"Extreme Joy Begets Sorrow"
Epic
– A
long narrative poem, typically a recounting of history of legend or of
the deeds of a national hero (The Harper Handbook to Literature. P178).
Mock
Epic – A poem in EPIC form and
manner ludicrously elevating some trivial
subject to epic grandeur. Mock-epic poems and style are also called
mock-heroic. (The Harper Handbook to Literature. P299)”
He loketh as it were a grim leoun;
(line 359)
And on his toos he rometh
up and down
Him deyned not to sette his
foot to grounde.
He chukketh, when he hath
a corn y-founde,
And to him rennen thanne
his wybes alle.
Thus royal, as a prince is
in his halle,
*
* *
O false moedrer, lurking
in thy den! (line 406)
O new Iscariot, new Canelon!
False dissimulator, O Greek
Sinon,
That broghtest Troye al outrely
to sorwe!
O Chanticleer, acursed be
that morwe,
In
the first passage Chaucer described Chanticleer as a fierce lion and a
prince. It is an obvious style of monk epic to elevate a trivial character
Chanticleer to a heroic role fierce lion or a prince that he would never
possibly be. By doing so can the story produce the sense humor and
satire on the characters. In the second passage Chaucer compared
Chanticleer to some famous historical figures. This also reveals
the big incongruity of the real character and the false characteristics.
The Concept of Extreme Joy Begets Sorrow”
The concept can be found in many Medieval Literary works, such as Beowulf. While every knight was celebrating in Heorot, a dreadful disaster was bound to happen afterwards – the attack of Grendel. We can also find the proof in The Nun’s Priest’s Tale.