. Personification

The animals in “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale” were given human qualities. Chanticleer is the man, and his hens are his wives. The rooster dreams and has in-depth discussions about dreams, debating theories and philosophy with his favoured hen, Lady Pertelote.

3. Juxtaposition

Chanticleer, the rooster, is presented as the alpha cock, “the regal” who has depth and discusses theories and philosophy, and as the vain cock that “clucks” over grains of corn in the yard and sings with his favoured hen.

4. Imagery

The idea of Chanticleer singing, stretching his neck with his eyes closed, and the fox grabbing him by the neck is vivid and can make the reader flinch as he sees the picture of the act in his mind.

Also, the readers can easily imagine the scene where the widow, her daughters, farm animals, and neighbours chase after the fox.

5. Irony

The tale uses irony to deliver the lessons and enhance the comedy, making it more humorous to the audience. An example of irony in “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale” is seen in the presentation of the rooster, Chanticleer. He is large and impressive size appeals to the eyes. He is also prideful. However, he is just a barn animal whose surrounding is nothing but mundane.

6. Allusion

The tale points to classical and biblical sources. These references were used by the author, Geoffrey Chaucer, to show that the beast story is not just about the barn animals but of a bigger picture, of human nature and their everyday affairs. Furthermore, using a beast tale to render the lessons therein while referencing other authoritative sources lends the story reliability and also enhances the sense of humour of the writer and the comic effect the story has on the audience.

7. Satire

“The Nun’s Priest’s Tale” criticizes human foibles like pride and gullibility. It also portrays how flattery entices people, stroking their ego, and brings ruin. Further, it shows that vanity is the main reason people are gullible to flattery. These traits in barn animals create an atmosphere that enables the audience to receive the message without resistance.

8. Symbolism

“The Nun’s Priest’s Tale” is rife with symbolism. Chaucer used the barn animals to represent the broader human society, and the character Chanticleer, Lady Pertrlote, and his other hens portray the court and nobles.

Conclusion

Geoffrey Chaucer’s “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale’ blends humour, irony, and symbolism to create a story that triggers moral reflection in the audience. The narrative poem is engaging, criticizes human foibles, and teaches moral lessons. The beast story has earned an enduring acceptance and popularity through time. Hence, the 1390s piece of writing remains.

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