Brief Summary
This summary covers the key events in the story of "The Miller's Tale" by Geoffrey Chaucer. It follows the antics of Nicholas, an Oxford student who studies astrology, and his affair with the young, attractive wife of an older carpenter named John. Nicholas devises a plan to distract John and sleep with Allison, John's wife, while John believes there will be a great flood. However, another suitor named Absalon also tries to win Allison's affection, leading to a comical and farcical conclusion.
- Nicholas has an affair with Allison, the young wife of the older carpenter John
- Nicholas tricks John into believing there will be a great flood, leading John to prepare for it
- Absalon, another suitor for Allison, also tries to win her affection, leading to a comical ending
The Miller's Tale by Jeffrey
The story begins with an Oxford student named Nicholas who studies astrology and lives with an old carpenter named John. John is highly possessive of his young, attractive wife Allison. One day, when the carpenter is out, Nicholas and Allison begin to flirt. Nicholas grabs Allison, and she threatens to call for help, but he starts to cry, and she feels bad for him and agrees to sleep with him at the next opportunity.
Allison is afraid that John will find out, but Nicholas devises a plan to distract him. Nicholas claims to be sick, so John sends a servant to check on him. Nicholas then tells John that he had a vision from God and says that there will be a flood twice as great as Noah's flood that will wipe out the entire world. Nicholas instructs John to fasten three tubs, each loaded with provisions and an axe, to the roof of the barn. On Monday night, they will sleep in the tubs so that when the water comes, they can release the tubs, hack through the roof, and float until the water subsides.
Chaucer Edited by Emily
On Monday night, Nicholas, John, and Allison ascend by ladder into the hanging tubs. As soon as the carpenter begins to snore, Nicholas and Allison climb down, run back into the house, and sleep together in the carpenter's bed. However, Nicholas is not the only one who wants to be with Allison. A merry, squeamish clerk named Absalon also likes Allison. He serenades her every night, buys her gifts, and gives her money, but Allison loves Nicholas.
Maldling: There Once Was an Oxford Student
In the early dawn, Absalon passes by, hoping to stop in for a kiss from Allison. Absalon walks up to the window and calls to her, but she harshly replies that she loves another. Absalon persists, and Allison offers him one kiss in the dark. Absalon leans forward eagerly, only to find his lips pressed against her naked bottom. Allison and Nicholas collapse with laughter as Absalon stands outside, disgusted and determined to get revenge.
Absalon's Revenge
Absalon runs to the blacksmith and obtains a red-hot iron poker. He returns with it to the window and knocks again, asking for a kiss and promising Allison a golden ring. This time, Nicholas, already up to relieve himself, sticks his rear end out the window and farts thunderously in Absalon's face. Absalon brands Nicholas's rear end with the poker, and Nicholas leaps up and cries out for help, water, water.
John's Misfortune
John, still hanging from the roof, wakes up and assumes Nicholas's cries mean that the flood has come. He grabs the axe, cuts free from the tub, and comes crashing to the ground, breaking his arm. The commotion attracts many of the town's people, and the carpenter tells everyone about the coming flood. However, Nicholas and Allison deny it and tell everyone that the carpenter is crazy. The town's people laugh, and the Miller merrily asks that God saved the company.
