English Literature / Unit 4 ENL 0309 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Miller's Tale and the Fabliau
Captions available
The idea
A fabliau is a comic, often bawdy tale mocking church and nobility. The Miller's is one: the student Nicholas and the carpenter John's young wife Alison trick her jealous husband, while the parish clerk Absolon courts her absurdly. The anchor reads it as a mocking revision of courtly love.
In practice
A bawdy trick on a jealous husband.
Where people slip
The fabliau parodies the Knight's ideals.
Your place on the trail
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