Juxtaposition in "The Miller's Tale"

The Juxtaposition of the sacred and the erotic is typical of the miller's style of story telling. With reference to the extract (lines 540-548), discuss the narrative technique employed in this tale

The Miller has employed the technique of the juxtaposition of the sacred and erotic in this tale for effect as it is offensive yet humorous and entertaining. Juxtaposition is the combining of two different improbable ideas next to each other which is used to generate great contrast and shock, thus it makes this technique very successful.

In the prologue, the Miller states that he will tell a `legend and a lyf.' This indicates that his story would evolve around the life of saints and it also implies pious narratives. However, this is not true as his tale is not about saints but is rather a story in the form of a bawdy fabliau. This is foreshadowing the fact that the Miller will parody religious themes in his tale. Fabliau is a medieval literary genre that told the story of a bourgeois husband whose wife cheats on him with a younger man. This type of literature also deals realistically with middle class or lower class characters.

One of the narrative techniques used by the Miller is irony. He uses this when speaking of God as he combines the idea of the sexual and the sacred. He states that `an housbonde shal nat been inquisitif of Goddes privetee, nor of his wyf so he may finde Goddes foison there.' The theme of foretelling the future is vital in this tale and is hinted at in this remark by the Miller which is then immediately taken up in the account of Nicholas' powers as an astrologer. The Miller here is saying that as long as the husband gets goodness from his wife, he does not need to worry and enquire too closely in...

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...he language that he uses is like a courtly lover-`Lemman, love me al atones, or I wol dyen, also God me save!' This suggests that he would rather die than not to have Alison's love. Consequently, the technique of parody is used to mock the Knight.

On the other hand The Miller's Tale differs from the Knight's Tale as it is set in the contemporary world and not the epic or heroic past. Also, the characters are lower class people and not aristocrats. Additionally this tale does not involve idealized love but instead there is heavy emphasis on cunningness, deception and stupidity and not virtue and morals.

Overall, the juxtaposition of the sacred and the erotic is very effective in synchronizing with the bawdy and witty characteristic of this fabliau. In conclusion, the narrative techniques help to establish the Miller's unique and successful style of storytelling.