"The Owl and the Nightingale" is a popular medieval English poem written probably in the 13th century and the authorship of which is still doubtful. It consists of a long argument between the nightingale, representing the lighter joys of life, and the owl, standing for wisdom and soberiety. It is composed of approximately 2000 lines of verse in rhymed, octosyllabic couplets, this allegorical and didactic poem is usually ascribed to Master Nicholas of Guildford, about whom little is known.

          It is the earliest example in Middle English of a literary form known as debate poetry. The Nightingale opens the debate, insulting the Owl as a creature of the night, a bird that loves the dark and hence is evil. After the Owl's successful answer, she accuses the latter of singing only of woe.

               The poem has been interpreted as allegorically symbolising the antagonism between pleasure and asceticism, gaity and gravity, art and philosophy, the minstrel and the preacher - all represented by the nightingale and the owl respectively.The debate is inconclusive, the birds leaving to consult the mysterious Nicholas of Guildford, perhaps the poet's patron, for an answer to their quarrel. The poem thus, ends with the prospect of reconciliation. It combines the characteristics of burlesque comedy, parody, traditional beast fables and popular verse satire.

             The poem is essentially English in inspiration and tone. Its charm lies in its naturalness and freshness and the liveliness with which the birds fend off their accusations against each other. They are verh human in their emotions and their reasoning, yet they never cease to be birds, each exhibiting the traits commonly associated with their species.