Student Question
What are some arguments for an essay on "The Nun's Priest's Tale"?
Quick answer:
In "The Nun's Priest's Tale," potential essay arguments could focus on the moral lessons conveyed through its fable-like narrative. One argument could explore the dangers of pride and flattery, as illustrated by Chanticleer's downfall due to the fox's manipulation. Another angle is the importance of heeding dreams, highlighted by Chanticleer's dream foreshadowing his own peril. These themes provide rich material for analyzing the tale's moral and philosophical implications within The Canterbury Tales.
"The Nun's Priest's Tale" is one of the many stories told by pilgrims on their way to worship at the shrine of Thomas A. Becket in Canterbury. As this pilgrimage is religious in nature, this tale is one of the many tales with a moral lesson.
You might consider choosing a moral lesson as the focus of your argumentative essay. This tale is similar to Aesop's Fables, as it makes uses of animals to make a moral argument. Chanticleer is the rooster that seems to be quite proud of himself and of his voice. His pride gets him in trouble when he falls victim to the crafty fox, allowing the fox's flattery to overcome his sense of safety.
For truly, you have quite as fine a voice
As angels have that Heaven’s choirs rejoice.
The fox is able to flatter the rooster in order to seize him...
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by the throat.
Alternatively, the fox falls victim to his own ploy by allowing Chanticleer, the rooster, to convince him to boast about his speed at those chasing him.
The fox replied: “In faith, it shall be done!”
And as he spoke that word, all suddenly
This cock broke from his mouth, full cleverly,
Clearly one avenue you can explore is that of not falling victim to flattery.
Another argument related to flattery is that of heeding one's dreams. The tales' speaker recounts a story of deception and murder. One man dreams of his own murder at the hand of a friend which comes true the next day as his body is found in a dung cart. Chanticleer's own words to his wife are these:
And learn that no man should be too reckless
Of dreams, for I can tell you, fair mistress,
That many a dream is something well to dread.
Yet he disregards his own bad dream the night before he is caught by the fox.
These are just a couple of arguments you can make based upon the "Nun's Priest's Tale" of The Canterbury Tales.
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