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Margaret has taught both college and high school English and has a master's degree in English.
Geoffrey Chaucer provides a detailed description of the Miller in The Canterbury Tales. The Miller, one of the pilgrims on the trip to Canterbury, is a large, brawny man known for his prowess as a wrestler. Chaucer says that because of the Miller's strength and temperament, he always wins when he participates in wrestling matches on festival days. In fact, the Miller is even able to rip doors from their hinges. Apparently, he is rather hard-headed, too, for Chaucer says he can pound a door open by running into it with his head.
The Miller's beard is red, and he has a hair-covered wart on his nose. Furthermore, his nostrils are cavernous; Chaucer describes them as wide and black. At least the Miller's facial features seem proportionate, since he also has a wide mouth to go with his wide nostrils. The Miller wears a blue hood and white coat, and he carries a sword and shield on his side.
The Miller is also an accomplished piper, and he plays the bagpipes as the group of pilgrims leave town to begin their journey. He likes to joke and recite poetry, but most of his poetry is only appropriate for a mature audience.
Each of the travelers agrees to tell a tale to pass the time on the trip, and the Miller tells a bawdy tale about a carpenter and his young wife. The Miller begins his tale even though it's not his turn to speak, but the host realizes he is drunk and allows him to continue.
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.
The Miller's penchant for joking may serve to distract his customers from the scale, and he is so good at the deception that he's often able to steal three times the fee he deserves.
In Chaucer's tale, the Miller is one of the pilgrims on the trip to Canterbury. He is a brawny man with a red beard. Hairs sprout from the wart on his nose, and his nostrils and mouth are unusually wide. The Miller carries a sword and shield, and he enjoys a good jest. He is not without talent, for he plays the bagpipes as the pilgrims begin their journey. This character is known for enjoying a good joke, and he recites off-color poetry from memory. The Miller also enjoys wrestling, an appropriate sport for a man strong enough to break a door from its hinges. He grinds grain at a mill to make a living, but an honest living is not enough to satisfy him. In fact, he often places his thumb on the scales to cheat his customers. This deception allows him to make three times the profit he's entitled to for his services. Like all the pilgrims on the trip, the Miller tells a tale to help pass the time. 'The Miller's Tale' is about a carpenter and his unfaithful, young wife.
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The Canterbury Tales Study Guide9 chapters | 160 lessons | 2 flashcard sets
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