Geoffery Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales is one of the greatest literary works in the history of English literature, as his tales captured the vernacular and societal structure of the Middle Ages in Europe. Before his time, most literature were either written in languages of royalty and nobility such as Latin or French, further promoting a disconnection from the common people. One of his most notable stories of the anthology would be The Knights’ Tale. Chaucer’s personal experience, his use of Greek mythology and Italian writer Giovanni Boccaccio’s long epic poem Teseida delle Nozze d’Emilia serves as the foundation for The Knight’s Tale.
Written in 1340, the Teseida consists of twelve books supposedly created as an attempt “to domesticate …show more content…
Interestingly enough, Chaucer proceeds to address these deities by their Roman names as opposed to what they are called in Greek mythology. Perhaps one can infer that because England was once a part of the Roman Empire, his readers of his day would more likely be able to recognize the influence. Those of nobility and the clergy, including Chaucer, spoke Latin and were most likely very informed of the Roman Empire (Orme, 267).
The Knight’s Tale is the first tale to be told and it is a story that Chaucer has the Knight specifically decide to tell, given the Knight’s prologue. The Knight is described in the General Prologue as a worthy man who displayed chivalry, truth, honour, freedom and courtesy (42-46). The character’s Palemone and Arcita consequently share the same traits, as they are noble, courtly, and chivalrous in the tale. The Knight’s Tale also appears to be a reflection of Chaucer’s self, as he was elected to parliament as Knight of the Shire for Kent later in his life (Wheeler). His knowledge from living a life of nobility gave him the tools to become inspired to write The Canterbury Tales and his other stories concerning society at the time. Perhaps the positive traits he gave to the Knight were traits that he may have possessed
Written in 1340, the Teseida consists of twelve books supposedly created as an attempt “to domesticate …show more content…
Interestingly enough, Chaucer proceeds to address these deities by their Roman names as opposed to what they are called in Greek mythology. Perhaps one can infer that because England was once a part of the Roman Empire, his readers of his day would more likely be able to recognize the influence. Those of nobility and the clergy, including Chaucer, spoke Latin and were most likely very informed of the Roman Empire (Orme, 267).
The Knight’s Tale is the first tale to be told and it is a story that Chaucer has the Knight specifically decide to tell, given the Knight’s prologue. The Knight is described in the General Prologue as a worthy man who displayed chivalry, truth, honour, freedom and courtesy (42-46). The character’s Palemone and Arcita consequently share the same traits, as they are noble, courtly, and chivalrous in the tale. The Knight’s Tale also appears to be a reflection of Chaucer’s self, as he was elected to parliament as Knight of the Shire for Kent later in his life (Wheeler). His knowledge from living a life of nobility gave him the tools to become inspired to write The Canterbury Tales and his other stories concerning society at the time. Perhaps the positive traits he gave to the Knight were traits that he may have possessed