The Canterbury Tales · Character
John
A jealous old carpenter in the Miller's Tale.
minor
Also known as quoth John, Dan John
First appearance: The Miller's Tale
John shows up with force in The Miller's Tale. The page is where that presence becomes real.
The jealous old carpenter who is tricked into believing Noah's flood is coming.
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In The Miller's Tale: The jealous old carpenter who is tricked into believing Noah's flood is coming. Later, in The Miller's Tale: The wealthy but jealous carpenter who marries young Alison. He is easily tricked by…
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See John in The Miller's TaleCharacter Web
28 connectionsA slice of how John sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Other
Character groups
- Lower-class and bawdy characters
- Protagonist
- Diverse pilgrims and tale characters
+23 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative 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…
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John appears across 3 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for John unlock in the free preview.
See John in The Miller's Tale