Tough-O-Meter

We've got your back. With the Tough-O-Meter, you'll know whether to bring extra layers or Swiss army knives as you summit the literary mountain. (10 = Toughest)

(8) Snow Line

Reading Middle English can be tough, and it takes a lot of practice, but "The Miller's Tale" is a great place to begin. For one thing, it's a very straightforward story. The narrator is basically just describing what happens to these four characters, without a lot of confusing embellishments or plot twists. Plus, it's totally hilarious! Our advice: Read our plot summary first, then use that as your training wheels to tackle the tale. And for resources devoted to helping you learn Middle English, see "Best of the Web."