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A Short and Simple Summary of The Nightingale and the Owl.

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The Owl and the Nightingale is a twelfth- or thirteenth-century Middle English poem about a debate between an owl and a nightingale as overheard by the poem's narrator. It is the earliest example in Middle English of a literary form known as debate poetry.

Summary:

The poem consists of a fierce debate between the owl and nightingale, as overheard by an narrator. When he first happens upon them, the Nightingale sat on a blossom-covered branch, and the Owl is sitting on a bough with ivy. The Nightingale begins the argument by insulting the Owl’s physique, calling her ugly and unclean. The Owl proposes that they proceed civilly and reasonably in their debate, and the Nightingale suggests consulting Nicholas of Guildford, who is a reasonable judge. However, the Nightingale immediately goes on to shame the Owl for the shrieks she produces, and relates her active time of night with vices and hatred. The Owl says that Nightingale’s continuous noise is excessive and boring.

The Nightingale replies that the song of the Owl brings unwanted gloom, while her own reflects the beauty of the world. The Owl is quick to reply that Nightingales only sing in summer, when men’s minds are filled with lust. Furthermore, singing is the Nightingale’s only talent. The Owl has more valuable skills, like servicing churches by ridding them of rats. The Nightingale claims she too is helpful to the Church, since her songs invoke the glories of Heaven, and encourage churchgoers to be more religious. The Owl counters that before people can reach Heaven, they must repent their sins. Her mournful song makes them reconsider their decisions. She further states that the Nightingale’s gay melodies force women to adultery. It is the nature of women to be frail, the Nightingale claims, and any sins they might commit in maidenhood are forgiven once they are married. It is rather the fault of men, for taking advantage of this weakness in maidens.

The Nightingale says that Owl is of no use except when dead, since farmers use her corpse as a scarecrow. The Owl gives a positive slant to this charge by saying that she helps men even after death. This is not seen as a sufficient refutation to the Nightingale, and she calls other birds to make fun of Owl. The Owl threatens to assemble her friends, but before the tension can go further, the Wren comes to quiet the quarrel. The birds ultimately decide to put judgment of their case to Nicholas of Guildford, who lives in Dorset.

The owl and nightingale agree to find the wise man and the owl claims that her memory is so excellent that she can repeat every word of the argument when they arrive. However, the reader never learns which bird bests her opponent at the debate; the poem ends with the two flying off in search of Nicholas.