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The Canterbury Tales · Character

Nicholas

A clever Oxford scholar with a taste for astrology and a bolder taste for his landlord's young wife, whose scheme to bed her turns on a flood that never comes.

major

Also known as Hendy Nicholas, quoth Nicholas, This Nicholas

First appearance: The Miller's Tale

As a major figure in The Canterbury Tales, Nicholas is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

A clever clerk who seduces Alison and devises a trick to sleep with her.
In the storyThe Miller's TaleOpen this moment free
See Nicholas in The Miller's TaleBook page

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Nicholas is a poor but learned clerk lodging with the old carpenter John, whose beautiful young wife Alisoun he covets. When John grows suspicious, Nicholas concocts an elaborate prophecy of a second Noah's flood,…

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The fuller portrait of Nicholas sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Nicholas in The Miller's Tale

Character Web

11 connections

A slice of how Nicholas sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

PAPalamonTCThe ClerkTYThe YeomanABAbsolonMNMaster NicholayNINicholas

Relationship types

  • Social
  • Other

Character groups

  • Diverse pilgrims and tale characters
  • Protagonist
  • Lower-class and bawdy characters
  • Moral exemplars and advisors
  • Comic and authorial figures

+6 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

SetupEscalationClimax
  • 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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Relationships

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Nicholas in The Miller's Tale

In the story

Nicholas appears across 2 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Nicholas unlock in the free preview.

See Nicholas in The Miller's Tale
See Nicholas in The Miller's Tale
Who is Nicholas in The Canterbury Tales?