Character overview and plot synopsis

By: James Vasquez and Megan Bunnell

Picture of the Miller with his bagpipes.

Physical characteristics, clothing, and accessories

Very drunk and rather pale. His nostrils were as black as they

were wideBroad, naughty, short shoulderedRed beardA hood of blue and a white coatSword and buckler

Words, experiences, personal traitsWould not hold his peace for

anyone Steals grainThe Miller was a “churl”Plays the bagpipes

Social Class: Peasant Class Agricultural worker

Inferences The Miller acknowledges the fact that he’s drunk and

says, “If the words get muddled in my tale just put it down to too much Southwark ale”

The Reeve shouts “shut your trap” showing that the Miler isn’t respected by others/

In the prologue, it is said that “he could heave any door off hinge and post” showing that he is very strong.

Chaucer criticizes the Miller’s choice of tale, but insists on telling it to the audience anyway.

Characters:

John – Carpenter, old, rich, easily jealous

Alison – Wife of the carpenter, 18 years old, pretty, kept locked up by John

Nicholas – Student of astrology and astronomy, staying at the carpenter’s house, sly, secret lover with Alison

Absalon – Parish clerk, golden curly hair, proper, in love with the carpenter’s wife

Setting: Carpenter’s House

-The carpenter marries a young wife. He’s afraid he’ll lose her and is very jealous so he locks her away.

-Nicholas, the student, falls in love with Alison, the carpenter’s wife.

-Meanwhile, the parish clerk named Abasalon, tries to woo Alison.

-The student laid in his bed for two days so the Carpenter knocks the door down to get him out of bed.

-Nicholas tells the Carpenter that a massive flood is coming and the only way to survive is to find three tubs: for himself, Nicholas, and Alison and tie them to his roof.

-Nicholas and Alison sneak away to be together when the carpenter falls asleep.

-Absalon goes to the window and begs for a kiss from Alison and she tricks him into kissing her rear because it’s dark out.

-Absalon goes and gets a brander from the Smith and goes to the window for the second time.

Nicholas puts his butt out the window and Abasalon brands him.

-Nicholas screams for water and wakes up the Carpenter. He cuts the tubs down convinced that the flood is coming and hurts himself. The whole town ends up thinking he is crazy and no one believes him over Nicholas.

Genre- A Fabliau which was a trick that resulted in a complex humorous climax. Examples in Contemporary Times- Mean Girls

or A Midsummer’s Night Dream Sources- two separate fabliaux

The second flood The misdirected kiss

Theme- A parody of courtly love. The moral of the story is not to marry someone you aren’t compatible.

The End