In ‘The Reeve’s Tale’, he was upset with the Miller’s Tale because it made the carpenter look foolish, and as the Reeve had once been a carpenter he felt as though this tale was meant to make all carpenters look foolish.
Why is the Reeve offended by the Miller’s tale?
The narrator describes the hilarity that ensues after the Miller’s tale, with the whole company laughing and playing, except for the Reeve. The Reeve is offended because he is a carpenter and takes the Miller’s tale as a personal insult.
What is a Reeve and why is the Miller making fun of him?
However, in the General Prologue, we also learned that the Reeve was once a carpenter. When the Miller tells a story making fun of a rather dense carpenter named John, the Reeve takes this as an insult upon all carpenters, and begs to be allowed to “quite,” or answer, “The Miller’s Tale” with his own.
What is the purpose of the Miller in Canterbury Tales?
The Miller grinds grain at the mill to produce flour and meal. He is dishonest, however, and Chaucer says the Miller has ‘a thombe of gold. ‘ In other words, he places a heavy thumb on the scales to cheat his customers.
Which tale tells the story of Symkyn the Miller?
The Canterbury Tales: The Reeve’s Tale
Symkyn the Miller in The Canterbury Tales: The Reeve’s Tale.
Why does the Reeve hate the Miller?
“The Reeve’s Tale” is an attempt by the Reeve to “quite,” or answer, “The Miller’s Tale.” The Reeve is angry because the Miller has just told a story in which a carpenter is humiliated by his wife and her lover.
Why does the Reeve get upset about the story that the Miller wants to tell?
In ‘The Reeve’s Tale’, he was upset with the Miller’s Tale because it made the carpenter look foolish, and as the Reeve had once been a carpenter he felt as though this tale was meant to make all carpenters look foolish. So he decides to repay the Miller with a tale of his own.
What is the moral lesson of the Miller’s tale?
“The Miller’s Tale” suggests that cunning and cleverness are often used in an exploitative fashion. The character of Nicholas is an example of the way cunning and cleverness relate to the sin of pride.
What was ironic about the Miller’s tale?
The Miller’s Tale
Alison’s claims to “truth” and faithfulness read as dramatic irony because the audience knows that Alison and Nicholas are tricking the carpenter so that they can sleep together. The plot takes on elements of a farce as this plot seems so ridiculous that any man would see through the story.
Who did the Miller offend while telling this tale?
For instance, the Miller apologizes for the tale he is about to tell, and transfers all blame to the “ale of Southwerk”—in effect, to the Host himself (3140).
How does Chaucer view the Miller?
How does Chaucer feel about the Miller? By the descriptive language Chaucer offers, he views the Miller in a blunt and slightly negative light. Despite this, his actions are nevertheless amusing and narratively useful.
How does the narrator describe the Miller?
Most of the description we get of the Miller is intensely physical and kind of, well, disgusting. He’s huge, with a red beard, wide black nostrils, a gaping mouth, and (gross-out alert!) a wart on his nose with a tuft of hairs growing on it that are as red as the bristles in a sow’s ears.
What happens to the Miller at the end of the story?
The love triangle between Nicholas, Absolon, and Alisoun reaches its climax, and the Miller’s belief that a great flood is coming seems to be vindicated, causing him to cut the rope that’s attaching him to the ceiling, which brings him crashing to the floor.
Who is the only character who is not punished in the Miller’s tale?
Alisoun, John’s wife, Nicholas’s lover, and a reputed local beauty, is the only character in “The Miller’s Tale” who goes apparently unpunished at its conclusion.
Who does the Miller have a grudge against?
carpenters
His tale is one of the best constructed and the best comic situations of the all the tales. As evidenced in his tale, the Miller also has an obvious grudge against carpenters and perhaps towards the Reeve himself, who was once a member of a carpenter’s guild.
Who is the antagonist of miller’s tale?
Nicholas and Absolon
If we (sort of) accept John as the protagonist, then Nicholas has to be the primary antagonist, with Absolon a close second. John’s goal is to keep his wife to himself; Nicholas and Absolon desire only to thwart that goal.
What does the narrator warn us about in the Miller’s tale?
The narrator apologizes in advance for the tale’s bawdiness, and warns that those who are easily offended should skip to another tale.
What does the Reeve vow do through his story?
What does the Reeve vow to do through his story? He vows to repay the vulgar act in the Miller’s tale with a counterattack.
Who is the main character of the story the Miller told?
Four main characters appear in “The Miller’s Tale.” These are the old carpenter John, his young wife Alison, Nicholas who is a scholar and lodger at the carpenter’s house, and a parish clerk named Absolon. Nicholas and Absolon both love Alison.
What is the satire in the Millers tale?
In the tale we find satire directed against John and Absolon. The ridiculing of John is found in the account of his deception by Nicholas, as well as in the Miller’s presentation of his folly in marrying so young a wife, and, worse, by his jealousy provoking the very cuckolding he has been so desperate to prevent.
What does the Reeve do?
A reeve oversees all aspects of the agrarian activity of a manorial estate; Oswold, for example is responsible for keeping accounts, managing the planting and harvesting of grain, and keeping track of all the landlord’s livestock.