The 'Murie Tale of Chauntecleer'

Abstract

The amusing tale of the vain cock and .the deceitful fox is narrated by one of the 'Preeste thre' in the General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales. Chaucer gives us no further information about this character. The only thing we learn about him at this stage is that he is accompanying the Prioress on the pilgrimage to Canterbury. Yet he comes to life when the Host turns to "This sweete preest, this goodly man, Sir John" and urges him to narrate a merry tale that would cheer up the whole company of pilgrims. Chaucer's vivid account of the cock's adventure is a fine piece of mock-heroic writing as he treats a trivial subject in the heroic manner which is usually reserved for epic poetry to enhance the qualities and achievements of heroes. However, mock-heroic is not intended to praise but to ridicule and in the process of doing so it gives rise to comedy. The humour 'results from the incongruity that exists between a subject matter that as so common place and a style that is so grand. A farmyard is an unlikely place for such a lofty form of expression! Yet this is the domain where the princelike hero, Chauntecleer, exercises his "governaunce".