“Comparisons of Satirical Writings- the Nun’s Priests Tale and Gulliver’s Travels”

**This is an essay I wrote for my final exam in British Literature my sophomore year at PBC**

Sometimes it is easier to release all anger and frustration by poking fun of the persons or ideals in writing. Satire is the term for this idea. A writer who is angered or frustrated or just simply picking at a person, group of persons, or an ideal composes a writing in which he makes fun of the subject. There are two tales in particular that are indeed satires written for one reason or another. They are the Nun’s Priests Tale and Gulliver’s Travels.
Both of these writings have very interesting similar literary techniques. Both of these stories are allegories- using animals or descriptions of people to illustrate ideas or other people. The difference between the two is how exactly that they use this technique. The Nun’s Priests Tale uses animals to describe types of people. Chanticleer is a rooster representing a persona of someone who is big and brooding, Pertelote represents the wise partner, and the fox represents someone who is sly and deceitful. In Gulliver’s Travels, Lilliput represents England and Blefuscu represents France. Epic simile, comparing two things that are extraordinary comparisons to be making, is also seen in both of these stories. The NPT compares people to animals. Gulliver’s Travels compares miniature people and their issues to Great Britain. Another issue of epic convention seen in both stories is the fact that both stories are told by a speaker within the story. The Priest from Canterbury Tales tells the story of Chanticleer, and Gulliver is telling the stories of his travels.
Not only are these two stories similar in literary technique, but they are also similar in their styles of satire. There are five styles of satire that one can use to describe a selection- direct, indirect, ironic, Horatian, and Juvenalian. Direct has the idea that the writer reveals in the writing the subject of the satire. Neither story, NPT or Gulliver’s Travels does this. Indirect is where the satire is communicated through characters. Both stories do this. However, is there more to it than communication through characters? Ironic satire uses exaggeration, understatement, and is indirect. Both stories exaggerate in their comparisons. Both are indirect. The glitch, the NPT seem to bring to light the issue, not mask it. The NPT explains the moral at the end of the story. Gulliver’s Travels, however, is a little more discreet about the issue, but does it really reflect it is of little importance? No. It uses grand comparisons leading to more direct light instead of belittling. The next type of satire is Horatian, poking fun for fun. Neither story is this type of satire. Lastly, Juvenalian satire is sharp, biting. It shows the anger and intensity. Both stories seem to do this. They deal with the issues by giving harsh, exaggerated comparisons. So, both stories are indirect, Juvenalian satires.
Satire can be an interesting literary technique to examine in different texts. The symbolisms and attacks used can make this a fun experiment. These two stories are excellent stories to observe to see the examples of two Juvenalian satires. Satire, a way of releasing anger, can be seen as a good laugh or a good learning experience for a future reader. NPT and Gulliver’s Travels are just two great satirical writings.