The “General Prologue” provides us with no evidence as to the character of the Nun’s Priest. Only in the prologue to his tale do we finally get a glimpse of who he might be, albeit rather obtusely. As Harry Bailey rather disparagingly remarks: “Telle us swich thyng as may oure hertes glade./Be blithe, though thou ryde upon a jade” (p.235, ll2811-2812). I say this cautiously because much criticism has surrounded the supposed character of the Nun’s Priest, his role in the tale, and his relationship to the Canterbury Tales as a whole. One example, in my opinion, of an unsatisfactory reading is exemplified by Arthur Broes’s 1963 article “Chaucer’s Disgruntled Cleric: The Nun’s Priest’s Tale.” Broes argues that the Nun’s Priest is an “erudite clergyman” (Broes 162) who attacks his ecclesiastical superiors, most notably the Prioress, for their supposed spiritual failings. Although one can clearly find allusions to the Prioress (line 2835 would be a most poignant example, “No deyntee morsel passed thurgh hir throte”) in the tale, nevertheless I think that Broes’s reading is very much one-sided. Indeed, Derek Pearsall would seem to agree. Pearsall’s 1984 Variorum is an invaluable source of information on the sources and analogues of the tale, as well as a fairly thorough summary of critical approaches to the tale. Regarding the Nun’s Priest’s character, and the question of a so-called ‘dramatic’ reading of the text, Pearsall finds there to be two main critical camps: those who maintain that the Nun’s Priest’s character can be ascertained from textual evidence thus affecting any reading of the tale, whilst others, typified perhaps by Robert Kilburn Root hold the following position: “Neither in the General Prologue nor in the links which ...
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...well spoke of the concept of containment, or entombment, in history and in literary texts. This act, whether consciously created or not, involves a sense of the need for reflection, an island of contemplation, yet simultaneously this containment threatens the inevitable need for progress. In both the “Knight’s Tale” and the “Nun’s Priest’s Tale” we are faced with insular worlds whose workings are a mystery, and in fact whilst we may witness their workings, we remain as outsiders to the cultural codes entombed within the enclosure. Chaucer seems to have been aware of this. The Knight leads us forth, yet always looks back. The Nun’s Priest reminds us that we must always look forward, beyond our enclosure. In the final analysis, Chaucer has left us with a tale, to borrow Stephen Greenblatt’s term, of ‘resonance and wonder’ that reverberates through space and time.
Toswell, M.J. "Chaucer's Pardoner, Chaucer's World, Chaucer's Style: Three Approaches to Medieval Literature." College Literature 28.3 (2001): 155. Literature Resource Center. Web. 25 Feb. 2011.
Its one thing to hear an urban legend but it’s another to actually put you in the place the legend happened. Realizing the truth for you is one of the biggest reasons behind the many different stories told of myths and legends. But one of the problems with these stories being passed down is the lack of historical evidence. Anyone can come up with their own personal experience of something that may or may not have actually happened, but the solid background information is key in making it actually believable. This is why I’m lead to believe that story of The Nunnery, based in Logan Canyon, has too many fictitious angles surrounding the legend.
Chaucer uses the prologue to the Monk's Tale as one more opportunity for satiric, self-referential comedy. Within the story he is a necessarily opaque character. Significantly, the Host assumes that Chaucer is, at best, a mid-ranking government official and not an artist capable of constructing a landmark piece of literature such as the Canterbury Tales.
From The Riverside Chaucer, Third Edition. Ed. Larry D. Benson, Ph.D. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1987. Chaucer, Geoffrey. A. The Canterbury Tales.
Patterson, Lee. "The living witnesses of our redemption: Martyrdom and imitation in Chaucer's Prioress's Tale.” Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies. Durham; Fall 2001. 507-560
The Canterbury Tales, written by Geoffrey Chaucer, is a collection of short stories told amongst pilgrims on their way to Canterbury. The pilgrims are competing against one another to see who can tell the best story on their trip. Along the way Chaucer makes quick comments and critics about the travelers. Some pilgrims he likes, for example the Parson. Others like the Pardoner, are disliked strongly by Chaucer. He also finds some pilgrims entertaining, like the Nun. She is described as a women who, instead of centering her life round Christ, tries to impress everyone. Although in his prologue Chaucer pokes fun at the Nun’s appearance and behavior, ultimately the readers can see that Chaucer
Grace King's The Little Convent Girl is an excellent example of post-Civil War realism incorporating a trick-ending. In this local color short story, King methodically lures the reader into a false belief that her story is about an insignificant and nameless young girl who, after twelve years seclusion in a convent, is exposed to the fervor and excitement of a steamboat trip down the Mississippi River. The success of Ms. King's trick-ending is achieved through three basic elements; 1) de-emphasizing the importance of the main character, 2) tidbits of information followed by wordy misdirection, and 3) a false climax.
In his Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer assembles a band of pilgrims who, at the behest of their host, engage in a story-telling contest along their route. The stories told along the way serve a number of purposes, among them to entertain, to instruct, and to enlighten. In addition to the intrinsic value of the tales taken individually, the tales in their telling reveal much about the tellers. The pitting of tales one against another provides a third level of complexity, revealing the interpersonal dynamics of the societal microcosm comprising the diverse group of pilgrims.
Summary and Analysis of The Nun's Priest's Tale (The Canterbury Tales) Prologue to the Nun's Priest's Tale: The Knight interrupts the Monk's Tale, for as a man who has reached a certain estate, he does not like to hear tales of a man's fall from grace. He would rather hear of men who rise in esteem and status. The Host refuses to allow the Monk to continue, instead telling the Nun's Priest to tell his tale. The Nun's Priest's Tale: The Nun's Priest tells a tale of an old woman who had a small farm in which she kept animals, including a rooster named Chanticleer who was peerless in his crowing. Chanticleer had seven hens as his companions, the most honored of which was Pertelote.
Mitchell, J. Allan. (2005). Chaucer's Clerk's Tale and the Question of Ethical Monstrosity. Studies in Philology. Chapel Hill: Winter 2005. Vol.102, Iss. 1; pg. 1, 26 pgs
In the reading "The Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer, there is a detailed description about the nun Prioress in the "General Prologue". Chaucer uses physical and spiritual relationships to show the characteristics of a person. When we see the nun in relationship to other characters, for example the Knight, Chaucer makes the reader see two types of people. On one hand, the nun who gives much importance to minor things. On the other hand, the Knight who gives much importance to things that really matter. To describe how the nun was Chaucer writes with irony the description of the nun Prioress, everything that Chaucer says about her means the opposite.
The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer is a piece of work that resembles both a historical and sociological introduction the late middle ages. Chaucer’s ability to interpret basic human nature from different viewpoints is exemplified in the characters he created. I have selected two stories, The Prioress Tale and The Knights Tale, within the Canterbury Tales that manifest the strengths and weaknesses of human character. Than I will compare Chaucer’s pilgrims to figures portrayed by Dante in the Divine Comedy.
The Prologue to The Canterbury Tales is a masterpiece of satire due to the frequent use of verbal irony and insults towards the characters and their roles in society. A major source of Irony is Chaucer’s representation of the Church. He uses the Prioress, the Monk and the Friar, who are all supposed to be holy virtuous people to represent the Church. In his writing he suggests that they are actually corrupt, break their vows and in no way model the “holiness” of Christianity.
...an see, when reading a work such as The Canterbury Tales, there are many advantages and disadvantages to the work being in both middle and modern English. Before reading such a work, one must realize his or her own purpose for reading the work and then decide on which version to read. It is the opinion of many that it is beneficial to read both versions in order to educate one self about both languages as well as to experience the evolution of the English language. The English language has changed greatly over the many centuries since the time this work was written. However, this work helps create a bridge between the languages of the middle and modern English worlds. This was a work that transcended any work previously written and one that will continue to have an important place in the history of English literature and the English language as a whole.
In The Canterbury Tales, the Nun or Prioress is one of the most outstanding characters because she is described as being exceptionally kind and well-mannered. For example, in the second line she is said to have a way of “smiling very simple and coy”, meaning that her smile is kind and alluring (148, line 123). Unlike many other of the pilgrims, the nun is true to the first description of herself. She is neither manipulative nor twisted. In addition to her well-mannered behavior, her “sympathies and tender feelings” illustrate her as “charitably solicitous” (148, lines 146-147). This shows that she is not only one of the more kind pilgrims, but she also has great compassion for the other fellow travelers. When analyzing the other pilgrims, many