HUMOR AND SATIRE
King John and the Abbot of Canterbury

Summary

The poem ‘King John and the Abbot of Canterbury’ is very famous but the poet is anonymous. This poem gives the moral lesson to some extended based on the biblical references. The poem is composed on the setting of England. It is also based on the ancient story of England. There was a king in England who did not like to see the people’s progress and satisfaction. The king heard about Abbot of Canterbury who was living a prosperous and happy life. The king thought if he became richer and more popular, one day there would have problem in his kingdom. The abbot might capture the throne. Then the king sent his soldier to call him to palace. After the meeting in the palace, the king John accused him that he was plotting against the king but the abbot did not accept the accusation then the king said to him to answer his three questions then he leaves him free otherwise he will be killed. The king asked the Abbot three questions which were very difficult that he would get the chance to murder the Abbot because the Abbot would not have answered the question properly. Then the king asked the three difficult questions to Abbot:

What was the worth of the king among his noblemen?
In what time he could ride around the whole world?
What was he thinking at that time?

The Abbot became very tensed and first of thinking that the scholars of Oxford and Cambridge would help him to answer those questions. The scholars of the world famous universities could not answer those questions. He became hopeless and went to the other old and senior people but the result came as frustrating and negative. He struggle for 11 days to get the answer in consulting with the scholars, seniors and other probable people but in a hopeless mood he returned his house on 12th day. When leaving the hope of life, he shares everything with his shepherd. His shepherd responded him that he knows the answer of these questions though he was illiterate and stupid. Then he consoles his master and disguised as the Abbot and went to the palace. The king asked him what his worth was. The Abbot replied that his price was 29 pence. The abbot explained that Jesus the savior was sold for 30 pence so that he is little worse than the Christ. The Abbot replied to the second question that it takes 24 hours to the king to round the whole world. Then the king asked what was he thinking at that time? The Abbot replied that the king was thinking the man who is answering the question is Abbot but he is not Abbot just a poor shepherd of the sheep. Everyone was surprised and pleased with his answer then the king offered him what he wanted to get but the shepherd request him to pardon his Abbot then the king pardon him.
Business English
B.B.S First Year