The Canterbury Tales Lesson Plan

How seriously is the tale meant to be taken? How is it a beast fable and how is it something more serious?

The teller repeatedly suggests that these are "just the words of a cock," or takes controversial opinions about women and puts them in Chanticleer's mouth. These animals are very learned, quoting several human authorities on dreams and versed in the Bible. This gives their argument a certain weight for us human readers, but also adds to the ridiculousness of the merry tale. There is a cock who is an expert in astrology, but how else would he be able to tell the dawn with such precision? And the argument between Chanticleer and Pertelote, even her concerns about his...