A Comparison of Miller's Tale and Knight's TaleIt is common when considering the Canterbury Tales to discuss how certain tales seem designed to emphasize the themes of others. Two of these tales are Miller's Tale2 and Knight's Tale3. At first glance, these two tales seem to form an incongruous pair. The Knight's Tale is told by an eminent character, is a historical romance that narrowly escapes a tragic ending, and its themes are universal: the relationship of individuals to providence, fortune and free will. Miller's Tale is narrated by a drunken "cherl" (MT 3182), is a farcical fabliau and has "a plot, not themes"4. And yet, in my opinion, there is much to be gained by reading Miller's Tale with the themes and characters of The Knight's Tale in mind. The juxtaposition of Miller's Tale with "the Knight's Tale makes its lack of meaning significant"5. These two tales have apparently opposite doctrines, and yet, it seems to me, both have the same object: to encourage us to survive misfortunes. and the uncertainties of life as best we can. The Knight's Tale tells us to "make virtue of necessity" (KT 3042) while Miller's Tale expects "every mind" to "laugh at this strif" (MT 3849). Miller's Tale is designed to be “quite” (MT 3127). the knight's tale. It certainly corresponds to it in the quality of its composition, but “rewards” the other tale mainly through its use of comedy. The humor sheds new light on the characters and actions of the previous tale. The carpenter's madness in Miller's Tale is by no means the only comic device Chaucer uses to create humor, but it is central in many ways. "He is, in theory, the 'authority figure' of the tale, and so it opens with him; ...... middle of article ......e Chaucer: Third Edition (Oxford : OUP, 1987), The Miller's Tale all references to lines from Miller's Tale will be given in the text, preceded by the initials "MT".3. Larry Benson, The Riverside Chaucer: Third edition (Oxford: OUP, 1987), The Knight's Tale. References to lines from the Knight's Tale will be given in the text, preceded by the initials "KT".4. Helen Cooper, Oxford Guides to Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales (Oxford: OUP, 1989), p. p. 99.7. "Miller's Tale as Complaint," Chaucer Review, 5 (1970), p. 150.8. Press, 1986), p. 125-142. This from, p. 131.9. Cooper, 99.10. Pearsall, p... 129.