What, if anything, is shared by the three story-tellers in the tale -i.e. the cock, the priest and the poet? (MEG 101 CHAUCER)

 

In "The Nun's Priest's Tale," the three storytellers share a few common themes and motifs. One of the most prominent themes is the importance of dreams and their interpretations. The cock, Chanticleer, has a dream that he interprets to mean he will be attacked by a fox, and the priest engages in a long debate with the poet about the validity of dream interpretation. Another common theme is the idea of flattery and deceit, as the fox tricks Chanticleer with flattery before trying to catch him. The priest also comments on the deceptive nature of flattery.

Additionally, all three storytellers display a certain degree of irony in their narratives. The cock's proud, boastful nature ultimately leads to his downfall, the priest's use of irony to mock women ends up being turned against him, and the poet's elaborate dream interpretation is ultimately revealed to be false. Overall, the three story-tellers in the tale share a concern for the dangers of deception and the importance of recognizing the true nature of things, whether through dreams or other means.