The Miller’s tale is about an old Carpenter, his eighteen-year-old wife, and the two students that are both in love with her. One of the students was Nicholas, who lived at the carpenter’s house. He took an interest in Alison, the wife, very quickly, and after basically raping her until she gave in, they began an affair. Knowing that the carpenter was a jealous man and could catch them in the act, Nicholas began planning how to trick the carpenter into leaving so they can “get it on” in private. This plan consisted of Nicholas claiming he received a message from god. He told the carpenter that there was a big flood coming and that everybody would die as a result. The carpenter freaks out and begins to prepare the remedy that Nicholas said would save them and Alison from death. He was told that they had to hang tubs from the roof, climb in them, and cut the strings when the water reached them so they could float away. Of course, everything Nicholas is telling the carpenter is fake, so when the carpenter falls asleep in his tub, Alison and Nicholas leave so they can spend the night together.
At some point, Alison goes to the parish church where Absolon, the other student, spies on her, falling in love on sight. He would serenade her and give her gifts and money, but she ignored him because she loved Nicholas. The morning after Nicholas’ elaborate plan takes place, Absolon comes by the carpenter's house to confess his love for Alison. He knocks on her window and begs for a kiss, to which she responds by sticking her bare ass out of the window for him to kiss. Angry that he literally kissed her ass, he goes to a blacksmith, borrows a hot iron, and knocks on her window again, telling her that he would give her a gold ring for a real kiss. This time Nicholas sticks his bare ass out of the window, and when Absolon asks Alison to speak so he knows where she is, Nicholas rips a big one right in his face. Absolon then sticks him with the hot poker, making Nicholas screams for water. This wakes up the carpenter, who is still in the tub on the roof, making him think that the flood has come, so he cuts the cord and comes crashing down. He breaks both of his arms, and after going on about Noah’s flood and such, Alison and Nicholas get away with what they had done by convincing everyone that the carpenter is crazy.
At some point, Alison goes to the parish church where Absolon, the other student, spies on her, falling in love on sight. He would serenade her and give her gifts and money, but she ignored him because she loved Nicholas. The morning after Nicholas’ elaborate plan takes place, Absolon comes by the carpenter's house to confess his love for Alison. He knocks on her window and begs for a kiss, to which she responds by sticking her bare ass out of the window for him to kiss. Angry that he literally kissed her ass, he goes to a blacksmith, borrows a hot iron, and knocks on her window again, telling her that he would give her a gold ring for a real kiss. This time Nicholas sticks his bare ass out of the window, and when Absolon asks Alison to speak so he knows where she is, Nicholas rips a big one right in his face. Absolon then sticks him with the hot poker, making Nicholas screams for water. This wakes up the carpenter, who is still in the tub on the roof, making him think that the flood has come, so he cuts the cord and comes crashing down. He breaks both of his arms, and after going on about Noah’s flood and such, Alison and Nicholas get away with what they had done by convincing everyone that the carpenter is crazy.