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Canterbury Tales

Contents

Context
Author
Characters
Introduction
Knights Tale
Millers Tale
Reeve's Tale
Cooks Tale
Man of Laws Tale
Wife of Baths Tale
The Friar's Tale
Summoners Tale
Clerk's Tale
Merchant's Tale
Squire's Tale
Franklin's Tale
Physician's Tale
Pardoner's Tale
Shipman's Tale
Prioress Tale
Tale of Sir Topas
Monks Tale
Nun's Priest's Tale
Second Nun's Tale
Canon Yeoman's Tale
Manciple's Tale
Parson's Sermon
Conclusion
Questions  

 


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THE MANCIPLE’S TALE

Summary
There was once a great warrior called, Phoebus, who was also a skilled musician and loved his wife more than himself.  However, he had one fault and that was extreme jealousy.  He possessed a white-feathered crow that was a great mimic and could repeat words he had only heard once.

His wife had a secret lover and she carelessly made love to him in the presence of the crow. When Phoebus returned to the house the crow told him what he had heard and seen.

Phoebus killed his wife and then plucked the crow so it was bald.  The white feathers never appeared again as they were replaced by black ones.

Before throwing the crow out, he removed the crow’s ability to sing and speak.

The Manciple ends his tale by telling people they should restrain their tongues.

 

Interpretation

The moral of the tale is that repeating a scandal is a dangerous occupation.

 

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There remains one of the company to tell a story and that is the Parson. He tells the party that he is no rhyme master and he knows of no story that would entertain or amuse.  However, he does have a sermon, which would be more appropriate if they were on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
 




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