The Canterbury Tales
by Geoffrey Chaucer
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Plot Summary
- Cast of Characters
- An Analysis of Major Characters
- Symbols and Themes
-
Summary and Analysis
- The General Prologue
- The Knight's Tale
- The Miller's Tale
- The Reeve's Tale
- The Cook's Tale
- The Man of Law's Tale
- The Wife of Bath's Tale
- The Friar's Tale
- The Summoner's Tale
- The Clerk's Tale
- The Merchant's Tale
- The Squire's Tale
- The Franklin's Tale
- The Physician's Tale
- The Pardoner's Tale
- The Shipman's Tale
- The Prioress' Tale
- The Tale of Sir Topas
- The Tale of Melibee
- The Monk's Tale
- The Nun's Priest's Tale
- The Second Nun's Tale
- The Canon Yeoman's Prologue and Tale
- The Manciple's Prologue and Tale
- The Parson's Tale
- Chaucer's Retraction
- Significant Quotations
- Key Facts
- Points to Ponder
- Discussion Questions
- Take The Quiz
- Further Reading
- Flashcards
- Biography of Geoffrey Chaucer
The Second Nun's Tale
The Second Nun’s tale revolves around a lady named Cecilia. Therefore, in her prologue the Second Nun explains the name Cecilia. She also talks about idleness and the Virgin Mary. In her tale, a young noblewoman named Cecilia wants to remain a virgin and dedicate her life to the Virgin Mary. However, she marries a man named Valerian. Wishing to remain a virgin, she tells Valerian that she has a guardian angel who will kill anyone who violates her body. Valerian wants to see the guardian angel, but she tells him that in order to see the guardian angel, he must be baptized. Valerian is baptized by Pope Urban. He does see Cecelia’s guardian angel, and he asks the guardian angel to ensure that his brother, Tiburse, be baptized. Valerian respects his wife’s wishes to remain a virgin, but not everyone is supportive of Cecilia’s wish to dedicate her life to the Virgin Mary. Almachius, a pagan, arrests Cecilia. At her trial, Cecilia is subjected to torture, including being submerged in scalding water and attempts to cut off her head. Cecilia survives these attempts, which causes a number of pagans to convert to Christianity. After her death, Pope Urban names her a saint.
The Second Nun’s tale was characteristic of a story that would have been told by a nun during that time period. It focused on the Virgin Mary, chastity, and a woman who was canonized because of her desire to devote her life to the Virgin Mary. The story serves as a reminder that choosing to become a nun was actually a difficult choice during that time period, as there were significant societal barriers to choosing a life of chastity. At the same time, virgins were highly esteemed.
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