Ian Sinclair: The Miller

## **Abstract:**

Miller was a brute of a man with red hair. Always seeming to be drunk and being obnoxious. His tale starts when he interrupts the Knight because of his blabber mouth and drunkenness. The Miller's tale is about a carpenter with a life and two young men wanting to sleep with her.

## **Prologue:**

The MILLER was a stout fellow indeed; He was very strong of muscle, and also of bones. That was well proven, for wherever he came, At wrestling he would always take the prize.  He was stoutly built, broad, a large-framed fellow; There was no door that he would not heave off its hinges,  Or break it by running at it with his head. His beard was red as any sow or fox, And moreover broad, as though it were a spade. Upon the exact top of his nose he had A wart, and thereon stood a tuft of hairs,  Red as the bristles of a sow's ears; His nostrils were black and wide. He wore a sword and a buckler by his side. His mouth was as large as a large furnace. His mouth was as large as a large furnace. And that was mostly of sin and deeds of harlotry.  He well knew how to steal corn and take payment three times;  And yet he had a thumb of gold, indeed. He wore a white coat and a blue hood. He well knew how to blow and play a bag-pipe. The prologue and introduction of the miller mainly, by physical and personality description.

## **Profession:**

A Miller was known for grinding grain into flour and making it into bread. Also, expected to sell or give bread out to the townspeople Specifically, This time was before water or windmills so they used a quern-stone or large fixed stone bowl which was managed by the miller to mill the grain.

## **Character Description:**

The Miller was a large muscular man with a long white coat and blue hood. Stood out with his great hairy wart and big nose. Also his long flowing red hair and beard. Always having a sheathed sword in hand. Yet he could change the mood with his bag pipe and idiotic blabber mouth.

## **Analysis:**

In the prologue of the Canterbury Tales and the Miller’s tale, he was known as a tough brute never backing down from a fight or wrestling match. Also most commonly getting drunk and talking his mouth off. Miller would be known as the obnoxious friend in the group interrupting everyone and almost adding a comedic relief.

## **Chaucer's Thoughts:**

Chaucer’s opinion toward Miller, seems to be that he is always drunk and interruptive but also annoying and too much of a loud mouth. As he was not meant to tell his tale yet but did so anyway. Also Chaucer warns the rest of the group of how the tale may be vulgar or tasteless. The Miller’s social standing in the feudal system back then was a respectable status and was higher then serfs and peasants. He was also known for being somewhat wealthy.

## **References:**

"Medieval Miller." *Medieval Times - Take a Journey Through 'Medieval Times History' and Discover the Middle Ages!.* MedievalChronicles, Web. 6 Oct 2021. <http://www.medievalchronicles.com/medieval-people/medieval-tradesmen-and-merchants/medieval-miller/>.

"Quern-stone - Wikipedia." *Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.* Wikipedia, 17 Sep 2021. Web. 6 Oct 2021. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quern-stone>.

"The Canterbury Tales: The Miller | SparkNotes." *SparkNotes: Today's Most Popular Study Guides.* SparkNotes, Web. 6 Oct 2021. <http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/the-canterbury-tales/character/the-miller/>.

" The Miller's Prologue and Tale." *CliffsNotes Study Guides | Book Summaries, Test Preparation & Homework Help | Written by Teachers.* Course Hero Inc., Web. 6 Oct 2021. <http://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/c/the-canterbury-tales/summary-and-analysis/the-millers-prologue-and-tale>.

"1.3 The Miller's Prologue and Tale | Harvard's Geoffrey Chaucer Website." *Harvard's Geoffrey Chaucer Website.* Harvard College, Web. 7 Oct 2021. <http://chaucer.fas.harvard.edu/pages/millers-prologue-and-tale>.