Chaucers Canterbury Tales - Idealism in the Knights...

Idealism in the Knights Tale Despite its glorified accounts of the chivalrous lives of gentlemen, the Knight ¹s Tale proves to be more than a tragically romantic saga with a happy ending. For beneath this guise lies an exploration into the trifling world of the day ¹s aristocratic class. Here, where physical substance is superseded by appearance, reality gives way to disillusioned canon and emotion is sacrificed for honor. Naà ¯ve idealism emerges as the dominant characteristic of the seemingly flawless knight and we, as the reader, are asked to discern the effect of this fanciful quality on the story as a whole. To further investigate this argument one basic premise must be established as the groundwork:†¦show more content†¦In perhaps the most stunning lack of significant detail, his blazon on Emily recounts only the color and length of her hair and uses cliches to portray her: That Emelye, that fairer was to sene Than is the lylie upon his stalke grene, And fresher than the May with floures newe†¹ For with the rose colour stroof hire hewe, I noot which was the fyner of the two†¹(ll 1035-1039) And the vacancy of any real emotion (save that of love and grief, which are here more action than feeling) lends an air of superficiality to the story. For even Emily and Palamon, in the resolving conclusion, are reactionless, serving as mere instruments for the advancement of the plot. The only passionate portraits depicted are those of the theater/arena and the funeral pyre†¹inanimate objects whose symbolic importance seemingly takes precedence over the players involved. All these qualities united together paint the picture of a man out of touch with reality, direly in need of truth. This noble style remains far from eminent at times and gives another important insight into his character. The continuity of his speech is often interrupted with lapses of proverbial wisdom, abrupt scene changes, and the inability to see humor in his phrasing. His affinity towards the trite stalls his exalted discourse on numerous occasions, most ostensibly on the prisoner ¹s longing for home: We faren as he that dronke is as a mous. AShow MoreRelatedSatire of the Knight in the Prologue and Knights Tale of The Canterbury Tales2192 Words   |  9 Pageswrote his Canterbury Tales. Websters New World Dictionary says that satire is the use of ridicule, sarcasm, etc. to attack vices, follies, etc. Using that definition, I think that all of the pilgrims in the Canterbury Tales are satirized to some extent; some of the satirizations are more subtle than others. The Knight is one of the pilgrims that is more subtly satirized. Chaucer satirizes knights and chivalry in two different ways: in the prologue and in the Knights Tale. The firstRead MoreCharacter Satire in Chaucers Canterbury Tales2302 Words   |  10 PagesSatire of the Knight in Prologue and Knights Tale Satire. Satire is a biting literary tool, one that Geoffery Chaucer used liberally when he wrote his Canterbury Tales. Websters New World Dictionary says that satire is the use of ridicule, sarcasm, etc. to attack vices, follies, etc. Using that definition, I think that all of the pilgrims in the Canterbury Tales are satirized to some extent; some of the satirizations are more subtle than others. The Knight is one of the pilgrimsRead More Canterbury Tales - Comparison of the Millers Tale and the Knights Tale1638 Words   |  7 PagesA Comparison of the Millers Tale and the Knights Tale  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   It is common when considering The Canterbury Tales to discuss how some tales seem designed to emphasise the themes of others. Two such tales are the Millers Tale2 and the Knights Tale3. At first glance these two tales seem an incongruous pairing. The Knights Tale is told by an eminent person, is an historical romance which barely escapes a tragic ending, and its themes are universal: the relationship of individuals to providenceRead MoreThe Variety of Ways in Which Chaucer Treats the Subject of Love1450 Words   |  6 Pagesstories in the Canterbury Tales, men and women on the way to, or in marriage provide the ostensible subject, with six tales expounding largely on love and its counterpart in marriage. In comic tales, sexual activity is constantly relished, especially in the Miller’s Tale and the Reeve’s Tale, where love is defined and motivated by animalistic physical desire and relationships clouded with lies and deceit. In contrast, romances like the Knight’s Tale and the Franklin’s Tale have a high idealRead MoreThe Millers Attempt to Quiet the Knight Essay1435 Words   |  6 PagesIn Chaucers Canterbury Tales a storytelling competition is proposed by the Host. In his mind, it was only proper for the Knight to tell his story first. The sneaky Host rigged the drawing of straws and the Knight won the honor of going first. He told a Roman Epic of loyalty and love, set in classical antiquity that portrayed his gallant manner and elevated social class. The Millers Tale, a parody of the Knights Tale, came next. The Millers Tale was more contemporary and left out many of the