Canterbury Humour in two tales

A detailed Summary of Canterbury Humour in two tales


Humor was used in the medieval time period to express one's ideas and thoughts. Geoffrey Chaucer also used humor in The Canterbury Tales in different instances. In "The Nun's Priest Tale" and "The Miller's Tale" I will show you how he uses humor to describe characters, his use of language and the actual events that take place.

In the "Nun's Priest Tale" there is a rooster named Chaunticleer. His name suggests a fine knight or noble

prince. The description of a rooster as a noble prince in courtly love romances is ridiculas and maybe this is what keeps us from taking him to seriously in this story. Nicholas, a clerk or scholar, from "The Miller's Tale" also has a ironic name. His name suggests St. Nicholas from plays about a mysterious guest at the home of evil hosts. In the story, however, it's the other way around. In Chaunticleer's description Chaucer uses a contrasting humor. The rooster acts as a noble knight or prince when in reality he is only a barnyard animal. The description of the barnyard animals brings an undercut from the courtly love that occurs throughout the tale. The reminds you to think that Chaunticleer and Pertelote are only animals which brings about a hilarious effect. With Nicholas, a low


"The Miller's Tale" ends with John as the laughing stock or joke of the town with Nicholas amply repaid for his deceit and Alison getting the plumbing she deserved. "The Nun's Priest Tale" ends with Chaunticleer escaping the fox up a tree and learning his lesson of vanity.

Vol. 1 Ed. Frank Kermode. New York: Oxford University Press, 1973 159-176



Some common words found in the essay are:
God's Chanticleer, Nicholas Chaunticleer, Miller's Tale, St Nicholas, Priest Tale, Chaunticleer Pertelote, Nicholas Alison, John Alison, Tale Chaucer, Canterbury Tales, miller's tale, canterbury tales, priest tale, courtly love, nun's priest, nun's priest tale, chaucer humor, oxford line, frank kermode york, vol 1, literature vol, vol 1 ed, actual events, ed frank kermode, kermode york oxford,

Approximate Word count = 891
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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