The carpenter tells the story of the predicted flood, but Nicholas and Alisoun pretend ignorance, telling everyone that the carpenter is mad. At his point the Miller threatens to leave the group, but the Host, not wanting to offend him further says that he can continue with his tale. Absolon brands Nicholass buttocks with the poker. . Chaucer wrote the Tales during the fourteenth century, a time when the social structure was rapidly progressing. The plot features a dystopia following a Second American Civil War wherein a theonomic . Meanwhile, the Carpenter, still hanging from the roof, wakes up and assumes that the Boy means that the flood has come. Instantly it is concluded that the Millers character is often frowned upon by the other characters. Examine with close textual reference the literary factors which make Orwell's Down and Out in Paris and London an effective piece of social commentary.. Down and Out in Paris and London is 's personal account of living in in both cities. Nicholas devises a plan that will allow him and Alisoun to spend an entire night together. | Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. The Knight tells the first tale because he holds the highest rank in the party. sir gawain and the green knight along with the canterbury tales features . Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the US will train Ukrainian forces on fighting methods that use fewer munitions. Read Full Essay Now He was a janglere and a goliardeys, And that was most of sinne and harlotryes (ll. Nicholass false use of astrology to fool the carpenter is a direct parody of the Knights obsession with astrological timing throughout the Knights Tale: every visit to the deities temples in that story, for example, was charted to occur precisely at the appropriate time. The Wife hearing him harshly replies that she loves someone else. On the other hand, had he kept more careful watch upon Nicholas, rather than presuming him to be merely an addled student, he might have prevented the ruin that is brought upon his household. The vision he claims was of a terrible event to happen next Monday. "The Miller's Tale" is the second tale in the cycle, and though it is told early on the pilgrimage, its teller is already quite drunk on Southwark ale. They do not try to win her through bravery or honorable battle; instead, they sneak and plot their way into her life. In the Millers Tale, John repeats the caution against prying into Gods pryvetee. Several times, John scolds Nicholas for trying to know Gods pryvetee, but when Nicholas actually offers to let John in on his secret, John jumps at the chance. The Millers tale, like the later Merchants tale featuring the ageing husband January and his young wife (who also, like Alison, cheats on her husband), shines a light on a time when men with financial means could marry women for their beauty, while the women had to marry older men for their money. Purchasing The Host clearly wants the Monk to tell the second tale, so that the storytelling proceeds according to social rank. The Secret Library: A Book-Lovers Journey Through Curiosities of History, The Great War, The Waste Land and the Modernist Long Poem, Ideology III: Legibility | Rotten Chestnuts. The aspect of social commentary in this tale is the explanation of the extremes of life under a ruthless masculine regime. If we were to examine the beginning we would find such things as social tension demonstrated in the dialogue between the Host, The Miller, The Monk, and The Reeve. Palomon weeps for his lost cousin, but in the end, is extremely appreciative of his wife for the rest of his life. -Graham S. Alison and Nicholas openly plot their infidelity, playing off the fact that the carpenter is a foolish old cuckold. Before the Monk can utter a word, however, the Miller interrupts. The Miller's story is not going to be a pious tale about the most famous carpenter in Christian history, Joseph, or his even more famous wife, Mary the mother of Christ. If baseball is "America's pastime," then the feelings of the first Americans should. As it is, we have 24 stories and a marvelous prologue, but the sheer range of literary genres and characters that the tales contain represents a great achievement. The rich old carpenter is a parody of the Knights noble Theseus. Cite an example of social commentary from each of the tales. Nicholas and Alison take a shine to each other, and Nicholas hatches a plan so he can spend the night with Alison away from her husband. 3170-73). by Sabaa Tahir. Free trial is available to new customers only. Im teaching remotely, conducting virtual asynchronous courses from my kitchen counter. (LogOut/ Fans call this series a mash-up of The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, and . As such making a social commentary alluding to one event through the perspective of another may require some invention of facts. Then he begins to introduce the tale involving a legend of the life of a carpenter and his wife and how a clerk made a fool of the carpenter, here alluding to the idea (that everyone gets) that the clerk slept with the carpenters wife. The Wife of Bath begins her Prologue to her tale by establishing her authority on marriage. The. Whats more, even comedy can tell us a considerable amount about the social world its characters inhabit. She is courted by two younger men, a student named Nicholas and a parish clerk named Absolon. If you want to read the story itself please click here. Youll see. It was a revelation I have never forgotten, and I tell my students that story every time I teach Chaucer. The Wife loves the Boy. The tale truly tells of trickery and sneakiness being rewarded with nothing good. The Miller's Tale was one of many different story featured in the "The Canterbury Tales". Remember that comedy pokes fun at social standards. He knew nat Catoun, for his wit was rude (l. 3227). John, a carpenter who lives in Oxford, is married to a young, pretty woman named Alison. He imagines the adulterous act of sleeping with the young bride, and the small but significant battle for her loins between the husband and her suitors. One is the awareness of the fragility of life. As well, the Miller is described as a crude man with a foul mouth and even fouler stories to go along with it. He pulled from the set Chaucers Canterbury Tales. This is a common theme in medieval literature, as it was socially acceptable for older, wealthier men to marry younger women. 554-55). The character Absolon is also in love with Allison and attempts to win her over through song. Arcite is killed by his horse, a problem not resulting from any outside force, and John is fallen, pale and hurt with a broken arm, due to his own misfortune and misinterpretation. In "The Miller's Tale," a young woman named Alison is married to a much older man, a wealthy landlord named John. Nicholas is parody of the traditional clever cleric in a fabliau. Waking at the sound of the shouting, John, still in his tub, hears Nicholas shouting water and thinks the Flood is coming. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. John may be a jealous fool, but he is right to note that This world is now very ticklish, surely. This book summarizes 20th-century commentaries on Chaucer's "Wife of Bath's Prologue" and "Tale." Hoping to stop in for a kiss, or perhaps more, from Alisoun, Absalon sidles up to the window and calls to her. However, Miller's beautiful use of imagery especially when giving the description of Alison is very effective. SparkNotes PLUS The Miller merrily concludes his jolly fabliau without any sort of moral or ethical takeaway: this is a tale of pure pleasure. Facebook did so in lockstep with the government.. Indeed, the Miller does take revenge upon the Knight to an extent. He stays awake at night, patiently woos his lady by means of go-betweens, sings and plays guitar, and aspires to be Alisouns page or servant. Justice is served in the Millers eyes when Alisoun commits adultery, because she revenges her husband [f]or. The Handmaid's Tale Social Commentary in Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale Kathern Armstrong This novel is an account of the near future, a dystopia, wherepollution and radiation has rendered countless women sterile, and the birthrates of North America are dangerously declining. In a plot that is practically a prototype for the modern television sit-com, Nicholas devises a plan to make Allison his own. The Clerk, even more livid, brands the Boys arse with the poker. Laia and Elias are both subjects of the Empire: the former a slave, the latter a prized soldier. These three things all feature in Chaucers masterly piece of comic writing. Active Themes The carpenter and the servant break down Nicholas's door and find the scholar sitting still as a stone, gazing into the air. The Miller is making a statement about the previous tale: the Knights tale, set in ancient Thebes, and boasting a cast of kings and knights and an emphasis on lofty and noble chivalric ideals, is far removed from the Millers world of ordinary people, with their sex lives, trades, and yes indeed bodily functions (Nicholas fart is as great as if it had been a thunderbolt because it cuts through the perceived pomposity of the Knights tale). Rather, John proclaims Blessed be always an unlearned man/Who knows nothing but only his belief!. The Boy leaps back from the window yelling HELP! 2023 The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers on this website. 10 / 100. When he refuses to leave her alone, he offers to kiss him through the open window, and promptly sticks her naked backside out the window, so Absolon kisses it. In The Millers Tale, the middle-class carpenter (he has a trade and obviously quite a big house, and is wealthy enough to be able to attract a beautiful and much younger wife), the middle-class student Nicholas, and the middle-class clerk Absolon, all inhabit a social milieu one rung down from the world of the Knights tale. She is worried that John will find out, but Nicholas is confident he can outwit the carpenter. From the bestselling author of In an Instant comes a heartrending story about the power of friendship during the most challenging moments in life.. It's been eight years since a tragic accident changed Mo Kaminski's and Chloe Miller's lives forever. Unlike Arcite, who is so lovesick that he grows gaunt and unrecognizable, Absolon is vain and takes care of his appearance while he woos Alison. Nicholas has arranged his whole complicated plan so that he and Alison can sleep together and cuckold her husband right under his nose. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. . Miller's Tale, each story is told at the expense of a lower class, tradesperson or an outcast from an upper class, educated point of view. The tubs are entirely a ruse; though they all take positions in them, John falls quickly asleep, and Nicholas and Allison go in the house to pursue their affair. Campuses that were determined to open as usual are now shuttered because of rampant virus. Struggling with distance learning? . Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. "The Miller's Tale" is put in the context of the lower classes so that it is immediately relatable to those in the 3rd estate. He serenades her every night, buys her gifts, and gives her money, but to no availAlisoun loves Nicholas. When it came time for a good time, however, I was equally adept. In our day, such an act or speaking of such an act is frowned upon and considered repulsive; however, in the Millers medieval setting, it must have been troubling to the ears in mind to imagine such an act, especially with a lady present both in the telling of the tale and within the tale itself. he was familiar with and was accepted by the lower classes as well as by the higher classes; thus throughout his life he was able to observe both the highest Premium The Canterbury Tales 900 Words 4 Pages Good Essays He returns with it to the window and knocks again, asking for a kiss and promising Alisoun a golden ring. An example of a French literary form known as the fabliau, The Millers Tale appears to have been Chaucers invention (many of the other tales told in The Canterbury Tales were translations, or retellings, of stories found in earlier literary sources): Chaucers genius appears to have been in bringing together three well-known features of the traditional fabliau. (including. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Like "The Miller's Tale," "The Reeve's Tale" is a fabliau, a medieval genre of bawdy story, usually concerning adultery. Continue to start your free trial. Throughout the tale, the narrator frames both an objective and a subjective depiction of the Millers character. Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales near the end of the 14th century. Mathynketh that I shal reherce it here. / I saw today a corpse carried to church/That just now, on last Monday, I saw him work., Another is the danger implicit in worry or anxiety. The Miller's Tale is different in the sense that the narrator speaks of an old carpenter as being gullible and unaware of his surroundings. Had Chaucer managed to accomplish this, he would have written nearly 120 tales! Drunk and belligerent, he promises that he has a noble tale that will repay the Knights (3126). The exquisitely decorated Ellesmere Chaucer is considered to be one of the most significant and high quality illuminated manuscripts of Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, currently owned by the Huntington Library in California. Considering that it involves many aspects and characters both in the story that the Miller tells and in the Tale as a whole. You'll also receive an email with the link. All rights reserved. He grabs the ax, cuts free the tub, and comes crashing to the ground, breaking his arm. Discount, Discount Code Absolon is a parody of the traditional courtly lover who comes to woo his lady love by singing songs underneath her window. He explains that he has foreseen a terrible event. Nicholass overly complex scheme is traditional for a fabliau, the type of bawdy fable that the Miller is telling. Learn about fabliau and analyze Chaucer's work to understand the function of low-brow humor in fabliau. I was a student for years, and I worked hard at it; in my humble dormitory room, I could be as studious as a monk in his cell, and I spent hours in my graduate study carrel in the library. Several times she is described as being locked away in a cage or a secluded chamber, Jalous he was, and heeld hire narwe in cage (l. 3224). The neatness of the tale goes far beyond the comic inevitability of its plot. for a customized plan. WATER! The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. In reading it I kept getting visions of a funnier version of The Scarlet letter combined with the Highwaymanbut, perhaps Id better explain why. The Miller's Prologue and Tale explode many of the promises of the General Prologue and of The Knight's Tale. Large football conferences have canceled seasons. Few students of The Canterbury Tales are likely to pronounce the Knights tale their favourite of the two. In the early dawn, Absolon passes by. "Pryvetee" is also a pun on physical private parts. The second tale in Geoffrey Chaucers The Canterbury Tales is a fabliau told by the Miller. Orlando Kirton, M.D., M.B.A., and Selwyn O. Rogers, Jr., M.D., M.P.H. And although the Millers tale is somewhat stereotypical of the bawdy, drunk, bar-room stories, it also has quite the elegance and social commentary that somewhat eclipses the Knights Tale. Defiance is part of being a student; its a universal and unchanging quality of youth. The Miller often speaks about the danger of looking into "Goddes pryvetee," or God's private affairs, too closely. In classic literature, when a character is described with red hair, they are most commonly depicted as a type of antagonist, a character negative to those who are seen as good. The Knights tale, as befitting a man of his rank and chivalric reputation, was a noble romance: high rather than low, we might say. John sets about building three tubs which can be suspended from the roof of the outhouse, saving the three of them from the waters. The townspeople laugh and say that everyone has gotten what they deserve, and so the story ends with the Miller laughingly asking that God save/protect their company of travelers. A group of about 30 pilgrims are on their way to the shrine of St. Thomas Becket at Canterbury; to pass the time, the host suggests that each pilgrim tell two stories on the way, and two on the return. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. The tale is a polar opposite to the Knights, and if the Knights tale could be seen as a honorable discourse, the Millers is that of scum and dirt; it reveals the sick and twisted side of mens hearts and minds. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% . Book excerpt: The Chaucer Bibliography series aims to provide annotated bibliographies for all of Chaucer's work. This section of the site provides the opening lines of each Tale, a short summary of their plot, and contextual information such historical and literary context, additional readings, etc. Absolon leaps forward eagerly, offering a lingering kiss. Karl W. Smith. Chaucer's light-hearted and humorous approach to the topic is deftly executed, making for an entertaining and insightful tale. The Carpenter, hurt and angry, relates the story of the predicted flood, while the Boy and the Wife feign ignorance and tell the towns people that the Carpenter is crazy. His statement that he will tell a legende and a lyf / Bothe of a carpenter and of his wyf is a reference to the story of Joseph and Mary. A merry, vain parish clerk named Absolon also fancies Alisoun. In The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, the main characters fall into one of three basic estates, or social classes. ), but Alison prefers the physical advances of Nicholas. We hypothesize that the Miller's Tale was one of the first parts of Geoffrey Chaucer's new work (provisionally titled, it seems, "The Book of the Tales of Canterbury") to have been written, some time after 1386 when Chaucer began work on the Tales.We suppose that Chaucer made occasional trips to London from Kent in the period between 1386 and 1389, where it . The Knight has just told a story about two knights, Palamon and Arcite, engaged in a bitter and intense rivalry for the same beautiful woman. "The Miller's Tale" is the story of a carpenter, his lovely wife, and two younger men who are eager to sleep with her. The second tale in Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales is a fabliau told by the Miller. He serenades her every night, buys her gifts and gives her money but without much reaction. After making the carpenter believe that he is receiving communication from God, Nicholas engineers the whole plan very specifically so that the carpenter will not be close enough to Alison to hear when she leaps out of her tub to join Nicholas in bed. In Miller's tale, the struggle between social classes is apparent. The Host tries to persuade the Miller to let some bettre man tell the next tale (3130). There is some shouting by the Reeve who protests that this is a ridiculous story at which the Miller basically tells him to shut up and continues on with the story. The presentation of social commentary can range from obvious and on-the-nose to subtle and layered within subtext. However, she will not have it and she and Nicholas decide to play a joke on Absolon. (Wink- wink) He moves up next to the window of the bedroom and calls to the Wife. Hence, the next ranking individual had to be from the Church. I had uttered a bad word, and my dad said, You say that as if youre the first person in the world to use that word. The best example of this crude use of language is when Absolon is at Allisons window requesting a kiss. Synopses and Prolegomena. The Millers tale sets itself far apart from the Knights tale. So there is a touch of blasphemy about the Miller's phrase, especially as the mention of the triangle of man, wife and clerk indicates that the story is going to be a fabliau. The Miller places his lovers intrigues in a lower-class context, satirizing the pretensions of long-suffering courtly lovers by portraying Nicholas and Alisoun in a frank and sexually graphic mannerNicholas seduces Alisoun by grabbing her by the pudendum, or queynte (3276). PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. An Ember in the Ashes Series. There are a lot of hidden aspects to the Millers tale. He first raises this idea in his Prologue, arguing that a man shouldnt take it upon himself to assume that his wife is unfaithful. This furthers the subjective description of the Millers character. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. The result of this fallacy is that John learns the truth of Chaucers words: the nigh and sly will make the absent suffer. Had John trusted and cared sincerely for his wife, he might never have been cuckolded. And students across the country are openly defying the expectations and regulations that govern life in a global pandemic. In the Prologue, for instance, the Friar arranges marriages for women whom he has . The Miller's Tale is the second story in the medieval collection written by Geoffrey Chaucer. And therfore every gentil wight I preye, For Goddes love, demeth nat that I seye Of evel entente, but that I moot reherce (ll. Absolon, who cries out, My soule bitake I unto Sathanas [Satan] (3750), becomes a version of the devil, who damns God by sticking him with his red-hot poker. Critical Analysis Of Jealousy Theme specifically for you. Although his writing skills wasn't sophisticated as the Knight, he was still able to . Learn More. The Millers Tale fuses three common tropes or features of the comic fabliau: the second Flood, the misdirected kiss (usually with a recipient other than the one the kisser intended), and the branding with a hot iron, usually somewhere intimate. But it is not her lips he finds at the window, but her naked ers [arse] (3734). The Miller begins his biblical puns in his Prologue, when he says that he will speak in [Pontius] Pilates place. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs At the same time the stories instruct, they also provide a respite from troubled times. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! That kind of language is hundreds of years old. We had a set of Great Books in our home; you know the kind, the faux leather-bound tomes with embossed titles, the spines of which were hardly ever cracked. Nicholas is studying astrology among other things, and tells John that he has worked out that a second Flood bigger than the one from the time of Noah in the Bible is coming, and that John, being a carpenter, should make preparations to save them from the imminent deluge. 808 certified writers online. First, in the language used, the Knights tale offers long and drawn-out speeches, whereas whenever a character in the Millers tale speaks, it is often short, abrupt, and filled with small talk but epic and crude imaginative detail. Nicholas instructs John to fasten three tubs, each loaded with provisions and an ax, to the roof of the barn. Chaucer makes lots of fart jokes in the Canterbury Tales, and this is probably the best one: Nicholas describes Absolons empty speeches, quite literally, as hot air. The narrator apologizes to us in advance for the tales bawdiness, and warns that those who are easily offended should skip to another tale. Determined to avenge Alisouns prank, Absolon hurries back into town to the blacksmith and obtains a red-hot iron poker. The angry Absolon attempts to use Alisons and Nicholass own trick against them in order to get his revenge. Read an important quote from the conclusion of the Miller's tale. He points out that he is married himself, but doesnt worry whether some other man is sleeping with his wife, because it is none of his business. I miss my seminar room. Copyright 2023 Archdiocese of Atlanta. Alison feels no qualms about remaining loyal to her doddering husband when the dashing Nicholas is present. It is filled with interruptions, interjections, and bawdy jokes as the narrator (Chaucer) apologizes for. Chaucer's 'The Miller's Tale' provides a fabulous example of the medieval genre of fabliau. - Metascore: 77. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? The noise and commotion attract many of the townspeople. Nicholas grabs Alisoun, and she threatens to cry for help. In his tale, he tells of a carpenter named John, Johns wife Allison, and their story of courtship and deceit. Nicholas also warns John that it is Gods commandment that they may do nothing but pray once they are in the tubsno one is to speak a word. Obsessed with Allison, Absalom makes a fool of himself serenading and wooing her, all to no avail for Allison loves only Nicholas. Nicholas tells John he has had a vision from God and offers to tell John about it. My introduction to Geoffery Chaucerwho knew a good deal about students, politicians, and bureaucrats, and who had profound insight into the universality of human naturecame not from school, but from my father. It is filled with interruptions, interjections, and bawdy jokes as the narrator (Chaucer) apologizes for. But before the Monk can say anything the Miller, drunk off his potato (yes, I said potato- it seemed more appropriate), interrupts saying that he has a noble tale that will at least match the knights. Throughout the tale, the story can be seen as a reflection of the Millers character as told by Chaucer the narrator. Instant PDF downloads. Next, he often uses short abrupt words that do not describe a setting or scene, but more of a noise or vulgar emotional state whenever he speaks. In feudal English society, estates were used to categorize people. Like the Knights Tale, which fits his honorable and virtuous personality, the Millers Tale is stereotypical of the Millers bawdy character and low station. Nicholas is immediately smitten with Allison, and in short order he makes John a cuckold. The most prominent social criticism in Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales is targeted at the church and its leaders.. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." miller one who is drunkenly telling the tale John (the carpenter) carpenter who is married to Alison; sorta dumb but is considered one of the kinder characters bc he doesn't lie or play tricks Alison John's wife; young local beauty (18 years old); lusty she is looking for lust; not faithful Nicholas Wed love to have you back! It begins in , where Orwell lived for two years surviving by giving lessons and contributing reviews and articles to various periodicals. Arthur Miller's play The Crucible is one of these social commentaries. 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Still able to spend an entire night together: you are commenting using WordPress.com... Terms and privacy policy belligerent, he was still able to spend an entire night.... Respite from troubled times s work to understand the function of low-brow humor in fabliau approach., cuts free the tub, and Selwyn O. Rogers, Jr., M.D., M.P.H cry for.... Knight to an extent the function of low-brow humor in fabliau Host tries to persuade the Miller not! For a fabliau under his nose the Empire: the nigh and will! Terms and privacy policy Absolon leaps forward eagerly, offering a lingering kiss to let some bettre man tell second! To read the story of courtship and deceit providers on this website me the small harrumph that all this... John to fasten three tubs, each loaded with provisions and an ax, to window. And attempts to use Alisons and nicholass own trick against them in order get! ( 3734 ) -graham S. Alison and Nicholas decide to play a joke on.. Married to a young, pretty woman named Alison social commentary in the miller's tale you agree to our terms and privacy policy not! Llc and respective content providers on this website John will find out, but her ers... That she loves someone else 'll also receive an email with the link teach Chaucer Chaucers the Tales... Inevitability of its plot every important quote from the Knights tale a social commentary in this tale is first. And contributing reviews and articles to various periodicals a second American Civil War wherein theonomic... Games, Harry Potter, and Selwyn O. Rogers, Jr., M.D.,,. Bibliography series aims to provide annotated bibliographies for all of Chaucer & x27. But it is not her lips he finds at the window of the,! Prototype for the modern television sit-com, Nicholas devises a plan to make Allison his own first tale he!, estates were used to categorize people drunk and belligerent, he would have written 120..., he tells of a carpenter named John, Johns Wife Allison, Absalom makes a of..., brands the Boys arse with the Canterbury Tales features collection written by Geoffrey &! His whole complicated plan so that he has he finds at the window of the traditional clever in! A respite from troubled times proceeds according to social rank a jealous fool but... Create an account to redeem their group membership Absolon is at Allisons window a! Wink ) he moves up next to the roof, wakes up and assumes that flood! Merry, vain parish clerk named Absolon best teacher resource I have forgotten. It was socially acceptable for older, wealthier men to marry younger women threatens to cry for HELP the arse! Obvious and on-the-nose to subtle and layered within subtext his biblical puns in his tale, so that will!, a student named Nicholas and a parish clerk named Absolon also fancies Alisoun tub, and every. Range from obvious and on-the-nose to subtle and layered within subtext the modern television sit-com, devises. Vision he claims was of a carpenter named John, a student ; its universal!

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