Characteristics of the Miller in the General Prologue, his physiological information, and animal imagery.
Characteristics:
1. Dishonesty
2. Delight in telling stories
3. Plays the bagpipes
Physiological information:
Red hair and big mouth
Animal imagery:
Fox and sow
Elements of fire
Hot and dry
Elements of earth
Cold and dry
Air
Hot and moist
Elements of water
Cold and moist
Why was a balance of humours an important concept?
- Diseases were seen as originating from an imbalance in the humours
- Balance of humours determines a person’s complexion
A person’s complexion is also influenced by?
- The configuration of the heavens at the time of birth
- Age
- Seasons of the year
Alison’s complexion (Miller’s Tale)
Sanguine
• Merry
• Easily angered but easily out of anger
• Sexually very active
Nicholas’s complexion (Miller’s Tale)
Melancholic complexion
1. Scholar
2. Bookish
3. Fearful dreams, bad sleeper
Absolon’s complexion (Miller’s Tale)
Choleric
• Extremely lecherous
• Good memory
• Easily angered, vindictive
John’s complexion (Miller’s Tale)
Phlegmatic
• Dull in learning
• Excessive sleeper
What are the 3 reasons why Chaucer used animal imagery?
- It has a degrading effect on characters
- Animals are associated with certain behavioural aspects
- Animal images lend authority to the story
What are the three Medieval biology books? Each description typically consists of…
- Herbals (plants)
- Lapidaries (stones, gems)
- Bestiaries (animals)
Description consists of;
1. Illustration
2. Description (Natura)
3. Moral/allegorical meaning (Significatio)
The animal imagery of Alison
Weasel;
1. When she lives in a house, she moves from place to place with subtle cunning
2. Always lies at night in a different lair
3. Elongate mouse
Absolon and John’s animal imagery
Absolon is like an ape and cat
1. Chases Alison
John is also like a cat
