The Canterbury Tales: The Second Nun's Tale Symbolism, Imagery & Allegory

When Cecilia's angel places the crowns of roses and lilies on Cecilia and Valerian's heads, he tells them, "With body clene and with unwemmed thoght / Kepeth ay wel thise corones" (225-226). Then h...

When Valerian travels to Pope Urban to receive Baptism, an old man holding a beautiful book appears to him. These letters spell out the Christian God's sovereignty, to which Valerian must assent be...

Cecilia has an angel who "kepes" her body, and whom she claims will kill Valerian if he attempts to have sex with her, but "will loven yow as me" if Valerian loves her with pure, un-physical love....

Where to begin? The sense of vision and sight is such an important symbol in "The Second Nun's Tale," it's hard to connect it to just one thing – so we'll connect it to several. First of all,...