Chaucer's Comedy
Geoffrey Chaucer began writing The Canterbury Tales in 1386. Of the stories told, The Miller’s Tale is one of the funniest. Coming immediately after The Knights Tale, The Miller’s Tale revolves around a jealous old carpenter, John, who is married to a young woman of 18, Alison. There are also two young men who try to win the love of Alison: the astronomer, Nicholas, who is boarding with the couple, and a incense burner, Absolom, from the church. It is the interaction of these five characters that makes parts of The Miller’s Tale funny in a slapstick sort of way. The first of the funny events that takes place is the conspiracy of Alison and Nicholas in getting John to build several boats. Nicholas convinces John that a flood of epic proportions will occur one night very soon. Unless John builds enough boats for the three of them they will all perish.