Laughter in the 'Second Nun's Tale': A Redefinition of the Genre

Author / Editor
Eggebroten, Anne.

Title
Laughter in the 'Second Nun's Tale': A Redefinition of the Genre

Published
Chaucer Review 19 (1984): 53-61.

Description
Response to saints' legends is normally sober, but "Legenda Aurea," Chaucer's source for SNT, exhibits flashes of humor. In a reading of SNT that accepts the natural response of laughter, Valerian, Tiburce, and Almachius are seen to play the fool, thus setting into new perspective the perfection of Cecilia.

Chaucer Subjects
Second Nun and Her Tale.