Miller And Yeoman
Published on Nov 18, 2015
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
A Yeoman is an attendant in a noble household.
-In our story, he is the servant who accompanies the Knight. The narrator mentions that his dress and weapons suggest he may be a forester.
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• "There was a yeoman with him at his side, No other servant; he chose to ride." Pg 147 line 103 (indirect)
—although directly stating the Yeoman travels alongside the knight, this passage implies the Yeoman was the only person in the knight's eyes worthy of the job
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"This Yeoman wore a coat and hood of green, and peacock feathered arrows, bright and keen and neatly sheathed, hung at his belt the while" pg 147 line 105 (direct)
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"For he could never dress his gear in yeoman style, his arrows never dropped their feathers low" pg 148 line 108 (indirect)
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"bore a hunting horn, well slung and burnished clean, that dangled from a baldrick of bright green" pg 148 line 119 (direct)
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— As foresters go, he's probably a good one, a conclusion we can draw because he keeps his bow, arrows, and hunting horn in very good condition.
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"His head was like a nut, his face was brown. He knew the whole of woodcraft up and down" pg 148 line 111 (direct)
— closely cut hair and a tan complexion suggest an outdoor lifestyle
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"A saucy brace was on his arm to ward it from the bow string, and a shield and sword hung at one side, and at the other slipped a jaunty dirk, spear shaped and well equipped." Pg 148 line 113 (direct)
— he is always well prepared for each task of his duty, keeping all required equipment on hand
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"A medal of St. Christopher he wore of shining silver on his breast"
pg 148 line 117 (indirect)
St. Christopher is the saint of safe travel and a martyr who went on a journey to enlightenment. People wear St. Christopher medals to bless them with safety.
— he is a religious man, he cares about the well being of the group.
This implies the Yeoman is most likely actually on the journey for self enlightenment.
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"He was a proper forester, I guess." Pg 148 line 121 (indirect)
— there are no ironic notes or criticism in Chaucer's description of Yeoman. Generally the response is positive. The "I guess" MAY reveal Chaucer's mistrust and uncertainty about Yeoman or his dislike with not having any negative comments towards him.
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We never see the Yeoman again after the Prologue, so why is he even mentioned?
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From him, we learn two things about the Knight: 1) that he's not high-maintenance, because he travels with only one servant, and 2) that he owns some land – hence, his need for a forester.
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RESONSIBLE
Keeps his weapons and all other belongings neat and orderly
HARDWORKING
He is the only man deemed fit by the knight for the job of his servant.
RELIGIOUS
Bears a medal of St. Christopher, a martyr and saint of safe travel
He is much like a modern day groundskeeper for an upper class family.
He is employed by the knight in the story and manages his land for him.
Untitled Slide
THE MILLER
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•"The Miller was a chap of sixteen stone, A great stout fellow big in brawn and bone." Pg 159 line 561 direct - "His beard, like any sow or fox, was red and broad as well." Pg 159 line 568 direct
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"At it's very tip, his nose displayed a wart on which there stood a tuft of hair, red as the bristles in an old sow's ear." Pg 159 line 570 direct - "His mighty mouth was like a furnace door." Pg 159 line 575 indirect
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Most of the description we get of the Miller is intensely physical and kind of disgusting. He's huge, with a red beard, a gaping mouth, and a wart on his nose with a tuft of hairs growing on it
"He could go and win the ram at any wrestling show." Pg 159 line 564 indirect
— while directly stating he could always win the ram (the top prize), one must deduct for themselves the massive physical strength revealed that the Miller has
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"He would boast he could heave any door off hinge and post, or take a run and break it with his head." Pg 159 line 565 indirect
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— the Miller is boastful and quite full of himself. One might also take from this that the Miller is sort of idiotic, and Chaucer takes opportunity here to make fun of him in saying he would slam his own head into a door!
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"He had a store of tavern stories, filthy in the main." pg 159 line 576 indirect
In every chance he gets, Chaucer displays his dislike for the Miller. Here implying he has a filthy mouth and mind with no filter on either to decide what is appropriate and what is not. He cannot tell a simple tale without making it completely inappropriate and impure.
"He was a master hand at stealing grain. He felt it with his thumb and thus he knew its quality and took three times his due" pg 159 line 578 direct
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We get the feeling this guy's not a great miller: he regularly steals from his customers or charges three times the proper fee.
Photo by Ajith (അജിത്ത്)
Disgusting
-aside from his unattractive physique, the Miller has a dirty mouth and mind. He never knows when to just keep his gaping hole shut.
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Conniving
— he steals from his customers, makes them overpay, and always shorts them for what they pay for!
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Boastful, Boisterous
— he's loud, self centered, and egotistical. The Miller loves himself and loves to show off his gross brute strength to anyone he can.
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MODERN EQUIVALENT
Frat Boy
The Miller is a drunk who believes he is invincible and untouchable. He is completely in love with himself and doesn't have any remorse for his huge ego or what comes out of his big mouth!
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