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 through the sketch of the animal characters. The story mocks human vanity, pride, and naiveness by applying these characteristics to the barnyard animals.

Wit and Humour: Humor is crucial to a mock epic story. The Nun’s Priest’s Tale” is abounds with it. Funny moments occur when small things are tried to make significant. They call the fox “The False Murderer” and compare it to evil men from history. Besides, they sound loud when the rooster gets taken. It resembles the sound made during the capture of Troy. Even the cries of the chickens are compared to sad events, like when senators’ wives cried when their husbands were hurt. When the whole village pursues the fox, chaos happens. They describe the chase as the end of the world, even though it is just about a rooster being missed. 

Heroic Language for Trivial Subjects: “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale” is a humorous epic tale. The poem narrates the story of a widow with her two daughters, cows, sheep, and a rooster named Chanticleer. One day, a fox tries to capture Chauntecleer, but he exits finally. What is astonishing is that the animals talk and act like people. They have had discussions about dreams and life. It is not just a frivolous conversation; it is intelligent and thoughtful. They even cite history to defend their ideas. It is comical because they act like heroes and philosophers. So, even though it is just about animals, it feels like a significant, important poem.

A poor widow, somewhat advanced in age,

…    …    …    …    …    …

Had led, with patience, her strait simple life,

She kept herself and her young daughters two.

Three large sows had she, and no more, there to,

…    …    …    …    …    …    …

Three cows and a lone sheep that she called Moll.

Various Allusions and References: In stories like “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale,” authors mention references to famous events and people from history and myths. For example, when Chanticleer gets seized, the author analogizes it to significant events like the fall of Troy. It is humorous because Chanticleer is just a rooster, but the author talks about him like a mythical hero. Even when Chanticleer has dreams, the author references famous people like Daniel and Joseph. Besides, Trojan women are compared in the following manner in this poem:

All the hennes in the cloos, when they had seen of Chanticleer the sighte.

Moral Lesson: Moral lessons are the beliefs and ethical codes that help us differentiate between right and wrong societal actions. The poem has a mock-heroic tone but ends with a moral lesson about the dangers of flattery and overconfidence. This reinforces the underlying themes of human nature and folly.

In conclusion, “The Nun’s Priest’s Tale” humorously mimics the conventions of epic poetry through its depiction of trivial events in a glorious manner. It uses heroic language and imagery for mundane subjects. Through anthropomorphism and satirical commentary, the author analyzes themes of human folly and the fragility of heroism. The poem finally delivers a moral lesson within the framework of comedic narrative.