Summary: This story is actually a tale inside a story. It begins with the Knight, the Host and the Monk talking about how the nun's priest is beating around the bush in his story. So he begins his story about a widow, her rooster and her hens. This widow's rooster was the finest in the land, it was a perfect specimen and it had the most beautiful voice. This rooster's name was Chanticleer and he had 7 "wives" who were also his sisters. His most favorite wife was Partlet. One night Chanticleer had a dream about being endangered by a strange dog like animal and he began to groan in his sleep. Partlet awoke him and asked what was causing him to groan. He explained his dream and the distress it was causing him. She then shared stories with him about how dreams should not be taken seriously and were only caused by gases. Partlet made a series of suggestions on how to treat and prevent the gases that were causing Chanticleer to dream. Chanticleer told Partlet of several stories and ideas that dreams were omens or signs of things that were to come and that he had a right to be worried. The next morning Chanticleer and his 7 wives were in the yard when a fox with the same markings as the dog like animal in his dream arrived in the yard. The fox began to flatter Chanticleer and tricked him into singing with his eyes closed and neck stretched out. The fox than grabbed the rooster and when the widow saw this she, her daughters, the cows, and others chased after the fox. The rooster told the fox to tell those that were chasing them that he would eat the rooster and they should give up. When the fox opened his mouth to say this Chanticleer flew away. The nun's priest, who was telling the story, then makes a few comments on being aware of those who flatter you because they are often not trustworthy and might try to harm you. Just as the fox who flatter the rooster tried to hurt him. The Nun's Priest: The speaker was the Nun's priest, a priest who was traveling with the Prioress and her nun. This man was not described in the prologue but seems to be a cheerful and good natured man. The point that I think Chaucer is trying to make is about the Prioress who is kind of vain and would like to have people gawk at her because of her good taste. This is kind of like a warning to her. Chaucer's Insight and Feelings on Character: I think that Chaucer had a little bit of respect for this character and his profession because his story had a good moral. However, the tale itself was silly and seemed pointless and redundant at times. This might have been Chaucer's way of poking fun at the Nun's Priest saying that even though they mean well they had trouble getting to their point efficiently. The story was confusing at first with all of its different characters but it all came together in the end with a good lesson, not to be quick to trust those that flatter you but it was a round about way of getting there. I think that was Chaucer's opinion of the Nun's priests, that they were long winded in making their point.
The Nun's Priest: The speaker was the Nun's priest, a priest who was traveling with the Prioress and her nun. This man was not described in the prologue but seems to be a cheerful and good natured man. The point that I think Chaucer is trying to make is about the Prioress who is kind of vain and would like to have people gawk at her because of her good taste. This is kind of like a warning to her.
Chaucer's Insight and Feelings on Character: I think that Chaucer had a little bit of respect for this character and his profession because his story had a good moral. However, the tale itself was silly and seemed pointless and redundant at times. This might have been Chaucer's way of poking fun at the Nun's Priest saying that even though they mean well they had trouble getting to their point efficiently. The story was confusing at first with all of its different characters but it all came together in the end with a good lesson, not to be quick to trust those that flatter you but it was a round about way of getting there. I think that was Chaucer's opinion of the Nun's priests, that they were long winded in making their point.