The Canterbury Tales · Chapter
The Reeve's Tale explained
The Reeve tells a story of revenge against a dishonest miller, mirroring the Miller's earlier tale.
What happens
The Reeve tells a story of revenge against a dishonest miller, mirroring the Miller's earlier tale. Two Cambridge students, Alein and John, outwit the miller Simkin by seducing his wife and daughter after he steals their grain.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This passage marks the story's dramatic climax because it shifts the focus from the external, ritualistic acts…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Social Class and Estate
The tale highlights class conflict between the educated students and the cunning miller, with each group trying to assert dominance.
- Corruption and Hypocrisy in the Church
The students, though clerics, engage in deceit and sexual misconduct, exposing hypocrisy within religious orders.
Characters to notice
- The Reeve
Tells a tale of revenge against a miller, retaliating for the Miller's earlier tale about a carpenter.
- Simkin
The dishonest miller who steals grain from the students and is outwitted in turn.
- Alein
One of the two Cambridge students who schemes to get revenge on Simkin.
- John
The other Cambridge student who participates in the revenge plot against Simkin.
Key passages
“The Reeve's Tale”
The Reeve tells a story of revenge against a miller.
The Reeve retaliates for the Miller's earlier tale by depicting a miller as a thief and a fool.
