Pertelote is Much More Than a Mere Hen: How Far Do You Agree With This?
"Pertelote is much more than a mere hen" how far do you agree with this?
I feel that this comment is extremely justified. Chaucer with the use of a beast fable has helped to elevate what would be considered a conventionally boring set of animals, and turn them into portrayals of human beings. As a cock he may have came from the same batch of eggs as his hens, but as poultry it would not matter whether chauntecleer mates with his sisters. However some critics suggest the introduction of the human concept of love, allows Chaucer to make an indiscriminate joke about the behaviour of chickens and the impropriety of such behaviour among people. This suggests that the farmyard is a microcosm of society, which leaves in no doubt that Pertelote must be much more than a mere hen.
Such words as 'gentil', 'governaunce', 'plesaunce', 'paramours' and the description of Pertelote are appropriate to a romance description of aristocratic lords and ladies. This introduces the theme of courtly love as Chauntecleer and Pertelote behave as noble lovers, whose formality of address and behaviour towards each other demonstrates the nobility of their love. However the narrator does not let the readers forget that his characters are birds.
This liberal humanist approach means Chaucer is able to satirise human qualities with the elevated style of description to the appearance and behaviour of poultry therefore he creates humour. Some critics suggest the device of talking birds and animals is a familiar one in such fables but in the Nun's Priests tale the power of human speech seems to arise naturally from the details of the descriptions. The other main aspects are the contrast between colourful and gracious portraits of Pertelote and the 'povre wydwe'.
Parallels between the characters are important in the Nun's priest Tale, and Pertelote's similarity to and juxtaposition to the characters is vital to the understanding of her role. Her juxtaposition with the widow helps to emphasise the
I feel that this comment is extremely justified. Chaucer with the use of a beast fable has helped to elevate what would be considered a conventionally boring set of animals, and turn them into portrayals of human beings. As a cock he may have came from the same batch of eggs as his hens, but as poultry it would not matter whether chauntecleer mates with his sisters. However some critics suggest the introduction of the human concept of love, allows Chaucer to make an indiscriminate joke about the behaviour of chickens and the impropriety of such behaviour among people. This suggests that the farmyard is a microcosm of society, which leaves in no doubt that Pertelote must be much more than a mere hen.
Such words as 'gentil', 'governaunce', 'plesaunce', 'paramours' and the description of Pertelote are appropriate to a romance description of aristocratic lords and ladies. This introduces the theme of courtly love as Chauntecleer and Pertelote behave as noble lovers, whose formality of address and behaviour towards each other demonstrates the nobility of their love. However the narrator does not let the readers forget that his characters are birds.
This liberal humanist approach means Chaucer is able to satirise human qualities with the elevated style of description to the appearance and behaviour of poultry therefore he creates humour. Some critics suggest the device of talking birds and animals is a familiar one in such fables but in the Nun's Priests tale the power of human speech seems to arise naturally from the details of the descriptions. The other main aspects are the contrast between colourful and gracious portraits of Pertelote and the 'povre wydwe'.
Parallels between the characters are important in the Nun's priest Tale, and Pertelote's similarity to and juxtaposition to the characters is vital to the understanding of her role. Her juxtaposition with the widow helps to emphasise the