6.2 Analysis of the Miller's Tale plot and characters

The Miller's Tale is a wild ride of deception and lust. It follows Nicholas, a clever scholar, as he tricks John the carpenter and seduces his young wife Alison. Meanwhile, Absolon, a parish clerk, also pursues Alison, leading to hilarious misunderstandings and pranks.

This bawdy story exemplifies the fabliau genre with its focus on lower-class characters and crude humor. It cleverly subverts expectations, blending elements of courtly love with slapstick comedy and sharp social commentary on marriage, religion, and class dynamics.

Plot and Structure

Main events of Miller's Tale

Top images from around the web for Main events of Miller's Tale

• 

  The Canterbury Tales - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Plot - Plot: Basics View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Distinguishing Features of Reading Types | English Composition 1 View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  The Canterbury Tales - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Plot - Plot: Basics View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Main events of Miller's Tale

• 

  The Canterbury Tales - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Plot - Plot: Basics View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Distinguishing Features of Reading Types | English Composition 1 View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  The Canterbury Tales - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Plot - Plot: Basics View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Exposition introduces characters and setting
  • Nicholas, clever scholar rents room from John the carpenter and his young wife, Alison
  • Absolon, parish clerk also admires Alison
• Rising action escalates conflict and tension
  • Nicholas and Alison begin secret affair
  • Nicholas deceives John by predicting second flood convinces him to hang tubs from rafters to escape
• Climax marks turning point and highest tension
  • Absolon visits Alison's window at night requesting a kiss
  • Alison tricks Absolon by presenting her buttocks instead of her face
  • Absolon returns with hot coulter seeking revenge
• Falling action follows climax and leads to resolution
  • Nicholas attempts to trick Absolon by sticking his buttocks out the window gets branded by hot coulter
  • Nicholas cries out for water waking John who believes flood has come
• Resolution ties up loose ends and provides closure
  • John cuts rope of his tub crashes to ground breaking his arm
  • Neighbors hear commotion and mock John for his gullibility

Characterization

Characterization of key figures

• Nicholas is a clever, manipulative scholar
  • Educated with knowledge of astrology
  • Deceitful seduces Alison and tricks John
  • Driven by sexual desires engages in adultery
• Alison is a young, attractive, flirtatious wife
  • Unfaithful to husband John eager to have affair with Nicholas
  • Cunning and mischievous participates in Nicholas's schemes tricks Absolon
• John is an older, wealthy, gullible carpenter
  • Married to much younger Alison
  • Easily deceived by Nicholas's flood prediction
  • Protective of wife but ultimately fooled by her infidelity
• Absolon is a vain, romantic parish clerk
  • Infatuated with Alison initially portrayed as courtly lover
  • Seeks revenge when humiliated by Alison's trick
  • Persistent pursues Alison despite rejection and trickery

Symbolism

Symbolism in objects and actions

• The tub symbolizes John's gullibility and foolishness
  • Represents his belief in Nicholas's false prophecy
  • Symbolizes deception and trickery central to plot
• The branding signifies consequences of lust and deception
  • Represents humiliation and punishment for immoral behavior
  • Symbolizes subversion of courtly love through crude, physical humor

Fabliau Conventions

Fabliau conventions vs deviations

• Exemplifies fabliau conventions through:
  • Focus on lower and middle-class characters (carpenter, scholar, clerk)
  • Bawdy humor and sexual content (affair, buttocks tricks)
  • Trickery and deception as central themes (Nicholas's schemes)
  • Physical, slapstick comedy (branding, John's fall from tub)
• Deviates from fabliau conventions by:
  • Incorporating courtly love elements through Absolon's character and actions
  • Using astrological knowledge and religious themes (flood prediction, Noah's Ark parody)
  • Featuring more complex characterization and motivations than traditional fabliaux
  • Providing satirical commentary on social classes and institutions (clergy, marriage)