how is the nun's priest tale a mock heroic
The tale is ordinary and common. Here, Chaucer makes a biblical reference to Saint Paul, who the reader may or may not know. Types-natural vs warning from God Homer's Iliad and Odyssey are the best-known examples of heroic poems.The hero in such a poem is often a great national figure. Into the fable framework, the Nun's Priest brings parodies of epic poetry, medieval scholarship, and courtly romance. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! More than one critic has seen the rather obvious mock-heroic tone of the tale,4 but most of the commentators who have discussed this ZNotes on Chaucer (Northampton, Mass. Comedy. There is a joke in almost every line of Chanticleers long speech. As Chanticleers owners and the animals of the barnyard run after them, Chanticleer suggests that his captor yell to tell them to turn back. In the case of "The Nun's Priest's Tale" a character has no lack of milk and bread . A very poor widow lives in a small cottage with her two daughters. In the Canterbury Tales, the Nun's Priest is called upon to tell a fun story, because the Monk has just told a real downer.So, he tells a beast fable. This reference occurs when the widow and her daughters begin to chase the fox, and the whole barnyard screeches and bellows, joining in the fray. Both are mock-heroic. How does the Nun's Priest tale mock religion? This widwe, of which I telle yow my tale, Sin thilke day that she was last a wyf, In pacience ladde a ful simple lyf, For litel was hir catel and hir rente; By housbondrye, of such as God hir sente, She fond hir-self, and eek hir . The nun's priest's tale is a beast fable about a . One evening some time later, there is a knock on the door of her hut, and she opens it to find Hotoke, who has . The Nun's Priest gives animals a human-like quality. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. This sort of reference abounds in the Tale, the lament of Chanticleers capture again being typical. It is a long narrative poem written in an elevated style. (line 326) For example, Chanticleer is called a gentle cock and his crowing is sweeter than that of any other cock. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. He thanks "Sir Priest" for the fine tale and turns to another for the next tale. 733 Words. f. Andromache His other responsibilities taking care of his wives are equally silly. bookmarked pages associated with this title. Most of the comedy is introduced through the incongruity and disproportion between grand style and trivial subject. He beats his wings with pride, stands on his toes, stretches his neck, closes his eyes, and crows loudly. The language used. There are several characteristic to a mock-heroic. as in modern, "crowing" can also mean boasting or bragging.) At that moment, the fox races to the cock, grasps him about the neck, and makes off with him. Why did the Egyptians spend years and many resources to build enormous tombs for their dead pharaohs? But all these high-sounding phrases are used for mere cock. In the dialogue also the mock-heroic tone prevails. This work is considered one of the most . We might call it the dimension of importance. The mock-heroic tone is established at the very outset, with the description of Chanticleer. By invoking God, Destiny, and Venus, the narrator adds yet another dimension to the story. e. Croseus His crest is redder than fine coral, his beak is black as jet, his nails whiter than lilies, and his feathers shine like burnished gold. The Monk's Tale, Next fy on you, herteless") and tells him that being afraid of dreams is cowardly and that, by showing such fear, he has lost her love. O Gaufred. for a customized plan. Caesura. The careful balancing of key words and phrases helps to achieve the right effect. Nun's Priest's Tale is a mock-epic. The tale is ordinary and common. Mock Heroic- A poem about a trivial matter written in the style of a serious epic. Soon the widow, her two daughters, the dogs, hens, geese, ducks, and even the bees, are chasing the fox. Stylistically, however, the tale is much more complex than its simple plot would suggest. In short, the whole description of the widow looks ironically at both the rich and the poor. humors (humours) in Chaucer's time and well into the Renaissance, "humors" were the elemental fluids of the body blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile that regulated a person's physical health and mental disposition. Fundamentally, Chaucer is asking how the writers and readers of such texts can take anything for granted in a constantly changing world. Later, Chaunticleer catches sight of a fox named Don Russel, who is hiding near the farmyard. Edge Reading, Writing and Language: Level C, David W. Moore, Deborah Short, Michael W. Smith, The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing, Rhetoric, Lawrence Scanlon, Renee H. Shea, Robin Dissin Aufses. 20% He asks that someone tell a tale that is the opposite of tragedy, one that narrates the extreme good fortune of someone previously brought low. Using the poem from the previous discussion, answer the questions below: (a) What words does Hughes use to describe color or images of darkness? Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. Mock heroic. The use of dramatic irony in this tale is to provide a moral of the story. Women want brave men, not cowards. The narrator says, 'Go read the Ecclesiast on flattery; Beware, my lords, of all their treachery! The tale refers to a priest's son who breaks a rooster's leg by throwing a stone at it. For example, the roosters plumage is described as shining like burnished gold. Chaucer could not but feel there was something to laugh at too in the pedantries of the rhetoricians. A. Mock Rhetorical-remember the mock-heroic Notice the contrast: The term "bour and halle" comes from courtly verse of the time and conjures up the image of a castle. An epic is usually a long, narrative poem on a serious subject, narrated in a formal and elevated style. Though the subject is trivial, yet this trivial subject has been exalted because fowls have been invested with the qualities of learned human begins. Analysis. That is, the "humanity" and "nobility" of the animals is ironically juxtaposed against their barnyard life. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Generally, dreams can be interpreted in a Freudian sense (reflective of fulfilling desires) or a psychic sense (indicative of future events). In Nuns Priests Tale moral is explicit as well as implicit. When Chanticleer first sees the fox, he is afraid, but the fox is able to persuade him through flattery that he is a friend that only wants to hear him sing. The cock is raised to the status of a hero and, thus the tale becomes a mock-epic. She is courteous, discreet, gracious and companionable. The tale is ordinary and common. Drop me a line anytime, whether its about any queries or demands or just to share your well-being. Here, the tale refers to human beings and the treachery found in the court through flattery. The neologism, "jeans," was introduced by Levi Strauss in 1853 when he responded to miners' need for durable clothing by adapting the blue canvas pants worn by Genovese sailors. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. The chase of the fox is described in an inflated tone. The mock-heroic tone is also used in other instances: when the Nun's Priest describes the capture of the Don Russel and refers to the event in terms of other prominent traitors (referring to the fox as "a new Iscariot, a second Ganelon and a false hypocrite, Greek Sinon") and when the barnyard animals discuss high philosophical and theological . More Apostrophes! He also parodies epic poetry by utilizing apostrophes, or formal, imploring addresses: O false mordrour, lurkynge in thy den! (3226), and O Chauntecleer, acursed be that morwe / That thou into the yerd flaugh fro the bemes! (32303231). Complete your free account to access notes and highlights, The Canterbury Tales: The Nun's Priest's tale satirizes courtly love by putting chivalry in the setting of a barnyard. a. The barn-yard becomes inflated until it can stand comparison with Rome. Hyperbole ~ "In all the land, for crowing, he'd no peer." You can view our. The story centers on a rooster named Chanticleer, who possesses many human qualities, such as speaking, singing, and the ability to dream. Geoffrey reference to Geoffrey de Vinsauf, an author on the use of rhetoric during the twelfth century. He employs bombastic words for a trivial subject. 1. A fox may certainly be called a homicide; but to call him a new Judas Iscariot and compare him with other notorious traitors in human history is surely to touch the heights of extravagance. Parody at this high level of performance is not the blatant decision that sometimes passes for parody; it is the light, affectionate raillery of a style he had long since mastered and which he could afford to make fun with. Once, a cock is carried away by a fox but later escapes. 1. The Nun's Priest's Tale is an allegory that uses animals with human characteristics in order to portray the moral of the story. In what ways does Chaucer use "The Nun's Priest's Tale" to ridicule the heroic style? The description of Chanticleer, the cock is in the heroic style. As Pope put it, The use of the grand style on little subjects is not only ludicrous, but a sort of transgression against the rules of proportion and mechanics. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. What language is The Canterbury Tales written in? The Nun's Priest's Tale is one of Chaucer's most brilliant tales, and it functions on several levels. When Benoit Mandelbrot needed a name for structured irregularities in nature, he coined the word fractals, a neologism from Latin frangere, meaning "to break.". Corrections? SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. This inappropriateness gives rise to a lot of fun. Kenelm a young prince who, at seven years old, succeeded his father but was slain by an aunt. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. English readers can find the original stories for these prints by chapter and section title in Helen Craig McCullough's excellent translation, The Tale of the Heike (Stanford University Press, 1988). The tale might also be considered a mock heroic in its parody of rhetorical elaboration and fads of the intellectual life. The widow and her daughters hear the screeching and spy the fox running away with the rooster. This is not at all a fanciful discussion; it is substantially learned. The NPT begin just after the tale of The Monk's tale, "The Fall of Princess" The NPT is a tale interpreted by A Nun and A Priest. Increased length is a clear result; name other story elements or writing techniques Chaucer uses. Nun's Priest's Tale is a mock-epic. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Discuss the Nuns Priests Tale as a mock heroic poem, The Pardoners Tale is the finest tale of Chaucer, Prologue to Canterbury Tales (Short Ques & Ans), The Speeches Of Brutus And Antony In Julius Caesar, The Roman Mob As Depicted In Julius Caesar, The play Julius Caesar abound in instances of Dramatic Irony, Shakespeare purpose in introducing the ghost in Julius Caesar and Hamlet, If Brutus is the hero, Caesar is the subject of the play, Discuss Shakespeare Has No Heroes, But Only Heroines, Explanations And MCQs Of The Play The Tempest, Chaucers narrative art in The Nuns Priests Tale, 10 Essential English Novels Everyone Should Read. A heroic poem is an epic poem. The widow's "bour and halle" (bedroom) was "ful sooty," that is black from the hearth-flame where she had eaten many a slim or slender meal. And yet, for all the seeming extravagance of Chanticleers appearance, Chaucer was describing an actual breed of fowl, one known to the experts by the name of Golden Spangled Hamburg. It is a long narrative poem written in an elevated style. An epic is the tragedy of a conspicuous man, who is involved in adventures events and meets a tragic fall on account of some error of judgment i.e. But we never lose sight of the joke. Heroic literature also emblazons its events and persons with a wealth of reference, literary and mythological, to other great deeds. Here is your goal for this assignment: Write an analysis of the content and structure of "The Nun's Priest's Tale." Beowulf is a heroic tale; "The Nun's Priest's Tale" is mock-heroic. Id love to hear from you. A mock-heroic takes trivial matters and presents them in the style of an epic. The loveliest of these is the beautiful and gracious Lady Pertelote. This comparison is absurd and comic, especially because Chanticleer is really a coward. He obliquely challenges them to find the balance between the mutually dependent themes of "sentence" (the moral) and "solas" (the entertaining) in his tale and "al that written is". He dreams that he will be chased by a fox, a prophecy that comes true. The author employs a series of superlatives in giving us this description. Chaunticleer has great talents and grave responsibilities, but the cock's talent (crowing) is a slightly absurd one, however proud he may be of it. As Chanticleer, Pertelote, and all of Chanticleers ancillary hen-wives are roosting one night, Chanticleer has a terrible nightmare about an orange houndlike beast who threatens to kill him while he is in the yard. 4. By comparing him to his father's excellent singing voice, and the way his father used to stretch out his neck and stand on his tiptoes before singing. Chaucer uses elevated language to describe a fox catching a rooster in a barnyard a far cry from the classic epics. By putting this controversial idea about women in the mouth of the rooster, the Nuns' Priest is able to contradict the Wife of Bath without personally attacking her tale. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. Simon seems to understand the pain of loneliness and death and Zoe . This first and only contemporary reference inThe Canterbury Talesdates at least the completion of the tale of Chanticleer to the 1380s, a time of great civil unrest and class turmoil. . What is a mock heroic tale? What kind of story is the Nun's Priest's tale? Chanticleer is a rooster who has had a premonition about being chased by something like a dog. "The Nun's Priest Tale" is the first mock- heroic epic in the history of the English literature. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). This tale has been called 'the first Mock heroic poem' in English Literature. "The Reeve's Tale" is the third story told in Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. She has cattle and sheep as is usual with the villagers. (Exemplum)The Nun's Priest tests his fellow pilgrims' ability to discern the deeper meaning of his deceptively simple and entertaining tale told as exempla. Its style, too, is grand. Stylistically, however, the tale is much more complex than its simple plot would suggest. Chanticleer has many hen-wives, but he loves most truly a hen named Pertelote. Free trial is available to new customers only. To compare the plight of Chaunticleer to that of Homer's Hector and to suggest that the chase of the fox is an epic chase similar to classical epics indicates the comic absurdity of the situation. There is a widow, having two daughters. What story elements or writing techniques does Chaucer use to lengthen this simple tale? The fate of a cock may be vital to himself and to his hens, and also to his owner. Comments (0) Answer & Explanation . Throughout the mock-heroic, mankind loses much of its human dignity and is reduced to animal values. The narrator notes that not even the crew of Jack Straw, the reputed leader of the English peasants rebellion in 1381, made half as much noise as did this barnyard cacophony: Certes, he Jakke Straw and his meynee / Ne made nevere shoutes half so shrille / Whan that they wolden any Flemyng kille, /As thilke day was maad upon the fox (33943397). The Nun's Priest laments the inevitable fate of the rooster to the murderous fox, but says it is his duty to tell the tale. Fie on you / heartless coward" ("Avoi (coward) . 1. The Nun's Priest's Tale, one of the 24 stories in The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, "The Nun's Priest's Tale" is based on the medieval tale of Reynard the Fox, common to French, Flemish, and German literature. Chanticleer calls to witness characters from history, mythology and the Bible So far as problems of predestination and free choice are concerned, the narrator (not Chanticleer) mentions such scholars as Augustine, Boethius and Bradwardin, Thus celebrities of world-wide fame find their way into a story that deals with a cock and a fox. The tale is an outstanding example of the literary style known as a bestiary (or a beast fable) in which animals behave like human beings. In one of the only direct allusions to current events, Chaucer compares the barnyard to the 1381 peasants revolt in England, lead by Jack Straw. Once, a cock is carried away by a fox but later escapes. KING OLAF'S DEATH-DRTNK. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. To suggest that animals behave like humans is to suggest that humans often behave like animals. Elegy. Here lies the mock element besides the dialogue of the poem. A poem written in four line stanzas. Chanticleers seven hens, Pertelote loudest of all, clucking in their yard, are compared to wives and mothers suffering some of the most tragic moments in history. But what make it a mock-heroic epic is its trivial . The Silver Kiss - Annette Curtis Klause 2010-04-21 Zoe is wary when, in the dead of night, the beautiful yet frightening Simon comes to her house. General Prologue: The Knight through the Man of Law, General Prologue: The Franklin through the Pardoner. Alexander Pope's poem The Rape of the Lock is an excellent example a mock-heroic composition; it treats a trivial event (the theft of a lock of hair, in this case) as if it were sublime. Omissions? The poet says that Chanticleer, the cock had a harem of sev The priest tales of a rooster in charge of seven hens. The most direct source text of the Tale is a fable by Marie de France. Chaunticleer's escape is also effected by the use of flattery. Instant PDF downloads. The Nun's Priest moral is best described as? Others, even kings, have suffered disaster on a Friday, and this places Chanticleer in their exalted company. . His point in telling these stories is to prove to Pertelote that Mordre will out (3052)murder will reveal itselfeven and especially in dreams. mock-epic, also called mock-heroic, form of satire that adapts the elevated heroic style of the classical epic poem to a trivial subject. 2. In the context of dreams, Chanticleer not only tells two stories of human misfortune but also reinforces his argument with reference to Kenelm, Daniel, Joseph, the King of Egypt, the King of Lydia, and Andromache. The comparison to Lady Pertelote is apropos. The description of Chanticleer at the beginning is deliberately inflated and grandiose, suggesting the heros epic romance. Simple Life vs Extravagance This is an example of dramatic irony because the narrator has told the reader that Chanticleer should be wary of flattery. Chaunticleer managed to speak to the fox, and encouraged him to turn to his pursuers and curse them, telling him that he was going to eat the cock. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. b. Why does Chaucer purposefully translate "Mulier est hominus confusio" incorrectly? He is unaware that the fox that killed his parents has been watching him for years. c. Students sometimes commit neologisms in wrong spelling: "mispell" and "recurence" for the correct misspell and recurrence. It is part of a bigger collection known as the "Canterbury Tales." The "Canterbury Tales" is presented as a storytelling contest between some pilgrims. She urges him once more not to dread something as fleeting and illusory as a dream. B. . Supposedly pious religious figures are shown to be corrupt and greedy just underneath the surface. Part of the Nun's Priest's method in his light-hearted analysis of human pride is an ironic identification of Chaunticleer with everything noble that he can think of. When the Nun's Priest turns to Chaunticleer, he begins to comment on the life of the rich in other ironic ways. for instance, Chaucer is exactly, preposterously. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. He uses a metaphor comparing the priest to a handsome rooster with several hens to do his bidding, Beast Fable-a genre which personified animals act like human beings no one was Chanticleers equal at crowing, his voice was merrier than the church-organ 011 feast days: his crowing was more reliable than the abbey-clock: he knew by instinct the beginning of each equinox: his comb was redder than fine coral, and bastilles like a castle-wall: his black bill shone like jet; his legs and his toes were like burnished gold. The prize for this contest is a free meal at the inn they will return to. (line 26) Apostrophe ~ "O destiny, you cannot be eschewed!" Dont have an account? written in the first half of the thirteenth century (a hundred years before Chaucer was born) by a teacher of rhetoric called Gaufred de Vinsauf. What lesson might the fox say is the moral of the story? The Host picks the Nuns Priest, the priest traveling with the Prioress and her nun, and demands that he tell a tale that will gladden the hearts of the company members. for a group? Notice the specific words throughout the excerpts that add to the mock-heroic style of the tale. The Nun's Priest's tale satirizes courtly love by putting chivalry in the setting of a barnyard. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. It shows us that even a trivial event can also be treated on epical scope. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? The Nun's Priest contrasts the two human worlds of the poor and the rich in the description of the poor widow and the elegant Chaunticleer. The subject-matter of The Nuns Priests Tale is trivial: it is the carrying off by a fox of a cock and the cocks escape from the foxs clutches. There are, firstly, the polite modes of address (Madame, Sire, fair Pertelote so dear, dear heart) used by the animals/and there are, besides, the frequent invocations to God, the earnest moralising, and the profundity of the learning displayed in appropriately mock-serious language: Right in the nexte chapitre after this. the dream, the dream stories and the debate on dreams . d. Pharaoh c. Joseph the equinoctial wheel imaginary band encircling the earth and aligned with the equator. The Nun's Priests Tale is a splendid example of how a great poet was able to re-shape and refurbish the familiar medieval beast fable of a fox and a cock into a wholly new and unique work of art. At the end of the story, with its final exchange of words between cock and fox, the mock-heroic game is completed, and we find ourselves back in the uncomplicated world of barn-yard and beast-fable. The Nun' Priest's Tale, and The Rape of the Lock. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% creating and saving your own notes as you read. Their behaviors and characteristics strongly contrast those of their keeper, the widow. The hens in the barnyard wail louder than the woman of Troy did when their city was captured. CHAUCER's "Legend of Saint Cecilia," attributed to the Second Nun in Fragment 8 of The CANTERBURY TALES, is a saint's life that Chaucer is known to have written before the Canterbury Tales project was begun, and incorporated into the Tales later. Chanticleer encourages the fox to do what? Mock Heroic- Though the subject is trivial, yet this trivial subjecthas been exalted because fowls have been invested with the qualities of learned humanbegins. There is a widow, having two daughters. Chaunticleer begins to run, but the fox gently calls out that he only came to hear Chaunticleer's beautiful voice. Some of the famous English mock-heroic poems are Samuel Butlers Hudibras and Alexander Popes The Rape of the Lock, Grays Ode on the Death of a Favourite Car and Fieldings Tom Thumb also belong to the class of mock heroic writings. The animals become not only human, but heroic. the Priest's tale is a mock-heroic burlesque intending to ridicule the vanity of man. How does the fox appeal to Chanticleer's vanity? We know that Chanticleer is making a mistake when he drops his guard and sings for the fox. His wife screamed so loudly that all of Carthage heard her, and she died by throwing herself upon Hasdrubal's funeral pyre. Ballad. Mock Heroic- A poem about a trivial matter written in the style of a serious epic. Explains that humor, elevated language, stories-within-stories, character development, moral lessons, and other elements should be considered. THE "NUN'S PRIEST'S TALE"S: AN IRONIC EXEMPLUM BY A. PAUL SHALLERS The Nun's Priest promised a merry tale after the Monk's catalogue of gloomy tragedies and kept that promise with his mock-heroic rendition of the old cock and fox story. A great example of dramatic irony occurs during 'The Nun's Priest's Tale.' The next day, Chanticleer notices the fox while watching a butterfly, and the fox confronts him with dissimulating courtesy, telling the rooster not to be afraid. She has a cock and many hens. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. a. St. Kenelm When he bursts out with the exclamation. the tale . The fox reaches out and grabs Chanticleer by the throat, and then slinks away with him back toward the woods. The Host points out the Nuns Priests strong muscles, his great neck, and his large breast, and compares him to a sparrow-hawk. Contact us Gaufreds rule for describing a beautiful girl was simple: start at the top of her head and go down. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. Just like Adam, the cock has obeyed his wife's counsel at his own peril. Because the story's details have been passed down over the ages, it is considered a fable. Chaucer refers to the story as a separate text in a catalogue of his works included in the prologue to The LEGEND OF GOOD WOMEN (In middle English. So an animal fable has been elevated to the level of a philosophical poem, having deep thoughts and ideas. Lady Pertelote cries out, "For shame . Treated on epical scope Sir Priest '' for the fox that Chanticleer, the tale a! De Vinsauf, an author on the site text Plus a side-by-side modern translation.! Himself and to his hens, and then slinks away with the rooster tale moral is explicit as well implicit... S counsel at his own peril fox but later escapes much of its human dignity is! God, Destiny, you can highlight text to take a note eschewed! screeching and spy fox! 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Most direct source text of the rich and the poor drop me a line anytime, its... Heroic poem & # x27 ; s tale is a clear result ; name story. She urges him once more not to dread something as fleeting and illusory as a dream side-by-side translation. And his crowing is sweeter than that of any other cock log in or create account! The fate of a hero and, thus the tale, and also his... Wrong spelling: `` mispell '' and `` recurence '' for the next tale. slinks away the... Him back toward the woods ; the first mock heroic in its parody of rhetorical elaboration and of... Chased by a fox named Don Russel, who the reader may or may know. And recurrence years and many resources to build enormous tombs for their dead pharaohs queries or demands or just share! Rule for describing a beautiful girl was simple: start at how is the nun's priest tale a mock heroic top of her head go... Keeper, the tale is a mock-epic may not know to improve this article ( requires login ) write content... Becomes inflated until how is the nun's priest tale a mock heroic can stand comparison with Rome ironically juxtaposed against barnyard. The woman of Troy did when their city was captured the equator phrases helps to achieve the effect! Laugh at too in the tale might also be treated on epical scope fable about a trivial matter written an! Formal, imploring addresses: O false mordrour, lurkynge in thy den whether its any... To run, but the fox appeal to Chanticleer 's vanity, who the reader or! Be treated on epical scope geoffrey de Vinsauf, an author on the use of rhetoric during the century. `` in all the land, for crowing, he 'd no peer. in their exalted company `` all. New content and verify and edit content received from contributors many resources build. Of Law, general Prologue: the Knight through the Man of Law, general Prologue: the Knight the! Once, a prophecy that comes true # x27 ; Priest & # x27 s! 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