Tricks Of Time In The Miller's Tale

The article Tricks of Time in the Miller’s Tale suggests, “Chaucer’s use of time-reckoning as the device for the trick the clerk plays on the carpenter in the Miller’s Tale reveals an increasing commodification of time in late medieval England. It also indicates a new understanding of how that commodity could then be translated into social power” (Walts 400). Dawn Walts explains how Chaucer uses the Miller and his tale to reveal characteristics of his time period. When the carpenter and Nicholas are first introduced in the tale, they are described as, “There used to be a rich old oaf who made/ His home at Oxford, a carpenter by trade. / He took in boarders, and with him used to live/ A student who knew what study has to give” (Morrison 125).

The first being when the hen does not believe Chaunticleer’s warning from his dream prophecies. The second is Chaunticleer’s interaction with the fox. The fox tricks the rooster through flattery by asking him to sing with his beautiful voice. As he gets lost in his singing, the fox grabs him. Luckily, Chaunticleer gets away and learned his lesson to not trust the fox when he tries to flatter or compliment him. The tale itself is not complicated, but Chaucer’s writing in this creation is impeccable. There are examples of literary connections and the writing and language in itself show Chaucer’s peak in knowledge and intellect. Nathaniel Brody, author of the article Truth and Fiction in The Nun’s Priest’s Tale claim, “The story is so simple, and it is told with such precision, that the narrator could almost be taken to have witnessed the events he describes. Were it not that the tale is about speaking chickens in a barnyard, we might be tempted to call it realistic” (Brody 33). One of the main elements within a beast fable is attributing humanistic characteristics to animals. Since Chaucer’s writing is outstanding in The Nun’s Priests Tale, it is easy to ignore the fact that the main characters are