In the following essay, Lumiansky contends that "The Nun's Priest's Tale" reveals the Nun's Priest to be "frail, timid, and humble."

Among the best liked and most widely known sections of The Canterbury Tales is the Nun's Priest's story of the regal Chanticleer and the lovely Dame Pertelote. For a long time critics have realized that this tale skilfully reflects facets of its teller's character, but only recently have detailed attempts been made to suggest just what sort of person Chaucer intended his audience to visualize as the Nun's Priest. Since Chaucer did not include in the "General Prologue" a portrait of this Pilgrim, whatever view one takes of the Nun's Priest must be based on the comments to and about him by the Host, on his own short comment to the Host, on the Narrator's brief remark about him, and on the superb tale which he...