The Knight’s Tale is a romance that encapsulates the themes, motifs, and ideals of courtly love: love is like an illness that can change the lover’s physical appearance, the lover risks death to win favor with his lady, and he is inspired to utter eloquent poetic complaints.
What did the Knight do in the Canterbury Tales?
At the end of the Pardoner’s Tale, the Knight breaks in to stop the squabbling between the Host and the Pardoner, ordering them to kiss and make up. Ironically, though a soldier, the romantic, idealistic Knight clearly has an aversion to conflict or unhappiness of any sort.
Why does the knight tell the first tale?
Why is the Knight first in the General Prologue and first to tell a tale? The Knight is first to be described in the General Prologue because he is the highest on the social scale, being closest to belonging to the highest estate, the aristocracy.
What lesson does the Knight learn?
The knight eventually learns his lesson, although it takes him a while. With him, then, the tale seems to be encouraging women not to give up hope on the men in their lives; they may make some mistakes, but they’ll come around in the end.
What happens in the Knight’s Tale Chaucer?
In the tale the cousins Palamon and Arcite both fall in love with Emelye, sister of Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, who is married to their captor Theseus. A tournament is held in which the two rivals compete for Emelye’s hand. Although Arcite wins, he is thrown from his horse and dies.
What was the main role of a knight?
Knights were considered elite soldiers in battles, wars and crusades, but when not in such situations, they usually acted as law enforcement officers of the local lord’s court or that of the queen.
What sin did the knight commit in the Canterbury Tales?
of pride
While the Shipman’s tale is sexual in nature, it emphasizes envy. Even the Knight, who is the most moral character in The Canterbury Tales, is guilty of pride.
Why did Chaucer chose knight to tell his story first in Canterbury Tales?
In Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, the Knight is the first pilgrim, and likewise, the first one to narrate a story. The Knight is an admirable and upstanding figure, possessing great moral stature and a potent sense of chivalry and honor.
Who tells the first tale in Canterbury Tales?
The Reeve’s Prologue and Tale
The Reeve tells the story of two students, John and Alayn, who go to the mill to watch the miller grind their corn, so that he won’t have a chance to steal any. But the miller unties their horse, and while they chase it, he steals some of the flour he has just ground for them.
What is the most important quote from the Knights tale?
Wat: I miss you like the sun misses the flower. Like the sun misses the flower in the depths of winter. Instead of beauty to direct its light to the heart hardens like the frozen world your absence has banished me to.
What does the knight value in the Canterbury Tales?
Although the Middle English spellings are quite different from modern English, we can still make out that the Knight is considered worthy and values chivalry, truth, honor, freedom, and courtesy.
What was the knight’s most important training?
The young squire learnt about how to be a knight by going with his master to war, carrying his shield, putting on his armour before the battle, looking after his horses. The squire had to keep his master’s equipment ready and bring it to him when it was needed, even in the midst of a battle.
Does the knight gain a better understanding?
The knight definitely has a much better understanding of what women want and value. This is proven towards the end of the story. The old woman offers the knight a choice between a young, beautiful, and unloyal wife or an old, ugly, and loyal wife.
What is the tragic ending of the Knights tale?
Moments after the tournament ends, however, Arcite falls and fatally wounds his head. Before Arcite dies, he speaks about how important it is to have love, and not waste time fighting or earning honor. Palamon’s prayer is granted and he ends up with Emelye and they both live happily (“The Knight’s Tales, Parts 1-2”).
What happens in the end of the Knight’s Tale?
As he lies dying, Arcite acknowledges that he knows no person better than Palamon and begs Emilie to accept Palamon as her husband. Arcite dies and Theseus arranges a great funeral for him. After a long period of mourning, Palamon and Emilie are married and live out their lives in “a love unbroken.”
Who wins in the Knight’s Tale?
Theseus agrees and beats Creon. In the process, he wins two noble Theban hostages, cousins Palamon and Arcite.
Who is the most famous knight?
William Marshal has been dubbed “England’s greatest knight” – and probably the most loyal. He served five English kings from Henry II through to his grandson Henry III, and was 70 years old at the time of the 1217 Battle of Lincoln.
What were 3 things knights fought for?
Yep, they did and really did it nasty. Not all of course, but war and fighting tend to bring out the bad in people. Knights fought often for the rights to rape, pillage and plunder. It was one of the few ways available to them to create a reputation, acquire and grow their wealth.
What are the 5 qualities of a knight?
The Nature of Chivalry
The ideals of Christian morality and knightly chivalry are brought together in Gawain’s symbolic shield. The pentangle represents the five virtues of knights: friendship, generosity, chastity, courtesy, and piety.
Is the Knight in Canterbury Tales a hero?
The Knight is a generous and courteous man and fights with honor and fidelity, as a hero should. The narrator in The Canterbury Tales also calls the Knight wise and a “… true, perfect gentle-knight” (Chaucer 5).
Why does Chaucer like the Knight?
The Knight is “the most distinguished man” who is known by many as a great person and a valiant hero. But he is also hard-working, modest, and generous. The Knight does not boast about his achievements or demand praise. So, through his poetry, Chaucer described an ideal example of knightly virtues.