The Second Nun’s Tale

Please answer question 2

1. How is St Cecelie characterized? How does she compare to other female characters we have looked at. Compare her especially to Constance in the MLT.

2. How does the Second Nun’s Tale “quite” the tales before it? What echoes do you find of other tales? Look especially at lines 519-546. How does the Second Nun’s Tale respond to the Prioress’s Tale? What echoes do you find? How do their prologues compare? How does the Virgin Mary figure in both tales?

3. What is the importance of “bisynesse” in the Tale?

4. Could we classify this tale as part of the “Marriage Group?” How is marriage regarded in the tale? How does it compare to other discussions of marriage?