1. T HE M ILLER ’ S T ALE The Canterbury Tales

2. T HE M ILLER ’ S P ROLOGUE After the Knight tells his tale, the Miller very much wants to tell one in return. The knight’s tale was about two men who fought over a woman and a woman who lost, having to fully submit to marriage. The Miller tells a tale about a love triangle that he feels better represents reality. He is drunk while telling the tale, but he says he must tell his after the Knight, or he will leave the trip all together. He also says no one can blame him for whatever he says because he is drunk. Before he tells his tale, the Miller says that he has a wife, but he's certainly not naïve enough to believe that she hasn't cheated on him. Furthermore, a husband shouldn't inquire too deeply into the affairs of God, or of his wife.

3. T HE T ALE : Once upon a time, a young scholar named Nicholas who came to live with an old carpenter. The carpenter’s name was John, and he was married to a beautiful woman named Alisoun. They were a poor match for John was very old and Alisoun was very young. John was often very jealous of Alisoun, but she didn’t seem to care. Nicholas quickly fell for Alisoun’s beauty and sexual appeal. He wanted nothing more than to spend an evening with her. Alisoun promised if he could find a way that John would not find out, she’d agree.

4. T HE T ALE CONTINUED … John decides he will trick John. So he pretends to be lost in a trance where he has seen God. When John finds him, Nicholas says that he saw there will be a great flood that will destroy everyone and everything. They must prepare. So John prepared these tubs that he places on the roof. He decides the three of them will pray and sleep in the tubs until the flood arrives… John quickly falls asleep.

5. T HE T ALE CONTINUED … Alisoun and Nicholas sneak downstairs for a night of fun. Meanwhile, another man who has seen Alisoun and finds her very beautiful comes to see her. His name is Absolon; he is a member of the church and hates anything crude. When he comes to her window, he begs Alisoun for a kiss. Alisoun decides she will get a laugh out of humiliting Absolon and so she sticks her butt out the window. In the dark, Absolon kisses her butt…

6. T HE T ALE CONTINUED … Digusted, Absolon decides to seek revenge. He goes to town to get a hot poker. Then he returns to Alisoun’s window. This time Nicholas sticks his butt out the window and farts in Absolon’s face. In response, Absolon sticks the hot poker on Nicholas’ butt. Nicholas, overcome with pain, screams, “Water! Water!” John, who is asleep in the tub, wakes up thinking that the flood has arrived.

7. T HE T ALE C ONTINUED … He pulls the cord, and the tub falls of the roof, breaking John’s arm. All the towns people come to look. John is crying that the flood has come. Alisoun acts as if John has gone crazy, and the town officials take him away. In the end… it is Alisoun who wins after all. The Tale

8. C OMPARISON TO THE K NIGHT The Miller: -Many men are in love with the same woman. The woman is compared to a slender weasel. -Nicholas pretends to pray to God to come up with a plan. -The woman uses sexuality and looks to lure the men. -She also uses them against each other. -The woman wins and decides her fate. The Knight -Many men are in love with the same woman. -The woman is compared to an angel. -The men pray to gods to get what they want. -The woman wants to remain a virgin but is told she cannot. -The man who loses gets the girl. -The woman is unable to decide her own fate and must listen to the men around her.

9. T HE M ILLER ’ S P URPOSE The Miller wants to insult those around him. He says he cannot be blamed for his own sin of drunkenness and sloth because it is not his fault but the alcohol itself. His description shows three things: The difference between the classes. Those who are the most cunning to do get punished. Men should not question the actions of their wives. The Miller while the most rude and brash is also the most honest of all of the characters. He intends to insult the dignity of the knight even though his social class is so low in comparison by telling a parody of the Knight’s original tale. In the end, no man wins.