# The Nun's Priest's Tale explained — The Canterbury Tales

> Chapter companion for The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.

## What happens

The Nun's Priest tells a beast fable about Chanticleer, a proud rooster, who is tricked by a flattering fox and nearly eaten, but escapes through his own quick thinking. The tale explores themes of pride, flattery, and the nature of dreams and prophecy.

## Themes in this chapter

### Fortune and Providence

Chanticleer's dream and the fox's attack raise questions about fate, free will, and divine providence.

### Sin and Redemption

Chanticleer's pride and susceptibility to flattery lead to his downfall, but he redeems himself through cleverness.

## Character check-ins

### The Nun's Priest

The narrator of the tale, a humble priest who tells a lively beast fable.

### Chanticleer

The proud and handsome rooster whose dream of a fox leads to his near-capture.

### Partelote

Chanticleer's favorite hen, who dismisses his dream as a sign of cowardice.

## Key lines

> A poor widow, somewhat advanced in age, lived in a small cottage beside a grove, standing in a dale.

An elderly widow lived in a humble cottage in a valley near a forest.

_Opening setting of the tale._

> His comb was redder than fine coral, and battlemented like a castle wall; his bill was black and shone like jet; his legs and toes were azure; his nails whiter than the lily flower; and his feathers shone like burnished gold.

Chanticleer's comb was bright red and jagged, his beak black and glossy, his legs blue, his nails white, and his feathers golden.

_Detailed description of Chanticleer's appearance._

> For ever the latter end of joy is woe; God knows that worldly joy is soon gone.

Joy always ends in sorrow; worldly happiness is fleeting.

_Moral reflection on the transience of happiness._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/chapters/the-nun-s-priest-s-tale
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/chapters