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= The General Prologue = Michelle and I will be researching literary consciousness in The General Prologue and talking about it. Photo from: http://www.shmoop.com/millers-tale/teaching.html =The Miller's Tale= The Miller's Tale is an interesting one, because although it is called "The Miller's Tale" no one seems to want to take true ownership of the story. While there are no hints at literary consciousness in the actual tale, it is seen a few times in The Prologue to the tale. Both Chaucer and the Miller try to deflect the blame elsewhere and although both are somewhat responsible for it, neither take outright ownership of the tale.

Chaucer wants the reader to know that the Miller is drunk and he is the one telling the story. He even claims "M'athinketh that I shal reherce it here" (62), saying that even though he will tell the tale he regrets that he will do it here. Chaucer knows that this isn't a family friendly tale and he apologizes to the reader for that. He goes on to say that if someone does not want to hear such a story they should "turne over the leef, and chese another tale" (69). This seemed to be a very odd tactic to me because one would think an author would want people to read their story. But perhaps in the time that this was written it was considered inappropriate to write something like this so Chaucer was just covering himself. At the end of the Prologue to the Miller's tale he says "aviseth you, and putte me out of blame" (77), claiming once and for all that the reader should not blame him if they do not like the story.

Because Chaucer is so adamant that he is not to be blamed for the story and that it's called "The Miller's Tale" the reader might think that the Miller would be responsible for the story. While he does tell the story so he's responsible in some regard, he too says he shouldn't be held accountable for the story. Before the Miller even begins to talk the story tells the reader "The Millere, that for dronken was al pale, So that unnethe upon his hors he sat" (13-14), basically saying he was so drunk it was difficult for him to sit on his horse. In these days a horse was the main mode of long distance transportation, so someone must be pretty drunk if they have trouble sitting on their horse. When the Miller begins to tell his tale he first warns his audience "that I am dronke" (30) he realizes he is drunk, as does everyone else, and wants to make it clear. "Therfore if that I misspeke or saye, wite it the ale of Southwerk" (31-32), don't blame me but the ale if I misspeak or say something wrongly. The Miller will go on to tell his tale but if something comes out wrong he shouldn't be blamed.

Chaucer was more aware of the vulgar story he was about to tell and the Miller was more concerned with saving face. Chaucer apologizes in advance for what the reader is about to read, and even suggests reading another story if they're unhappy with this one. On the other hand the Miller just wants to be sure that people know he's drunk so if he slips up people won't blame him but the ale. Both men are aware of what they're about to do, but in different ways. Chaucer is speaking directly to his audience, the reader, and the Miller is speaking directly to his audience, those present in the story. Both express a literary consciousness that make the story feel as though it is being told to you, instead of you reading it.