Chaucer’s Use of Humour in Story, Character, Morality, Society, and Culture

Assignment Brief

Write on one of the following (3000 Words):

1. What does Chaucer’s poetry imply about the relations between language, narrative, and life?

2.  Is Chaucer a morally didactic or morally subversive poet?

3.  Write an essay on Chaucer’s construction and use of the narrator in two of his dream-vision poems.

4.  Is Troilus and Criseyde a serious tragedy or parody of the genre? 

5. Discuss the treatment of auctoritee in Chaucer’s poetry. 

6. What is the function of humour in Chaucer’s poetry?

Sample Answer

The Function of Humour in Chaucer’s Poetry (6)

Introduction

Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343–1400) is often celebrated as England’s first great poet, but essential to his lasting appeal is his use of humour. This essay argues that humour in Chaucer’s poetry is not merely decorative; it serves several vital functions: social commentary, character development, narrative tension, and moral reflection. By exploring examples from The Canterbury Tales,such as the Miller’s Tale, the Wife of Bath’s Prologue, and the Nun’s Priest’s Tale,we can see how Chaucer wields humour to challenge social hierarchies, expose hypocrisy, and engage readers in deeper moral and cultural questions. This essay concludes that Chaucer’s humour is purposeful, layered, and essential to his poetic vision.

1. Social Commentary Through Humour 

1.1 Exposing Social Hypocrisy

In the Miller’s Tale, Chaucer tells the story of a miller’s apprentice, Nicholas, who tricks the carpenter John. The farcical plot,complete with mock astrology and a glowing buttocks,exposes gullibility, pride, and lust. Chaucer uses bawdy jokes to satirise the stereotypes of the times, targeting those who claim to be learned or pious.

1.2 Critiquing Gender Norms

The Wife of Bath’s Prologue diverges into humorous personal anecdotes,five marriages, weaving skills, and controlling husbands,to lampoon medieval views on marriage and female authority. Her humour challenges accepted social norms and invites the reader to question who truly holds power.

1.3 Mocking Literary and Moral Authority

In the Nun’s Priest’s Tale, a proud rooster, Chauntecleer, is tricked by a cunning fox. Chaucer pokes fun at scholarly allegory while still conveying serious moral lessons. His playful mockery allows readers to reflect on leadership and pride without the weight of moralising sermonising.

2. Characterisation and Narrator Engagement (Approx. 600 words)

2.1 Distinctive Narrative Voices

Chaucer employs humour to define each narrator’s social standing and personality. The bawdy, colloquial Miller is very different from the pious Parson, and their tales reflect their outlook. This enhances reader engagement and underscores the diversity of medieval society.

2.2 Emphasis Through Understatement and Surprise

In the Summoner’s Tale, Chaucer narrates a friar getting a fart in his face as a “gift.” The straightforward, deadpan description and sudden shock create comic effect and underscore themes of hypocrisy in the Church.

3. Humour as a Storytelling Device (Approx. 600 words)

3.1 Buildup-and-Payoff Structure

Chaucer often builds comedic tension through outrageous proposals or mistakes which are then resolved in a surprising or ironic way. For example, in the Miller’s Tale, the serious rejection of John’s astrological prediction is undercut by the absurdity of his ordeal following a supposed flood.

3.2 Irony and Structural Punchlines

In the Reeve’s Tale, the Reeve tells a revenge story featuring infidelity. The irony lies in the Reeve’s boast that he’s never been cheated,but his tale features one of the funniest cuckoldings in medieval literature. This twist both entertains and reveals deeper social anxieties about honour.

4. Moral Reflection Through Laughter (Approx. 600 words)

4.1 Humour as Moral Mirror

By making readers laugh at human folly, Chaucer encourages reflection. In the Merchant’s Tale, January marries young May. Their naïve relationship and her betrayal,served with comedic detail,allow the reader to contemplate issues of trust, age, and desire.

4.2 Avoiding Moralising Tone

Chaucer refrains from preaching. Instead, he uses humour,slapstick, irony, and exaggeration,to allow readers to arrive at their own moral conclusions, which is more powerful and open-ended than straightforward sermons.

Continued...