The Canterbury Tales | The Miller's Tale Summary & Analysis | Geoffrey Chaucer

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29 Nov 201703:05

Summary

TLDRIn 'The Miller's Tale' from Chaucer's 'The Canterbury Tales,' the story humorously revolves around a carpenter, his young wife Alison, and two suitors, Nicolas and Absalon. Nicolas deceives the carpenter with a fake flood prophecy, leading to a series of comical misunderstandings and tricks. The tale is a fabliau, highlighting social class contrasts and dramatic irony, culminating in a chaotic and comical climax that leaves readers questioning the morality and humor of the situation.

Takeaways

📜 The Miller's Tale is one of the stories in Geoffrey Chaucer's 'The Canterbury Tales', known for its humor and satire.
🍻 The story is introduced by Harry Bailey, who notes that the Miller, being drunk, might tell a tale that could be offensive to some.
🏠 It revolves around a carpenter named John, his wife Alison, and a lodger named Nicholas.
🎓 Nicholas is a student who is clever and charming, and he makes advances towards Alison, who agrees to meet him later.
💘 Another character, Absalon, a young parish clerk, also desires Alison and tries to win her love with gifts.
🌊 A key plot device is Nicholas's fake prophecy of a flood, which he uses to trick John into preparing for a non-existent disaster.
🤓 Nicholas and Alison use the flood ruse to secretly meet for an affair, while John is asleep in a tub.
🔥 Absalon, seeking a kiss from Alison, is tricked into kissing her behind, and later tries to get revenge with a hot iron.
😱 The plan goes awry when Nicholas is branded with the hot iron, and the noise wakes John, causing chaos.
🎭 The tale is an example of fabliau, a genre characterized by humorous and often bawdy stories that play with social norms.
🤔 The story uses dramatic irony, where the audience knows more than the characters, to heighten the comedic effect.
🤔 The tale ends with a twist that leaves readers questioning the morality of the characters and the humor of the situation.

Q & A

What is the setting of 'The Miller's Tale' in 'The Canterbury Tales'?
-The setting is within the context of a storytelling competition among a group of pilgrims on a journey to Canterbury.
Who initiates the storytelling turn in 'The Miller's Tale'?
-Harry Bailey, the innkeeper, initiates the storytelling turn by indicating it is the monk's turn, but the Miller interrupts and insists on telling his story.
What kind of story does the Miller claim to have?
-The Miller claims to have a story about a carpenter's wife, which is a tale that contrasts with the moral and virtuous themes of the Knight's Tale.
What is the profession of the main character in 'The Miller's Tale'?
-The main character is an old carpenter named John.
Who are the two young men that compete for Alison's love in the story?
-The two young men are a student named Nicolas and a young parish clerk named Absalon.
What is the elaborate plan devised by Nicolas and Alison in the story?
-Nicolas and Alison devise a plan where Nicolas pretends to have a biblical revelation about a flood, advising to hang tubs with provisions from the ceiling to float away during the flood.
How does Absalon attempt to win Alison's love?
-Absalon attempts to win Alison's love by offering gifts and hoping to get a kiss from her through the window.
What trick does Alison play on Absalon when he comes to the window for a kiss?
-In the dark, Alison tricks Absalon by sticking out her naked behind instead of her face, leading him to unknowingly kiss her behind.
What is the dramatic irony in 'The Miller's Tale'?
-The dramatic irony lies in the fact that the reader is aware of Alison and Nicolas's plan for an affair, which the carpenter is oblivious to.
What is the outcome of the trick played on Absalon, and how does it affect the story?
-The outcome of the trick is that Absalon, enraged, returns with a hot iron intending to mark Alison, but instead, Nicolas is branded by the hot iron when he unknowingly plays along with the trick.
How does the tale end, and what is the reader's reaction to it?
-The tale ends with the carpenter's tub crashing through the house due to the commotion, revealing the deception. The reader's reaction is mixed, with some finding humor in the situation while others may feel sympathy for the carpenter, questioning the morality of the joke.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to 'The Miller's Tale'

The paragraph introduces 'The Miller's Tale' from Chaucer's 'The Canterbury Tales'. It sets the scene at the inn where the tales are being told. The Miller, despite being drunk, insists on telling a story that might not align with the moral standards of the gentlefolk. The story revolves around a carpenter named John, his wife Alison, a student lodger named Nicolas, and a young parish clerk named Absalon. It foreshadows a tale of trickery and humor, contrasting with the moral and virtuous themes of the 'Knight's Tale'.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡The Miller's Tale

The Miller's Tale is one of the stories within Geoffrey Chaucer's collection, The Canterbury Tales. It is known for its bawdy humor and satirical take on the more serious and moralistic tales that precede it. In the video, this tale is highlighted as a contrast to the Knight's Tale, showcasing a more ribald and comedic approach to storytelling.

💡Fabliau

Fabliau refers to a genre of short, humorous medieval narratives that often feature tricksters and sexual shenanigans. The Miller's Tale is described as an example of fabliau in the video, emphasizing its focus on outlandish tricks and the temporary suspension of normal moral codes, as seen in the elaborate plan between Nicolas and Alison.

💡Harry Bailey

Harry Bailey is the innkeeper who organizes the storytelling contest in The Canterbury Tales. In the video, he is mentioned as the one who introduces the Miller's turn to tell a story, setting the stage for the comedic and irreverent tale that follows.

💡John the Carpenter

John the Carpenter is the protagonist of The Miller's Tale. He is depicted as a gullible character who is easily manipulated by the more cunning characters in the story. His role in the video illustrates the theme of deception and the consequences of naivety.

💡Alison

Alison is John the Carpenter's young and pretty wife, who plays a central role in the tale's plot. She is portrayed as a character who is willing to engage in an affair with Nicolas, contrasting with the virtuous Emily from the Knight's Tale. Her actions drive the narrative and contribute to the tale's comedic and satirical elements.

💡Nicolas

Nicolas is a student lodger in John the Carpenter's house and a key figure in the tale's plot. He is clever and charming, and his advances towards Alison lead to the elaborate plan to deceive John. Nicolas represents the emerging middle class and the cunning intelligence that often characterizes fabliaux characters.

💡Absolon

Absolon is a young parish clerk who desires Alison and hopes to win her love with gifts. His character adds to the tale's comedic elements, particularly in the scene where he is tricked into kissing Alison's behind, which is a classic example of dramatic irony in the narrative.

💡Dramatic Irony

Dramatic irony is a literary device where the audience has knowledge that the characters within the story do not. In the video, dramatic irony is used to enhance the comedic effect, as the audience is aware of Alison and Nicolas's affair while John remains oblivious, leading to the humorous climax involving the tubs and the hot iron.

💡Moral Codes

Moral codes are the principles of what is right and wrong in a society. The video mentions that in tales like The Miller's Tale, normal moral codes are temporarily suspended, allowing for a more light-hearted and humorous exploration of themes that might otherwise be considered taboo or inappropriate.

💡Social Class

Social class is a central theme in The Miller's Tale, as it contrasts the lower-class carpenter with the emerging middle-class characters of Nicolas and Absolon. The video highlights this contrast to explore the dynamics of desire, power, and deception across different social strata.

💡Comic Relief

Comic relief refers to the use of humor to lighten the mood or provide a break from more serious or tense situations. The video describes The Miller's Tale as providing comic relief in The Canterbury Tales, serving as a counterpoint to the more moralistic and serious stories, and using humor to entertain and engage the audience.

Highlights

The Miller's Tale in The Canterbury Tales is enjoyed by the company, especially the gentle folk.

Harry Bailey indicates it is the monk's turn to tell a story, but the drunk Miller interjects.

Chaucer forewarns that the Miller's Tale may not suit those who prefer moral stories.

The tale features an old carpenter named John who takes a student, Nicolas, as a lodger.

Nicolas is clever and charming, while John's wife Alison is young and pretty.

Nicolas makes advances towards Alison, who agrees to meet him later.

A young parish clerk, Absalon, also desires Alison and tries to win her love with gifts.

Alison is in love with Nicolas, not Absalon, despite his attempts.

Nicolas and Alison devise an elaborate plan involving a fake flood预言.

The carpenter, believing the flood story, prepares by stocking tubs with provisions.

While the carpenter sleeps in his tub, Nicolas and Alison sneak out for an affair.

Absalon visits Alison's home, hoping for a kiss, which leads to a trick.

Alison tricks Absalon into kissing her behind, angering him.

Absalon seeks revenge by getting a hot iron from the blacksmith.

Nicolas is branded by the hot iron when he also falls for the trick.

The commotion wakes the carpenter, leading to the destruction of his home.

The tale is an example of fabliaux, a genre known for humorous stories involving sexual shenanigans.

Normal moral codes are suspended in this tale, contrasting with other moral stories.

Alison is presented as a contrast to the virtuous Emily from the Knight's Tale.

Social class is highlighted through the competition for Alison's love by two middle-class men.

Dramatic irony is used, where the reader knows information unknown to the characters.

The unexpected fall of the carpenter's tub adds to the tale's comedic effect.

The tale leaves readers questioning whether the ending is truly humorous.