The Miller's Tale
About the Story
'The Miller's Tale' is adapted from Geoffrey Chaucer's 'The Canterbury Tales' (written in the 14th century). Chaucer is called the FATHER of English poetry.
'The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories told by PILGRIMS travelling to Canterbury. Each pilgrim tells a story to pass the time. The Miller — a BOASTFUL, strong man — tells a COMIC tale full of tricks and laughter.'
Key Details
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Author | Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343-1400) |
| From | 'The Canterbury Tales' |
| Type | Comic tale / Fabliau (humorous story) |
| Setting | Oxford, England (14th century) |
| Main characters | The Carpenter, Alison (his young wife), Nicholas (a student), Absalom (a parish clerk) |
| Themes | Humour, trickery, foolishness, cleverness |
Main Characters
| Character | Description | Role in Story |
|---|---|---|
| The Carpenter | An OLD, wealthy carpenter who is very JEALOUS of his young wife | He is TRICKED and made to look FOOLISH |
| Alison | The carpenter's YOUNG and lively wife | She is CLEVER and helps in the trick |
| Nicholas | A BOLD and clever student who rents a room from the carpenter | He PLOTS the trick to be with Alison |
| Absalom | A parish clerk who is VAIN and foolish | He chases Alison and is HUMILIATED |
Summary
The Jealous Husband
The carpenter marries the beautiful and young ALISON. He is very JEALOUS and keeps her locked at home. But an Oxford student named NICHOLAS, who rents a room in the carpenter's house, falls in love with Alison.
'The carpenter was an OLD man who thought he could keep his young wife locked away from the world. But LOVE finds a way — and so does TRICKERY.'
The Plan
Nicholas convinces the carpenter that a GREAT FLOOD — worse than Noah's flood — is coming. He tells him that they must hang THREE large tubs from the roof of the house and sleep in them when the flood comes.
'Nicholas was a SCHOLAR, and scholars were thought to be WISE. So the carpenter BELIEVED every word Nicholas said. 'Oh, my poor wife!' cried the carpenter. 'We must SAVE ourselves!' '
The Trick Works
'That night, the carpenter, Alison, and Nicholas each climbed into their tub. The carpenter fell ASLEEP waiting for the flood. Nicholas and Alison CLIMBED DOWN and spent the night together.'
Absalom's Visit
The foolish ABSALOM comes to Alison's window and begs for a kiss. Alison plays a TRICK on him — she sticks her HEAD out the window in the DARK.
'He expected a SWEET kiss, but got a NASTY surprise instead. 'A beard! A beard!' cried the carpenter's wife, laughing.' (In the adapted version for Class 5, Absalom is tricked without being hurt.)
The End
The trick is DISCOVERED. The carpenter falls from his tub and breaks his arm. The WHOLE town comes running — and everyone LAUGHS at the carpenter for being so foolish.
'In the END, the clever Nicholas and Alison were LAUGHING, the foolish Absalom was HUMILIATED, and the jealous carpenter was the LAUGHINGSTOCK of the whole town.'
Themes
| Theme | How It Appears |
|---|---|
| Cleverness vs Foolishness | Nicholas is clever; the carpenter and Absalom are foolish |
| Trickery | The whole story revolves around a trick |
| Jealousy | The carpenter's jealousy leads to his downfall |
| Humour | The story is meant to MAKE US LAUGH at the characters |
| Appearances vs Reality | People are not always what they seem |
Why This Is a Comic Tale
| Element of Comedy | Example |
|---|---|
| Exaggeration | A GREAT flood is predicted — ridiculous! |
| Foolish characters | The carpenter believes EVERYTHING |
| Surprise | Absalom's unexpected humiliation |
| Irony | The jealous husband is the most FOOLED |
| Happy ending for tricksters | Nicholas and Alison SUCCEED |
Key Quotes (Adapted)
' "Come, Alison, my SWEET! Give me but one kiss!" — Absalom'
' "The flood is coming! We must prepare the TUBS!" — Nicholas, lying to the carpenter'
' "A beard! A beard!" — Alison, laughing at Absalom'
Key Facts to Remember
- Geoffrey Chaucer wrote 'The Canterbury Tales' in the 14th century.
- The story is a COMIC tale (fabliau) meant to entertain.
- The carpenter is TRICKED because of his JEALOUSY and GULLIBILITY.
- The clever characters (Nicholas and Alison) SUCCEED.
- 'The story shows that JEALOUSY and GREED often lead to HUMILIATION.'
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Correct Understanding |
|---|---|
| Thinking Chaucer wrote in modern English | Chaucer wrote in MIDDLE ENGLISH, which looks very different from modern English |
| Believing the story is tragic | It is a COMIC tale meant to make people laugh |
| Confusing the Miller with Chaucer | The Miller is a CHARACTER in the frame story; Chaucer is the AUTHOR |
Exam Focus (ICSE Class 5)
| Topic | Marks (Typical) | Question Type |
|---|---|---|
| Main characters | 3 marks | Describe each character |
| Summary of the trick | 4-5 marks | Explain how Nicholas tricked the carpenter |
| Theme — cleverness vs foolishness | 3-4 marks | Who was clever and who was foolish? Why? |
| Why it is a comedy | 3 marks | What makes the story funny? |
| Moral of the story | 2-3 marks | What lesson can we learn? |
Self-Test: 5 Questions
Q1. Who is the author of 'The Miller's Tale' and from which collection is it taken?
Q2. How did Nicholas trick the carpenter into sleeping in a tub?
Q3. Why does the carpenter agree to Nicholas's plan?
Q4. What happened to Absalom when he came to Alison's window?
Q5. What lesson does the story teach about jealousy?
Answers
A1. Geoffrey Chaucer wrote 'The Miller's Tale' as part of 'The Canterbury Tales.'
A2. Nicholas told the carpenter that a GREAT FLOOD was coming — worse than Noah's flood. He said the only way to survive was to sleep in TUBS hanging from the roof.
A3. The carpenter believed Nicholas because Nicholas was a SCHOLAR (student) and scholars were thought to be WISE. Also, the carpenter was OLD and FEARFUL.
A4. Absalom came to the window begging for a kiss. In the dark, Alison played a TRICK on him. He was HUMILIATED and everyone laughed.
A5. The story teaches that excessive JEALOUSY can make a person BLIND and FOOLISH. The jealous carpenter was tricked more easily because of his possessiveness.
