The Nun's Priet's Tale

In Geoffrey Chaucer's The Nun's Priest's Tale, human characters contrast with the animal characters. Called a beast fable, the animals in the tale take on human characteristics. Although all of the characters - the widow, Chaunticleer, Pertelote, and the fox - are all relatively human, they are far different from each other. What is especially interesting is the way Chaunticleer and Pertelote interact with each other. The two characters, though they are poultry, illustrate the …

…on human characteristics. Chaunticleer, a rooster, and Pertelote, a hen who is one of Chaunticleer's seven wives, behave much like a long-married couple. Their behaviors and characteristics strongly contrast those of their keeper, the widow. Chaucer uses pride as Chaunticleer's tragic flaw to give a moral lesson: pride threatens lords, not just roosters. Though they are merely barnyard birds, Chaunticleer and Pertelote serve as a vehicle to teach a lesson in The Nun's Priest's Tale.