King John and the Abbot of Canterbury

-          Anonymous, England (before 1695)

I. Literal Comprehension

            Context: This poem is written by an unknown English poet in the seventeenth century. He has told a story of King John and the Abbot of Canterbury in this poem.

            Feeling    threatened by the way of the Abbot’s house-keeping, King John called him to his palace and asked him three difficult questions. The abbot would be killed if he couldn’t answer them. The questions were:   How much did king John worth? How quickly might he travel around the earth? and what did he think?

            The abbot couldn’t answer the questions immediately, so he asked the king for a fortnight’s time. Then, he went to Cambridge and Oxford universities where he met scholars. But they couldn’t answer the king’s questions. The abbot returned home when just three days were left before the king’s deadline. His shepherd knew about his discomfort. Taking the Abbot’s permission, the shepherd disguised himself as the abbot and went to the king’s palace. When the king asked him the first question again, he answered that Jesus Christ was betrayed by one of his disciples for thirty pence, so the king was worth one penny less. The king became happy because only Christ was better than him. Answering the second question, the shepherd said that the king could travel around world in 24 hours if he started with the sunrise at the same speed. Lastly, he said that the king thought he was the Abbot of Canterbury, but actually he was the abbot’s shepherd. Then, he asked for the king’s forgiveness for himself and his master. The king became so happy that he wanted to place the shepherd in the abbot’s position, but he denied the offer as he was illiterate. Then, the king offered him four nobles a week. He also pardoned the shepherd and his master.  

II. Interpretation

This poem might be trying to tell us that practical knowledge or experience is more important than bookish knowledge. The abbot goes to Cambridge and Oxford universities to meet the scholars with the hope that they will suggest him answers for the king’s puzzle, but they are unable to help him. Finally, his own shepherd who is illiterate easily solves his problem. So, this poem is an irony to the bookworms who don’t have any practical knowledge. This poem might also be trying to tell us that powerful people are always happy with flattery. The shepherd disguised as the Abbot of Canterbury placed king John just a step below God and above all the other human beings while answering the question about his worth. So, the king became happy with him.

III. Critical Thinking

The story narrated in the form of a musical poem is very amusing, but is this king of event possible to happen in the reality? I don’t think it is. Was the king so foolish that he couldn’t recognize the shepherd and took him as the abbot? Moreover, this poem has tried to mislead the readers with the idea that ‘a fool may teach a wise man’. If it is so, why does the shepherd decline at last from the king’s proposal for making him the Abbot of Canterbury saying that he cannot read and write? It means literacy or education is always superior to ignorance.

IV. Assimilation

We mustn’t be bookish and impractical while trying to be educated. Formal education or university education may be valuable in a way, but we always need practical mind to deal with everyday troubles. Therefore, we must never underestimate anybody. Even a person who is subordinate to us may help us in a time of need.