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

Summary

In '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.