What Mock-Heroic Elements Do You Find in “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale?”

Answer

What mock-heroic elements do you find in “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale?”

A mock-heroic poem is a literary work that mocks the conventions of the traditional epic poem by involving them in trivial subjects. “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale” is a prominent beast fable about a rooster named Chaunticleer and his adventures. The English author Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400) includes mock-heroic elements to make the poem a landmark creation. These satirical elements are used to ridicule and make fun of traditional heroic poetry.

Here is a list of mock-heroic elements. Let us discover these elements in Chaucer’s text “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale.” 

• Elevated Language
• Satirical Commentary
• Wit and Humour
• Exaggeration
• Incongruity
• Ridicule of Heroism
• Various Allusions and References 
• Undermining Authority, and so on.

Elevated Language: Elevated language means using formal and dignified language, often implying more elaborate figures of speech. Chaucer has used this technique clearly in his poem. His writing style in the poem is grand. He uses ornamental words for simple things. He calls Chanticleer a kind rooster and says his crowing is more excellent than any other. Pertelote is also represented pleasingly. She has the most stunning feathers on her neck and is called “a lovely lady.” She is polite, intelligent, kind, and good to be everywhere. So, it is humorous enough when Chaucer represents the rooster and hen. The poet also employs a series of similes to describe the beauty of the cock in the following manner:

In al the land of crowyng nas his peer.

His voys was murier than the murie orgon

On messe-dayes, that in the chirche gon.

Satirical Commentary: Satirical commentary means humorously criticizing something to bring rectification. The author has attacked the human traits and follies