In Chaucer's "The Miller's Tale," why would the miller's determination to speak following the knight appear unsettling to the 14th century audience ?
Correct answer: D. The miller was far beneath the knight in social order, so the miller should have deferred to the person who ranked above him.
- A. The knight had not finished his tale.
- B. The miller did not ask politely.
- C. A member of the clergy should have spoken next.
- D. The miller was far beneath the knight in social order, so the miller should have deferred to the person who ranked above him.
Explanation
Medieval society was strongly hierarchical, so a miller speaking insistently after a knight violated expected social deference. His behaviour is unsettling because he ignores the rank-based order of the storytelling contest.
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