“A Knight’s Tale;” The Story of One And Everyman
Many medieval stories were meant to be told to large audiences of common and noble folk alike and as such, these poems and songs had to be relatable enough that the listeners belonging to either social class could immerse themselves in the tale. The nobility often wanted to hear stories of brave knights on virtuous quests for honor and glory, in hopes that it would spur a similar adventure in their own lives. Conversely, the peasants and laborers of the time preferred to be entertained with humor and light-hearted characters, in part to distract themselves from their own taxing lives, and also because the adventures of knighthood were far from their reach. While the storyteller’s need to bridge …show more content…
As common man William, the most that was expected of him was to serve his knight as he had been taught to, but Sir Ulrich, a member of high society, is assumed to be well versed in the social graces, including the art of exchanging pleasantries, the ability to dance, and to be comfortable in a banquet hall, while also being accomplished in battle as well. This version of the perfect knight was actually written by Chaucer himself as a character in “The Canterbury Tales,” was described as a hero on the battlefield, striking down enemy after enemy in the name of God and glory, while still being chivalrous and soft-tongued, never offending with crude language or harsh insult (Ecker & Crook, "General Prologue", 1993). William, however, did not grow up in the noble class, where these skills would have been taught to him as a child since the nobility considered being well rounded in both social and combative conventions equally important, and so he often finds himself with his foot in his mouth, exemplified when he compares the woman he is trying to compliment to his horse 's’ flanks and when he must pretend he knows how to dance during a banquet (Helgeland, Helgeland, Van Rellim, & Black, "A Knight 's
Many medieval stories were meant to be told to large audiences of common and noble folk alike and as such, these poems and songs had to be relatable enough that the listeners belonging to either social class could immerse themselves in the tale. The nobility often wanted to hear stories of brave knights on virtuous quests for honor and glory, in hopes that it would spur a similar adventure in their own lives. Conversely, the peasants and laborers of the time preferred to be entertained with humor and light-hearted characters, in part to distract themselves from their own taxing lives, and also because the adventures of knighthood were far from their reach. While the storyteller’s need to bridge …show more content…
As common man William, the most that was expected of him was to serve his knight as he had been taught to, but Sir Ulrich, a member of high society, is assumed to be well versed in the social graces, including the art of exchanging pleasantries, the ability to dance, and to be comfortable in a banquet hall, while also being accomplished in battle as well. This version of the perfect knight was actually written by Chaucer himself as a character in “The Canterbury Tales,” was described as a hero on the battlefield, striking down enemy after enemy in the name of God and glory, while still being chivalrous and soft-tongued, never offending with crude language or harsh insult (Ecker & Crook, "General Prologue", 1993). William, however, did not grow up in the noble class, where these skills would have been taught to him as a child since the nobility considered being well rounded in both social and combative conventions equally important, and so he often finds himself with his foot in his mouth, exemplified when he compares the woman he is trying to compliment to his horse 's’ flanks and when he must pretend he knows how to dance during a banquet (Helgeland, Helgeland, Van Rellim, & Black, "A Knight 's