Literary Genres & Satire
"The Miller's Tale" has multiple genres, which are spread throughout its story. The main genre that is persistent throughout the tale is Realistic Fiction, which means that the tale didn't happen in real life, but elements in the story make it seem like it could actually happen, and also seem like they could happen around the time that Chaucer wrote the tale. For example, John the Carpenter married a much younger woman, Alison, and was also extremely jealous of men who took her fancy.
Quote, The Miller's Tale, Page 89: "This carpenter had married a new wife not long before, and loved her more than life. She was a girl 18 years of age. Jealous he was and kept her in the cage, for he was old and she was wild and young; he thought himself quite likely to be stung."
It's very common for an older man to marry much younger women, from Chaucers time to today even. Another example of how this tale includes realistic fiction is that the main plot consists of Nicholas, a scholar, and Alison trying to have an affair, so they plan to trick John so they'll be able to sleep together.
Quote, The Miller's Tale, Page 91: "-in the end she promised him she would, swearing she'd love him, with a solemn promise--------- Alison: 'My husband is so full of jealousy, unless you watch your step and hold your breath, I know for Certain it will be my death.'
Nicholas: 'A scholar doesn't have to stir his wits so much to trick a carpenter.'
Also included within The Miller's Tale are some types of satirical devices, more spceifically mockery and bathos. Mockery is a type of device that makes the story a subject of laughter, ridicule, and scorn. Mockery is shown when Nicholas tricks Joh into believing that there will be a flood in their town, and that he must sleep inside of a bathtub so that he'll be able to float about. Another, more extreme type of mockery in the tale is when Alison tricks Absalon into literally kissing her ass, and then when Absalon comes back to burn her, Nicholas farts in his face, where Absalon burns Nicholas in the middle.
Quote, The Millers Tale, Page 103 and 105: "And at the window out she put her hole, and Absalon, so fortune framed the farce, Put up his mouth and kissed her naked arse"-----"This Nicholas at once let fly a fart as loud as if it were a thunder-clap. He was nearly blinded by the blast, poor chap, but his hot iron was ready; with a thump he smote him in the middle of his rump."
This whole story suits the character of The Miller very well. This is because of the fact that the progression of the plot seems to pattern the way The Miller is shown during his Prologue. For example, at first, the story seems like it has a very realistic plot, and that people seem familiar with it as it happens in the actual real world. This is similar to how the Miller seems to be an ordinary man who works for the church, and seems to be a nice man, although a little brash with his strength. However, as we see more and more of the plot of the story and the personality of the miller, we see that they aren't at all what they first seem to be. The plot turns from a realistic event into an all out chaotic tale, featuring people showing crude body humor and odd violence (Absalon burning Nicholas). Its similar to a juvenial television show. Likewise, the Millers personality is revealed when he becomes drunk. He reveals that he is just tricking people into buying cadences (Messages from God saying that they are free of sin from that point on), and that he thought everyone was suckers. This shows again that his personality along with his tale correspond with each other.
Quote, The Miller's Tale, Page 89: "This carpenter had married a new wife not long before, and loved her more than life. She was a girl 18 years of age. Jealous he was and kept her in the cage, for he was old and she was wild and young; he thought himself quite likely to be stung."
It's very common for an older man to marry much younger women, from Chaucers time to today even. Another example of how this tale includes realistic fiction is that the main plot consists of Nicholas, a scholar, and Alison trying to have an affair, so they plan to trick John so they'll be able to sleep together.
Quote, The Miller's Tale, Page 91: "-in the end she promised him she would, swearing she'd love him, with a solemn promise--------- Alison: 'My husband is so full of jealousy, unless you watch your step and hold your breath, I know for Certain it will be my death.'
Nicholas: 'A scholar doesn't have to stir his wits so much to trick a carpenter.'
Also included within The Miller's Tale are some types of satirical devices, more spceifically mockery and bathos. Mockery is a type of device that makes the story a subject of laughter, ridicule, and scorn. Mockery is shown when Nicholas tricks Joh into believing that there will be a flood in their town, and that he must sleep inside of a bathtub so that he'll be able to float about. Another, more extreme type of mockery in the tale is when Alison tricks Absalon into literally kissing her ass, and then when Absalon comes back to burn her, Nicholas farts in his face, where Absalon burns Nicholas in the middle.
Quote, The Millers Tale, Page 103 and 105: "And at the window out she put her hole, and Absalon, so fortune framed the farce, Put up his mouth and kissed her naked arse"-----"This Nicholas at once let fly a fart as loud as if it were a thunder-clap. He was nearly blinded by the blast, poor chap, but his hot iron was ready; with a thump he smote him in the middle of his rump."
This whole story suits the character of The Miller very well. This is because of the fact that the progression of the plot seems to pattern the way The Miller is shown during his Prologue. For example, at first, the story seems like it has a very realistic plot, and that people seem familiar with it as it happens in the actual real world. This is similar to how the Miller seems to be an ordinary man who works for the church, and seems to be a nice man, although a little brash with his strength. However, as we see more and more of the plot of the story and the personality of the miller, we see that they aren't at all what they first seem to be. The plot turns from a realistic event into an all out chaotic tale, featuring people showing crude body humor and odd violence (Absalon burning Nicholas). Its similar to a juvenial television show. Likewise, the Millers personality is revealed when he becomes drunk. He reveals that he is just tricking people into buying cadences (Messages from God saying that they are free of sin from that point on), and that he thought everyone was suckers. This shows again that his personality along with his tale correspond with each other.