1. The Miller’s Tale (a fabliau- a comical and cynical tale)
After the Knight’s noble love story the Host asked the monk to go next, the drunken Miller insists that his tale be told next. “The Miller who was all pale with drunkenness, so that he could hardly sit on his horse, was not minded to doff his hood or hat nor wait on any man for courtesy’s sake, but began to cry out in a voice like Pilate’s, and swore, “By God’s arms and blood and bones, I know a splendid tale for the occasion, with which I’ll now match the Knight’s tale!” (147)

2. The Miller’s Tale
The Host tells The Miller that we should do things properly, but The Miller would not hear of it, “that I will not; for I will speak or else go on my way.”(147) The Host answered, “Tell on in the devil’s name! You are a fool; your wits are drowned.” “Now listen,” said The Miller, “everyone. But first I will proclaim that I am drunk; I know it by the sound of my voice. And therefore, if I speak amiss, blame it on the ale of Southwark, I pray you; for I am going to tell a legend, a history, of both a carpenter and his wife, and how a clerk made a fool of the carpenter.”(147)

3. The Miller’s Tale
The Reeve argues that The Miller should not a tale such as this one. “It is sinful and very foolish to injure any man or defame him and also to bring wives into such repute.” (149) But The Miller “would not spare his words for any man, but told his churl’s tale in his own way. I regret that I must repeat it here, and therefore I ask every well-bred person, for God’s love, don’t think that I speak with evil intentions; but I must repeat all their tales, be they better or worse, or else be false to some of my material. And therefore whoever does not wish to hear it, turn over the leaf and choose another tale; Take heed, and don’t put the blame on me; and then, too, one should not take a game seriously.”(149)

4. Once upon a time…
A carpenter lived in Oxford and “boarded paying guests” (151). One of his guests was a clerk named Nicholas, he was “sly and discreet”, and focused his studies on astrology. “He knew all about secret love and pleasurable consolations”, and “looked as meek as a maiden.” (151) He lived in a room alone in the house and he himself was as neat an clean as the root of licorice or any ginger.” (151) He had many books neatly placed on shelves and a psaltery “on which by night he made melody so sweetly that all the room rang with it; he sang Angelus ad virginem. And thus this sweet clerk spent his time, depending on his friends’ support and his income.” (151)

5. The Carpenter
“This Carpenter had recently married a wife whom he loved more than his life; she was 18 years of age. He was jealous and kept her on a short leash, for she was wild and young, and he was old, and judged himself near to being a cuckold. He did not know (for his understanding was crude) Cato’s saying that a man should marry someone like himself: people should wed to their condition, for youth and age are often at odds. But since he had fallen into the trap, he had to endure his trouble, like other people.” (153)

6. The Young Wife, Alisoun Read pg. 153 describing Alisoun.
While the Carpenter was at work in Osney, Nicholas the clerk flirted and played with his wife. “These clerks are very subtle and sly, and privily he grabbed her where he shouldn’t and said, “Unless I have my will of you, sweetheart, I’m sure to die for suppressed love.” (155) Alisoun scolded him at first and said “Take your hands away, where are your manners?” and Nicholas begged for mercy and then she granted him her love and said,… read pg. 155

7. Alisoun goes to Church
The parish clerk is named Absalom…read pg 155 bottom
At night Absalom went to the Carpenter’s house with his guitar and played for Alisoun outside their window, he tried to woo her each day with gifts of all kinds, but she was in love with Nicholas.
One day when the Carpenter went to work in Osney Nicholas and Alisoun decided that Nicholas should devise a plan so Alisoun could sleep in Nicholas’s arms all evening long.

8. Nicholas’ Plan
Nicholas devised a plan that He would stay in his room, and no one should tell the Carpenter what is going on, but when The Carpenter comes he will trick him.
The Carpenter noticed that Nicholas hadn’t been out of his room in a few days, asked Alisoun if she knew anything and she said no. He asked the servants to call for him, but no answer. The Carpenter was afraid Nicholas was dead and told his servant to , “call at his door or knock with a stone.” (161) No answer, so the servant looked between the boards and saw Nicholas staring into space and told the Carpenter what he found.

9. Nicholas uses Noah
The Carpenter goes to Nicholas’ room and Nicholas tells him he has a secret and he must swear on Christ not to tell a soul. The Carpenter swears not to tell a soul.
Nicholas tells him, “In less than an hour, this world shall be drowned, so hideous will be the downpour; thus all mankind shall drown and lose their lives.” “Noah’s flood was never half as great!”. The Carpenter answered, “Alas, my wife! Shall she drown? Alas, my Alisoun!”
The Carpenter asks if there is anything that can be done. Nicholas replies that he can …read pg 166 thru 167.

10. The Tubs
The Carpenter hung the three tubs to the rafters, and all three climbed the ladders the Carpenter built to go to sleep in their own tub which was packed with enough food and drink for a day, when the flood should pass.
The Carpenter was convinced he could hear the waters coming and worried about his dear wife, but then so tired, he feel into a deep sleep.
Alisoun and Nicholas climbed down from the tubs and went to bed.

11. Absalom
Absalom asked a member of the Church secretly where the Carpenter was and the member told him he thought he left for a few days to a farm. Absalom looking for love goes to the house of the Carpenter to find love with Alisoun and knocks quielty on her window, which was a should length high and calls for Alisoun, and tries to woo her with sweet talk. She tells him, “Go away from the window, you Jack-fool”. He tells her if she gives him a kiss, he will leave. It was very dark out, and Alisoun goes to the window and puts her bare butt out the window and tells him to come give her a kiss. Absalom goes in for the kiss and kisses her arse. “His hot love had grown cold and was all quenched, for from the time that he had kissed her arse, he didn’t give a cress for woman’s love, for he waas cured of his sickness.” (176)

12. Absalom’s Revenge
Absalom “renounced love over and over, and wept like a child that is beaten.”(177) He then went across the street to a blacksmith Master Gervase and asked to borrow his hot colter and grabbed it by it’s cool handle. Master Gervase said to him, “Certainly, if it were gold or uncounted gold nobles in a bag, you should have it, as I am an honest smith;eh, the devil, what will you do with it?” (177) Absalom replies, “I will tell you indeed tomorrow” (177)
Absalom goes to the window of the Carpenters house and knocks and when Alisoun asks who it is, he tells her he has a ring for her. “I’ll give it to you if you kiss me.” (177)
Nicholas gets up and raises the window and sticks his bare arse out the window. “Nicholas then let fly a fart as strong as a thunderclap, so that Absalom was almost blinded with it’s force; but he was ready with his hot iron and struck Nicholas in the middle of his arse:” (179)

13. The Fall of Man
Nicholas screamed, “Help! Water! Help, for God’s heart!” The Carpenter heard the screams for water, thought it was the flood waters, pulled on the ropes to let the tubs go from the rafters, and th tubs fell to the ground with the Carpenter in them and “down went all”. Alisoun and Nicholas screamed for help in the streets. The Carpenter had broken his arm. Alisoun and Nicholas told everyone that the Carpenter was crazy and “was afraid of Noah’s flood”(179). They told everyone that the Carpenter asked them to stay with him under the roof and “asked them for God’s love”.
The town’s people laughed at the Carpenter and no one even bothered to listen to his explanation, for he was a joke in town now, and thought to be mad.

14. Themes Religious Theme:
the characters use religion in times that are convenient to get what they want.
Absalom takes on the devils role after he is angry with Alisoun.
Nicholas uses Noah’s story to get John away from Alisoun so he can have her to himself
John’s fall from the tub represents the Fall of Mankind
John who is a faithful man, suffers the most.

15. Themes Foolishness John is foolish for he is devoted to Alisoun
Absalom is foolish for trying to win over Alisoun
Nicholas is foolish for sticking his arse out the window

16. The Moral
Never take such a young wife, and try to keep her on a short leash.
“ He was jealous and kept her on a short leash, for she was wild and young, and he was old, and judged himself near to being a cuckold.” (151)

17. Allusions Almagest: astronomical manual (151)
Angelus ad virginem: a medieval carol like the Hail Mary (151)
Psaltery: a stringed instrument like a harp (151)
Cato’s: a book of proverbs (151)
Noah’s Flood: Noah’s ark, the flooding in the Bible (165)

18. Metaphors When describing Alisoun: (153)
“her body was as graceful and slim as a weasel’s”
“she was more of a treat to look at than a peartree, joust come into bloom”
“around her loins a flared apron white as morning fresh milk”
“and she was softer to the touch than a wool of a sheep”

19. Insight
In my opinion, The Miller was a crude man of his time. He was a drunk, and a man who knew how to tell a story that was filled with debauchery, and probably a lot of harsh truths that most people of the time would not speak of, outloud for that matter.
The Miller’s tale was a dark contrast to the Knight;s tale and was meant to be top the story, for that was the game, and he played it well. (147 & 149)
The Miller’s tale is comical and gross but shows how the Miller portrays the characters in this social class so differently, much more earthly and lower class than the Knight’s.

20. Class Discussion What theme’s can you find in The Miller’s tale?
What is the tales other moral’s?