Questions and Answers
What is the title of the second tale in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales?
Who tells the second tale in Canterbury Tales?
What is the meaning of the Middle English term 'quite' in The Miller's Tale?
What is the Miller described as in The General Prologue?
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Why does the Host ask the Monk to tell a tale?
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Why does the Miller insist on telling his tale?
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What is the subject of the Miller's Tale?
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Who protests the telling of the Miller's Tale?
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What does the Miller claim about his tale?
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Why does the Host eventually agree to let the Miller tell his tale?
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What is the trend in 'The Miller's Tale' and subsequent stories?
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What is the occupation of the character who rents a room in John's house?
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Why does John make preparations for the night of the supposed flood?
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What does Alisoun offer to Absolon instead of her lips?
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What does Absolon use to try and burn Alisoun in revenge?
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What does Nicholas do to Absolon when he sticks his buttocks out the window?
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What happens to John when he cuts the rope attaching his tub to the ceiling?
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What is the outcome of the story for John?
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What is the final result of Nicholas' scheme?
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What is the name of the parish clerk who is infatuated with Alisoun?
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What is the occupation of the Reeve?
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What is the name of the Reeve's horse?
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Why does the Reeve tell a tale that mocks the Miller's profession?
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What is unique about the dialect used for the two clerks in the story?
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What is the source of the story told by the Reeve?
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What is special about the Reeve's sword?
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What is the Reeve's physical appearance like?
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Study Notes
The Miller's Tale Background
- The Miller's Tale is the second tale in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, written in the 1380s-1390s.
- The tale is told by the drunken miller Robin to "quite" (pay back) The Knight's Tale.
- The Miller's Prologue is the first "quite" that occurs in the tales.
The Miller's Character
- The Miller, Robin, is described as a stout and evil churl fond of wrestling.
- He is drunk when telling his tale and warns the other pilgrims that he cannot be held accountable for what he says.
The Story's Plot
- The tale is about a carpenter, his wife Alisoun, and two younger men who try to sleep with her.
- The carpenter, John, lives in Oxford with his much younger wife, Alisoun, who is a local beauty.
- John rents out a room to a clever Oxford University student named Nicholas, who has taken a liking to Alisoun.
- Another man, Absolon, the parish clerk, also has his eye on Alisoun.
The Story's Events
- Nicholas grabs Alisoun and begins an affair with her while John is away on a day trip.
- Alisoun goes to church, where Absolon sees her and becomes infatuated with her.
- Absolon tries to woo Alisoun with love songs, gifts, and a local play, but she rebuffs him.
- Nicholas and Alisoun hatch a scheme to spend a whole night together, telling John that a massive flood is coming and they need to prepare.
- John believes them and they hang three tubs from the ceiling of the barn, each loaded with provisions and an axe.
- When John is asleep, Nicholas and Alisoun climb down, run back to the house, and sleep together in John's bed.
- That same night, Absolon comes to the house and begs Alisoun to kiss him, but she tricks him into kissing her backside instead.
- Absolon gets a red-hot coulter and tries to burn Alisoun in revenge, but Nicholas farts in his face and he thrusts the coulter into Nicholas' buttocks.
- John, hearing the cries of "water!", thinks the flood is coming and cuts the rope, crashing to the floor and breaking his arm.
- The townspeople rush to the scene and laugh at poor John, considering him mad.
The Reeve's Tale
- The third story in Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, told by the reeve, Oswald.
- Oswald is the manager of a large estate, generating significant profits for his master and himself.
- He is described as skinny, bad-tempered, and old, with closely cropped hair, reflecting his social status as a serf.
- He rides a fine gray horse called Scot, but has a rusty sword.
The Reeve's Character
- A skilled carpenter, a profession mocked in the previous "Miller's Tale".
- Oswald responds with a tale that mocks the Miller's profession in return.
The Tale
- Based on a popular fabliau of the period, with many different versions, known as the "cradle-trick".
- Chaucer's version is notable for its detailed characterisation and sly humour.
- The tale links the act of grinding corn with sex.
Language and Dialect
- The northeastern accent of the two clerks is the earliest surviving attempt in English to record a dialect from an area other than that of the main writer.
- Chaucer's works typically feature traces of the southern English or London accent of himself and his scribes.
- Chaucer extracts comedy from imitating accents in his writing.
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Description
Learn about The Miller's Tale, the second tale in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, written in the 1380s-1390s. The tale is told by the drunken miller Robin and is a response to The Knight's Tale.
