AccordingtoAristotle:

Anepicisthetragedyofaconspicuousman,whoisinvolvedinadventuresevents
andmeetsatragicfallonaccountofsomeerrorofjudgmenti.e.Hamartiawhich
throwshimfromprosperityintoadversity;hisdeathisnotessential.

So, the subject matter of an epic is grand and thats why it is written in bombastic
languageinheroiccouplets.Itsstyle,too,isgrand.Itshowsusthatevenatrivialevent
canalsobetreatedonepicalscope.

The term Mock heroic poem is closely related with the term heroic poetry. A heroic poem is
one that tells the story of a hero whose adventures and exploits have a great, recognized
significance. It is a long narrative poem written in a elevated style. Homers The Iliad and
Odyssey are the best known examples of heroic poem. Onthecontrary,amockepicisa
satire of an epic. Mockepic,also called mockheroic,form of satire that adapts the
elevatedheroicstyleoftheclassicalepicpoemtoatrivialsubject.

Amockepicisaliteraryparodyofheroicstyle.Itimitatesseriouscharactersandgrave
events inacomic manner.Thesubjectmatteristrivial andunfitforanepicbutthe
subjectisclothedintheconventionalepicstyle.Forexample,inTheNunsPriests
Tale the ordinary event of taking away of a cock is compared and contrasted with
famousandgravehistoricaleventsofthepast.

NunsPriestsTaleisamockepic.Thoughthesubjectistrivial,yetthistrivialsubject
hasbeenexaltedbecausefowlshavebeeninvestedwiththequalitiesoflearnedhuman
begins.Thecockandthehenbehave,talk,argueandconductlikeextraordinaryhuman
beings.Wefindthecockandthehenhavinglearnedandphilosophicaldiscussionon
dreamswhichlaterincludessomevitalissuesofhumanlife.Theyalsomakehistorical
references andillustrations tosubstantiatetheirrespectivepointsofview.2pointsof
viewontherealityofdreamsandthediscussionendsinnoconclusion.Soananimal
fablehasbeenelevatedtothelevelofaphilosophicalpoem,havingdeepthoughtsand
ideas.Thecockisraisedtothestatusofaheroand,thusthetalebecomesamockepic.

Chaucersstyleinthepoemisgrand.Heemploysbombasticwordsforatrivialsubject.
Forexample,Chanticleeriscalledagentlecockandhiscrowingissweeterthanthatof
anyothercock.Pertelote,likewise,hasthebestcolouringonherthroatandsheiscalled
a fair damsel. She is courteous, discreet, gracious and companionable. So the
descriptionofthecockandthehenissufficientlycomic.
The Mock heroic tome is established at the very beginning, with the description of
Chaunticleer. The author employs a series of superlatives in giving us this description. In all the
land, no one was Chaunticleers equal at crowing his voice was merrier than the Church-organ
of feast days his crowing was more reliable than the abbey-lock; his comb was redder than
final coral; his legs and his toes were like azure (blue/ indigo); his spurs were whiter than the
lily; and his colour was like burnished gold. The poet describes it as follows:
His comb was redder than the fyn coral
and batailled as it were a castel wal;
His hyle was black; and as the jeet it shoon;
And lyk the burned gold was his colour.

In the dialogue also the Mock heroic tome prevails. There are firstly, the polite modes of
address (Madame, Sire, fair Pertelote, so dear dear heart) used by the animals, and
there are, besides, the frequent invocation to God, the earnest moralizing, and the profundity of
the learning displayed in appropriately mock-serious:
Mordre wol out, that se we day by day
And certes in the same book I rede,
Right in the nexte chapitre after this

Humourisoneoftheessentialprerequisiteofamockepicandthistaleisfullofhumour.
Mostofthecomedyisintroducedthroughtheincongruityanddisproportionbetween
grandstyleandtrivialsubject.Thetrivialeventshavebeenenlargedtolookloftyand
grand.Forexample,thefoxhasbeencalledTheFalseMurdererandthefalse
dissemblerandhasbeencomparedtovariousnotoriousrascalsofthepastJudas,
Iscariot,Simon,Gauclon,etc.Likewise,theordinaryeventofthetakingawayofthecock
hasbeenequatedwithwellknown,historicaleventsofthepaste.g.thecaptureofTroy,
themurderofKingPriametc.TheoutcryandlamentationraisedbyPerteloteattheevent
islouderthanthehueandcryraisedbyHasdrubalswifeathispainfuldeath.The
sorrowfulcriesofthehenshavebeenidentifiedwiththewoefullamentation,utteredby
thesenatorswiveswhentheirhusbandswereburntalivebyNero.Onthetakingawayof
thecockwholevillagehumanbeingsaswellanimalsmadlyrunafterthefoxand
thereisastaleofchaosasifitisthedayofjudgmentwhereasthecarryingawayofthe
cockbythefoxisnotagraveevent.Theawfulnoiseproducedatthattimehasbeen
comparedwiththeuproarcreatedbythemembersofthePeasantsRevolt.Thechaseof
thefoxisdescribedinaninflatedtone.

Asessentialprerequisitesofanepicaswellasmockepicisthemoral.Therecanbeno
mockepicwithoutmoral.InNunsPriestsTalemoralisexplicitaswellasimplicit.
Thoughthisstory,Chaucerwantedtodiscussimportantandvitalissuesoflife,suchas
flatterypredestination,thequalitiesofagoodmanandagoodwoman,thenatureof
dreamsandironyoffateetc.

Inshort,wecansaythatNunsPriestsTaleisaparodyofanepicinwhichallthe
leadingepicfeaturesandconventionsarebroughtinconnectionwithaverytrifling
theme.
To achieve this style, CR uses allusions or references to people, places, or events in history that
appeal to a reader. CR uses references of the Trojan War, the story of Adam and Eve, and cries
from Roman matrons to demonstrate the trivial problems of Chaunticleer and Pertelote, face in
The Nuns Priests Tale.

The subject in The Nuns Priests Tale is the carrying off by a fox of cock and the cocks escape
from the foxs clutches. Evidently it is a trivial subject because a cock and a fox can under no
circumstances be regarded as having much importance or significance. But the style which CR
employs to deal with this subject has a certain dignity, and it is the application of this elevated
style to a trivial subject which makes The Nuns Priest Tale a Mock heroic poem.

The narrator heightens the Mock heroic effect of his story by a comic use of lofty similes. True
heroic poetry acquires much of its grandeur and stateliness from its use of metaphorical
language. But in Mock heroic poetry, such language becomes comic because of its use in
relation to the pettiness of the subject. There are several examples of this element in the present
story. Perhaps the best example of this element is the three-fold simile in the lines which are a
climax of the narrators last interruption between the foxs seizing of Chaunticleer and the
beginning of the chase the terrified hers produce a loud clamour (outcry) as they see their lord
and master being carried off. Neither the fall of Troy, says the priest, nor the conquest of
Carthage, nor did Neros burning of Rome cause such lamentation as this. Chaunticleers seven
hens, Pertelote loudest of all, clucking in their yard, are compared to wives and mothers
suffering some of the most tragic moment in the history. This kind of inflation, or false
exaggeration, is the secrete of the mock- heroic technique.

HismostfamousworkistheCanterburyTales.TheNunsPriestsTaleispartof
TheCanterburyTales,acollectionofstorywrittenbyChaucer.
TheNunsPriestsTaleisanexampleofamockheroic.Amockheroictakestrivial
mattersandpresentstheminthestyleofanepic.Thereareseveralcharacteristictoa
mockheroic.Humorisaveryimportantpartofamockheroic.Thisisbecauseamock
heroictakessimplemattersandexaggeratesthem.InthecaseofTheNunsPriests
Taleacharacterhasnolackofmilkandbread(TheNunsPriestsTale,24).Normally
thiswouldnotbeworthyofwritingaboutbutbeingamockheroic,Chaucerispoking
funthelifeandcircumstancesofawealthyperson.
oftheCanterburyTalesfromaworkofartknownasTheDecameronin1372.
ThroughouttheCanterburyTalestherehasbeendetailedcharacterdevelopment.This
characterdevelopmentalsoaddsanothercharacteristictoamockheroic.This
characteristicislength.Itprovidesinsightonwhothecharactersareaswellasmakingth
Inthemockheroicbeastfable,"TheNun'sPriest'sTale,"Chaucermockstheepic
traditionsoftheepichero,thesupernaturaldeeds,andthegrandlanguageofthesinful
rooster,portrayinganeedformorepositivemoralswithinmedievalsociety.
InTheCanterburyTales,GeoffreyChaucerusestheoverbearingheninTheNuns
PriestsTale,thepromiscuousWifeofBathinherPrologueandTale,andthedishonest
wifeofthecarpenterinTheMillersTaletoportrayaneedforequalityinmarriage.
eworklonger.ThisrangesfromtheidealChristianParsontothecorrupt...

Beast Fables, and its Role in "The Nun's Priest's Tale"

One of the most common literary themes during Geoffrey Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales"
was the concept of beast fables. These tales were important stories that gave animals
human like characteristics. Although this practice was not new to writers of the
Chaucerian era, it did however become immensely popular in the literature of the time.

Beast fables were a way of making a mockery of human nature, and was a literary device
that showed the true feelings and motions of human like characters, without offending
whoever it was the author chose to represent. This is often an insulting practice and
literary device because it represents men with animals. It may also suggest that man often
acts like an animal in their everyday life. Examples of this can be seen in The Nun's
Priest's Tale, in Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales".

ThetaletoldbytheNunsPriestisafableorstorywithanimalsasthemaincharacters
andusuallyendswithamoralofsomesort.Thistaletakesplaceonthefarmofanold,
poorwidow.Allthatshepossescanbesummedupinafewlines.Itisamongher
possessionsthatwefindtheroosterChanticleer,whoscrowingismoreprecisethanany
clockandavoicethatwasjollierthananychurchorgan.

In this story, there is a male rooster named Chanticleer who is in charge of all seven hens
in the henhouse. This includes the most beautiful hen Pertelote, who Chauntecleer is
madly in love with. A clever fox named Don Russell is the counterpart to Chauntecleer
and tricks him by telling him that he does not want to eat him, he only wants to hear him
sing. When the rooster crows, the clever fox snatches Chauntecleer and runs away. The
commotion caused by the seven hens causes all of the animals on the farm to go after the
fox. Chauntecleer cleverly convinces Don Russell to confront the other animals. When he
attempts to confront them, he loosens his grip, and Chauntecleer escapes.

. Themostimportantaspectofabeastfableisthattheaudienceunderstandsthe
connectionbetweenthecharacterandthebeastrepresentinghim/her.In "The Nun's Priest
Tale", the beast epic could be a representation of the separation of classes in Chaucer's
time. Could it represent the difference between the upper and lower classes in Chaucerian
England? One of the most telling themes of the beast fable in The Nun's Priest's tale" is
how the animals could represent the men and women who are partaking on the
pilgrimage to Canterbury. All the animals could represent different characters in the
Canterbury Tales. Also, the absurdity of animals chasing down the fox represents the
different groups of people who chose to travel together.

For example, the Knight could be compared with Chauntecleer because both are strong
willed characters who are in a feud with another adversary in the text. Paloman would
represent Chauntecleer. Arcite would represent his arch nemesis, Don Russell. Pertolote
would represent the beautiful Emilie. All of these characters in The Nun's Priest's Tale,
even though are represented in animal form, and are direct representatives to different
characters heading to Canterbury on the pilgrimage.

One important aspect of beast fables is the morality issues related with beast epics. "They
all tell a story, but unlike most fables, beast epics differ from fable not only in length but
also in putting less emphasis on a moral." The beast fables used in the Canterbury Tales
may have been used to possibly describe a religious attraction. For example,
Chauntecleer could represent God, and Don Russell could represent the devil. They have
a rivalry going in the same way the God and Satan do. Chauntecleer is an all knowing,
overseeing entity, who is in charge of the seven hens and the roost. He is in fact, a God-
like figure. Don Russell is a cunning, Satan-like character who is in a constant struggle to
take down Chauntecleer. This story is also told by the Nun's Priest. This man has a direct
relationship with God. This may have been his inspiration for telling this beast fable.
Religion, may have been the underlying theme of the story, but it was not intended to be a
moral to the story of the "Nun's Priest's Tale".
Beast Fables were important literary tools when attempting to tell powerful stories that
describe the flaws of mankind. All of these tales were written for a purpose. This purpose
may be widely and commonly debated in classrooms and lectures. Beast fables, and their
morality issues, are completely subjective. However what is not subjective is the power
of the beast fable, when attempting to identify the flaws of humanity.

TheBeastFableandRomanceintheNun'sPriestTale

ChaucerutilizedmanyliteraryformswhencomposinghisCanterburyTales.Among
theseformsheutilizedwerethebeastfableandromance.Wefindelementsofbothof
theseformsintheNun'sPriest'sTale.YetChaucerwasadecidinglyoriginalpoet.When
hetooktheseformshemadethemhis.Heoftendivergedfromtheacceptednormsto
comeupwithstoriesthatwerefamiliartothefourteenthcenturyreaderyetalsooriginal.

FirstletuslookattheuseofbeastfableandhowChaucerdivergedfromtradition.One
significantdifferenceisthatthereisalmostnohumaninteractionwiththeanimals.We
haveabriefdescriptionofthehumaninhabitantsofthefarmandthentheydisappear
untiltheend.Thetrue"humans"aretheanimalsthemselvesastheypossessalmosttotal
humanqualities.Forexample,ChauntecleerandPertelotearea"married"coupleand
bickerashumans.Theyalso"love"eachother."Helovedhirsothatwelwashim
terwith"(VII.2876).

Moststrikingisthelogicalanalysisbothchickensarecapableof.Wherebeastfables
wouldberesolvedbyaction,thesechickensthinkthroughthesituation.Both
ChauntecleerandPertelotequoteauthoritativesources:"Butnatheless,astouchingdaun
Catoun/Thathathofwisdomswichagreetrenoun/Thoughthathebadnodremesforto
drede/ByGod,menmayinoldebooksrede"(VII.297073).Thisisaninterestingquote
forittouchesuponmanyofthedifferencesthisTaleinrelationtootherbeastfables.The
roosterquotesanauthority,referstoaGodanddiscussesdreams.Chauntecleeris
embarrassinglypedantic.

Therooster'sdreamissignificantasitandthediscussionthatfollowsittakesupmuchof
thetaleitself.Thefocusisnotontheaction(Chauntecleer'scapturebythefox)buton
whoiscorrect.IsChauntecleer'spositionondreamscorrectorisPertelote's?The
extensivediscussionofthedreamsteersthestoryawayfromthe"moral"of
Chauntecleer'svanity.

RomanceinmedievalliteratureconcerneditselfwithnobleknightsandChaucer
decidinglypartsfromthisbyhavinghisnobleknightarooster.Thenoblecharacteralso
ispeerlessinacertainability.ChaucertellsusthatChauntecleerhasthebestcrow:
"Thannecrewhe,thatitmightenatbenamended"(VII.2858).Chauntecleerisdescribed
asquitedashing,fittingthenobleheroiccharacterization."Hiscombwasredderthanthe
fyncoral/Andbatailed,asitwereacastelwal"(VII.285960).Chauntecleeralsohashis
ladies,buttheothersarepushedintothebackgroundhisheartbelongstoPertelote.All
thesebreaksfromconventionalromanceillustratetheparodythatChaucerutilizes.

Theendinghasamoralasallbeastfablesdo.YetthisisnotthepurposeoftheTale.
Beastfableshaveexplicitmoralspracticallyshoutedtotheaudience.TheNun'sPriest's
Talelacksthis.Infactthereisnotasingularmoraltobehadfromthestory.Thereare
severalsuchasdonotbeoverlyproud,listentoyourintuition.Whiletraditionalbeast
fableshadanthropomorphicanimals,theserepresentedonestereotypicalhuman
characteristic.The"romance"aspecthelpstofurtherthebreakfromthistalebeingjust
anotherbeastfable.Chaucer'sbeastsaremuchmorediversemakingthemmorehuman.

Pierstheplowman

PiersPlowmanbyWilliamLanglandOneofthegreatreligiouspoemsintheEnglish
language.thepoemisanALLEGORYintheformofaDREAMVISIONinwhichthe
narrator,Will,experiencesaseriesofvisionsthattakehimfromanoverviewof14th
centuryEnglish.TheDreamer,Will,seemstobeboththeallegoricalpersonificationof
thehumanWillitself,andthepersonaofthepoemspurportedauthor,William
LANGLAND.
ThethemeofthepoemisthesearchfortrueChristianityandsalvationanditcontains
criticismofthecorruptionintheestablishedChurchandintheworld.Inanumberofsteps
theprotagonist,PiersPlowman,ahumbleman,undertakesaquestfortruthinaseriesof
dreamvisionsinvolvingthesearchforthreeallegoricalcharacters,Dowel(DoWell),
Dobet(DoBetter),andDobest(DoBest).Althoughallegorical,thepoemcontains
vividdescriptionsofcontemporarylifeandalongwithChaucer'sCanterburyTales.

The poem is essentially a religious work as it is filled with the religious doctrines, dogma, views,
and sentiments of medieval Catholicism. In the poem, each vision concerns humanitys
relationships to God. The poem presents much biblical lore, from both the Old and New
Testaments. The events in Eden, Jobs trials, the betrayal of Judas, Jesus suffering and
crucifixion, along with many other familiar and traditional Christian elements, are recorded in the
poem. There are digressions on sin and virtue, on the nature and value of learning, and on the
activities of laity and clergy, some
good and some bad.

It presents a quest or pilgrimage occurring within the context of dream visions that satirize
secular and religious figures corrupted by greed.The poem includes debates, and many scenes
recall the mystery and morality plays of the period.

ThepoetfallsasleepintheMalvernHillsanddreamsthatinawildernesshecomesupon
thetowerofTruth(God)setonahill,withthedungeonofWrong(theDevil)inthedeep
valleybelow,anda"fairfieldfulloffolk"(theworldoflivingmen)betweenthem.He
describessatiricallyallthedifferentclassesofpeopleheseesthere;thenaladynamed
HolyChurchrebukeshimforsleepingandexplainsthemeaningofallhesees.Further
characters(Conscience,Liar,Reasonandsoon)entertheaction;Consciencefinally
persuadesmanyofthepeopletoturnawayfromtheSevenDeadlySinsandgoinsearch
ofSt.Truth,buttheyneedaguide.Piers(Peter),asimplePlowman,appearsandsays
thatbecauseofhiscommonsenseandcleanconscienceheknowsthewayandwillshow
themiftheyhelphimplowhishalfacre.Someofthecompanyhelp,butsomeshirk;and
PiersbecomesidentifiedwithChrist,tryingtogetmentoworktowardtheirownmaterial
relieffromthecurrentabusesofworldlypower.Inthelastsectionofthepoem,muchless
coherentthantherest,thedreamergoesonaramblingbutunsuccessfulsummerlong
quest,aidedbyThought,Wit,andStudy,insearchofthemenwhoareDoWell,DoBet
andDoBest.

REGIOUSALLEGORY:

Piers Plowman

Thepoempresents10separatedreams(sometimesdreamswithindreams),separatedby
briefwakingpassages.ItopenswithWillsfirstvisionofafairfieldfulloffolka
briefESTATESSATIREinwhichLanglandpresentstheChristiancommunity,withits
threeestates,andtheindividualswhofallshortoftheirobligationstothecommonwealth.
TheprologueisfollowedbytheappearanceofHolyChurch,personifiedasawoman,
whogivesWilltherudimentsoftheChristianfaith.Inasense,theremainderofthepoem
followsfromWillsquestiontoHolyChurchinthisfirstpassus:WhatmustIdotobe
saved?

thepoemfallsintotwosectionsthefirstpart,knownastheVisionofWillconcerning
PiersPlowman(ortheVisio),introducesthemainthemesofthepoemandshowsWilla
visionofthecontemporaryworldasitis;thesecondpart,theLivesofDowel,Dbet,and
Dobest(calledtheVita).ThefirstpartWillasksHolyChurchhowtotelltruthfrom
falsehood,andisshownaseriesofvisionsinvolvingLadyMeed.Meedismoneyor
reward,whoseinfluenceinthekingscourtthreatenssociety.Thekingwishestomarry
hertoConscience,butsheisultimatelydrivenfromthecourtbyConscienceandReason.
Itappearsthatsocietymaybebackontherighttrack,ifledbyConsciencewithoutgreed.
Reasongivesasermoncallingforrepentance,andthisisfollowedbyLanglandsjustly
famouspassagedescribingtheconfessionsofthesevendeadlysins,whichare
personifiedanddescribedasindividualsengulfedinthesinstheyrepresent.Inresponse
tothesermon,thepeopleallbeginapilgrimagetofindTruth(theallegorical
representationofGod).Buttheydonotknowtheway,andasimpleplowman,Piers,
offerstoguidethemtoTruth,oncetheyhelphimplowhishalfacre.Thepilgrimagefalls
apartwhenTruthsendsPiersapardon,butapriesttellsPiersitisnopardonatall,andin
angerPierstearsthepardonandvowstoleaveoffhisplowingandspendhislifein
prayerandpenance,searchingforDowel(i.e.,Dowell).

Thisbeginsthevitasectionofthepoem,consistingofthreeparts:Dowel,Dobet,and
Dobest.Thereisnoconsensusastowhatthesethreelivesrepresent,butonesuggestionis
thatDowelfocusesononesownindividualneeds,Dobetonthephysicalneedsofothers,
andDobestonthespiritualneedsofothers.IntheDowelsection,Will,guidedby
Clergy,Scripture,andStudy,exploreshisowninteriorfacultiesofImagination,
Intelligence,andThought..ThisDobettimeWillischidedbyAnimaforseeking
knowledgeratherthanengagingincharity.Inanotherdreamwithinthedream,Willsees
PiersPlowmanguardingtheTreeofCharity,fromwhichthedevilstealsfallenfruit,and
thenseesAbraham,Moses,andtheGoodSamaritanastheallegoricalpersonificationsof
Faith,Hope,andCharity.InthefinaltwopassusLanglandpresentshislasttwovisions,
whichcomprisethelifeofDobest,PiersreceivestheHolySpiritandorganizesthe
plowingofthefieldoftheworldtheallegoricalrepresentationoftheidealChristian
society.
Butwhatevercriticalperspectiveonebringstothepoem,PiersPlowmanisoneof
themostremarkableachievementsofMIDDLEENGLISHliterature.
Chanticleer - The heroic rooster of the Nuns Priests Tale, Chanticleer has seven hen-
wives and is the most handsome cock in the barnyard. One day, he has a prophetic dream
of a fox that will carry him away. Chanticleer is also a bit vain about his clear and
accurate crowing voice, and he unwittingly allows a fox to flatter him out of his liberty.
The story starts out with an overly perfect description of Chanticleer, and how he was a
beautiful rooster, and how well he could sing. This shows partly how Chanticleer thinks
about himself, which almost leads to his death.

That night Chanticleer has a terrifying dream. He dreams a fox comes and eats him. Now
when he tells this to Lady Pertelote, (who has loved him since he was seven days old),
she called him a coward, and immediately wants nothing to do with him. This shows how
deep this "courtly love" really goes. She explains that the dream was probably something
that he ate, and was nothing more than a nightmare.

Well of course Chanticleer, the self-absorbed rooster he is, is not going to let his pride get
destroyed like that. He fights back and gives many examples about people who have
payed no heed to dreams and it costed them later. But when Chanticleer is done, you can
see he is just rambling on to save his pride, because at the end of his explanation, he says,
"I defy all visions and dreams!" totally contradicting his idea he had just a few minutes
ago.

When the fox does come to Chanticleer's house, you would think that after that dream,
Chanticleer would have nothing to do with this fox. But once again, Chanticleer's pride
comes into play. The fox knows he has a giant ego, and uses it to his advantage. He
flatters the rooster, and tells Chanticleer what he wanted to hear. So Chanticleer comes
out and the fox catches him in his mouth.

Chanticleer finally starts to understand what his pride is doing to him. He knows he can't
do this again. But he uses the fox's tactics to his benefit by flattering him. He flatters the
fox into opening his mouth and Chanticleer flies into a tree. The fox tries to tempt his
pride again, but Chanticleer is starting to learn from his previous follies, and doesn't
come down.

Pertelote - Chanticleers favorite wife in the Nuns Priests Tale. She is his equal in
looks, manners, and talent. When Chanticleer dreams of the fox, he awakens her in the
middle of the night, begging for an interpretation, but Pertelote will have none of it,
calling him foolish. When the fox takes him away, she mourns him in classical Greek
fashion, burning herself and wailing.