The Knight From The Wife Of Bath S Tale Essay, Research Paper
In his prologue, Chaucer introduces all of the characters who are involved in this fictional journey and who will tell the tales. One of the most interesting of the characters introduced is the Knight. Chaucer refers to the Knight as a most distinguished man and, indeed, his sketch of the Knight is highly complimentary. Another Knight seen in the Canterbury Tales is the rapist knight in the Wife of Bath s Tale, who is not a very noble knight and doesn t follow a chivalric code. This knight seems more realistic as opposed to the stereotypical ideal knight that Chaucer describes in the Prologue. It is hard to believe that such a perfect knight existed during that time.
Today we look back at knighthood, chivalry, and curteisye as romantic and unreal. It is true that a code of behavior did exist, and Chaucer presents the Knight as a real representative of the code. However the Knight in the Wife of Baths tale, is the complete opposite of this one, and violates all of the rules of Knighthood. By way of contrast the Knight in The Wife of Bath s Tale is more common during the Middle Ages, and stories of rape by knights were not uncommon. Chaucer goes against the normal chivalric ideal of a knight by presenting a knight as he really might have been, which is the knight presented in The Wife of Bath s Tale.
As all of the different tales reflect back on the characters of the pilgrims who tell them, the ideas in the Knight s Tale are reflected back on the Knight. His tale is a tale of ideal love and chivalry, and fits the character of the Knight. Furthermore, fitting the Knight s character, his tale has no incidents of vulgarity, the love is a clean love, with no hint of sensuality. The love exists on a high, platonic level.
In the article Costume Rhetoric in the Knight s Portrait: Chaucer s Every-Knight and his Bismotered Gyphon, by Laura F. Hodges, featured in the April 1995 edition of the Chaucer Review, Hodges examines the reasons behind Chaucer s decisions on the clothing of his Knight. Hodges said that the fact that the Knight was wearing soiled clothing is an allusion to the fact that the knight was soiled religiously. However I think his shirt was much stained by where the armor had left his mark, and he just arrived from service and went directly on his pilgrimage.
The main function of the knight in medieval time was fighting. Knights were trained to fight, and to go to war. One of the ways that a Knight could earn the admirations of others, and be seen as very honorable, was to prove himself in glorious battles. The Knight s historical background of his fighting career is important for it shows that all the wars that he fought in were all religious wars in some nature and not secular. These wars can be divided into three groups. Chronologically, the first includes the long struggle to expel the Moorish invaders from Spain. The second group, (Alisaundre Lyels .Satalye ) occurred in the Grete See which is the eastern Mediterranean and Asia Minor. The third group in which knights from everywhere in Christian Europe was involved took place in Pruce, Lettow, and Ruce, which were all on the border of eastern and western Europe. The Teutonic Knights had long been in conflict with the non-Christians in the east. The ceremonial referred to as the bord of Pruce was that of the Teutonic table of honor, a ritual assembly of knights at which those who had acquitted themselves well, like Chaucer s knight were placed at the head.
After examining the introduction of the Knight s character in the General Prologue of the Canterbury Tales, Hodges said that Chaucer intended his Knight to be the one true life portrait of a knight of the 14th century an every knight of sorts. Chaucer says that the Knight is very courageous, very prudent and very sage. He says that the Knight is, The very pattern of a noble Knight.
The knight from the Wife of Bath s Tale shows a darkside of the glorious knighthood presented to us. However, the traits of his character are more real than the Knight. He is guided by his desires, and doesn t think about punishment when he rapes the girl. However he follows the chivalric codes by keeping his promise to do whatever the old hag wants. He seems to live only for the present moment. He agrees to do anything she wants in return for hearing the answer he is looking for. True, if he doesn t get an answer, he will lose his life. However he doesn t think about the possibility that what the hag will want may turn out to even worse, considering the fact that honor and personal integrity were valued more than life in those times. He is also ungrateful for even though the hag saves him for a certain death and requests that he marry her, the knight should be grateful to escape death, but instead he views the marriage to his savior as another form of the same punishment. This manifests his knighthood qualities by keeping his promise. This knight is more real than Chaucer s knight, for he has flaws, he is the antithesis of the qualities that a good and honorable knight should have.
It is highly unlikely that a knight such as Chaucer s night lived and breathed in his times. As Chaucer does with all of his characters, he is producing a stereotype in creating the persona of such and ideal man. Chaucer in describing the Knight, is depicting a chivalric ideal, when in fact the actions of the knight in the Wife of Bath s Tale is the actual portrait of the knight that existed in those times. I pose that the essence of Chaucer s Knight was no more real in his day than it is today, and he was simply giving the people and ideal character to admire. He never intended his fictional star to be interpreted as a reality, and he was only giving his readers what they wanted. Today, our mass media delivers the same package and on a grander and even more fictional scale than ever before.
Другие работы по теме:
Kemble Knight Essay Research Paper Sarah Kemble
Kemble Knight Essay, Research Paper Sarah Kemble Knight. Journal. Group A: Our group found passages to support the idea that Knight was courageous. On the first day of their journey they encountered a thick swamp On the second day they crossed a river which “greatly terrified” knight. She goes on to say “I now ralyed all the courage I was mistress of …” (now would seem like a good time for a woman from the city to call it quits!) On day three Knight can not cross the river because the water is too high at present so she stays at “a little cottage.” Knight says, “this little Hutt was one of the wretchedest I ever saw a habitation for human creatures.” Also on day three Knight says “an Indian-like Animal come to the door.” If knight is concerned about her safety she doesn’t write about it.
Chaucer Essay Research Paper Carolyn P FazioEnglish
Chaucer Essay, Research Paper Carolyn P. Fazio English 330: Prof. Zeikowitz September 23, 1999 Response II The introduction of the Black Night in the Book of the Duchess, provides an interesting redirection of focus regarding the narrator?s tale of suffering. Such focus turns towards the Black Night and his story as the narrator gains compassion beyond himself and probes into the pains of the knight.
Chaucers Use Of
“Courtly Love” Essay, Research Paper Chaucer’s Use of “Courtly Love” Chaucer admired and made use of the medieval “courtly love” romance tradition, although he did not fully “buy into it.” The “courtly love” code is based on the woman as the center of attention. The medieval knight suffers greatly for his love, who is often someone else’s wife.
The Pardoner And The Knight Essay Research
Paper ?The Canterbury Tales? is a collection of stories, which are told by different characters to serve as entertainment on their journey to Canterbury. The characters who arise during the different tales, and those who tell the tales, play a vital role in understanding the story, and the mind frame of the English people living in the 15th century.
Friar In Canterbury Tales Essay Research Paper
Chaucer’s attitude towards the friar is one of sarcasm. The friar is “wanton and merry,” but this pleasant-sounding description is actually packed with mockery. By the 14th century, friars, who were supposed to give up all worldly things and live only by begging for food and alms, were almost totally corrupt.
Canterbury Tales The Narrators Naive View Point
Of The Characters Essay, Research Paper In The Canterbury Tales Geoffery Chauser illuminates the na ve viewpoint of the narrator in the descriptions of the characters. This is shown by the way the narrator often extols the characters, despite some obvious discrepancies. The Cook is an example of this. The narrator describes the cook as being a more than adequate chef, yet in the middle of the description he throws in That on his shine a mormal hadde he, (Chaucer 388).
Chaucer Term Paper Essay Research Paper GEOFFREY
Chaucer Term Paper Essay, Research Paper GEOFFREY CHAUCER: HIS JOURNEY OF THE CANTERBURY TALES THESIS: The Knight, Squire, Prioress, The Monk and the Friar are defined by their settings in Geoffrey Chaucer?s “Prologue” to The Canterbury Tales.
The Canterbury Tales Essay Research Paper Knight
The Canterbury Tales Essay, Research Paper Knight -vs- Squire: The Comparison of Time Periods in The Canterbury Tales One of the most important pieces of English literature is Geoffrey Chaucer?s, The Canterbury Tales. This piece is highly regarded, because it gives insight into the simplicity of life in England, through it?s extensive cast of characters.
Chaucer And Religion Essay Research Paper Chaucer
Chaucer And Religion Essay, Research Paper Chaucer and Religion It is very rare that a book is written without the opinions of the author being clearly expressed somewhere within that book. Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales is one such book. In the General Prologue alone, by viewing Chaucer’s description of the Knight, the Prioress, and the Friar, the reader is able to pick up on Chaucer’s satirical humor toward the church of the 14th century.
Literary Criticism In Canterbury Tales Essay Research
Paper There are numerous sources of literary criticism of The Canterbury Tales, as well as specifically about “The Miller’s Tale.” “Telling stories of low sexual intrigue (fabliaux)…There is nothing like [these tales] in Middle English and nothing like [these tales] anywhere in English literature” (Life of Geoffrey Chaucer, 172).
The Resemblances In The Wife Of Bath
’s Prologue And Tale, From The Canterbury Tales Essay, Research Paper In The Canterbury Tales, written by Geoffrey Chaucer, The Wife of Bath seems to be one of the more vivacious characters on the pilgrimage. Dame Alice has radical views about women and marriage in a time when women were expected to be passive toward men.
The Knight Essay Research Paper The Knight
The Knight Essay, Research Paper The Knight and the nun are two completely different people the knight is some one who wants people to think well of them so he dose things to make people thinks will of him where as the nun wants people to think well of her so she became a nun but in reality she is not living up to her vows.
An Analysis Of Chaucer
’s ‘The Wife Of Bath’s Tale’ Essay, Research Paper An Analysis of Chaucer’s The Wife of Bath’s Tale In reading Geoffrey Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales,” I found
The Equality Of Women In ChaucerS Wife
Of Bath Essay, Research Paper The Equality of Women in Chaucer?s Wife of Bath There have been many different interpretations of what Geoffrey Chaucer stood for, but
Satire On Sir Walter Scott And Chaucer
Essay, Research Paper Satire is a keen literary tool, one that Geoffrey Chaucer used liberally when he wrote his Canterbury Tales as well as Sir Walter Scott s Ivanhoe. Webster s New World Dictionary says that satire is “the use of ridicule, sarcasm, etc. to attack vices, follies, etc.” These two pieces of literature could be considered the greatest pieces of British Literature during the Middle Ages.
Canterbury Tales Essay Essay Research Paper Geoffrey
Canterbury Tales Essay Essay, Research Paper Geoffrey Chaucer presents a realistic portrayal of the medieval period in The Canterbury Tales. These details are especially accurate of the pilgrimages to Canterbury and the types of people who made them. Whether the character and its description are based on actual historic figures, then being called ?individuals,? or are more general portrayals, ?types,? they give the reader a genuine idea of the medieval society.
The Prioress Madame Eglantine Essay Research Paper
The Prioress, Madame Eglantine In the “General Prologue” of The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer introduces the readers to pilgrims he meets in the town of Southwerk as he begins his pilgrimage to Canterbury. The pilgrim I found to be most interesting was the Prioress. Chaucer tells the reader that she is a nun and her name is Madame Eglantine.
ChaucerThe Nature Of Man Essay Research Paper
7/4/00 The Nature of Man Geoffrey Chaucer, the author of Canterbury Tales, gives a realistic view of Middle English life at this time, and can be applied to modern life. The fact that Chaucer wrote in the vernacular illustrates that these tales were written for the common man, so that they could look at themselves.
The Canterbury Tales 2
The Canterbury Tales – The Knight?s Tale Essay, Research Paper Abortion is a subject that is very controversial. It is legal to have an abortion, but in some people?s opinion it is an immoral act that should not be legal. In the Middle Ages the knights has a code of chivalry to live by, and it was a moral code. The knights really did not have a legal code because they were supposed to live up to the code of chivalry.
Satire In The General Prologue Essay Research
Paper The General Prologue of the Canterbury Tales satirizes almost every character that Chaucer introduced. Each person fits into one of four character descriptions; three of which are satires. But what are these descriptions and what characters fit into which?
Canterbury Tales Prologue Essay Research Paper
In Geoffrey Chaucer s prologue to The Canterbury Tales, he introduces a character that he describes with very high esteem. Through direct and indirect characterization we learn Chaucer s feelings and facts that help us get to know his character, the knight.
Canterbury Tales Wife Of Bath Essay
, Research Paper Canterbury Tales: Wife of Bath Geoffrey Chaucer was born in London in 1340 (Fuller 12). Geoffrey Chaucer’s fortunes were closely bound with these of John Of Gaunt, the
Thw Wife Of Bath Chaucer
’s Feminist Character Sketch Essay, Research Paper In the medieval period when women were viewed as property, held to sexual double standards and considered to be little more than heir-makers, Chaucer wrote a rather biting piece that draws attention to the inequalities in standards for men and women that were supported by society.
Authorial Opinion Of Wife Of Bath Essay
, Research Paper The character of the Wife of Bath is clearly feminist. She indicates this by her extreme ideas of female ?maistrye? and statements such as ?I have the power duringe al my lyf upon his proper body, and nought he,? which is extremely feminist. However, Chaucer makes us see the Wife of Bath as inconsistent, at times illogical, and also amoral and adulterous, The prologue and tale is spoken by a woman of supposed vast experience, yet was written by a man.
Character Sketch Of Chaucer
’s Knight Essay, Research Paper Character Sketch of Chaucer’s Knight Geoffrey Chaucer s Canterbury Tales, written in approximately 1385, is a collection of twenty-four stories ostensibly told by various people who are going on a religious pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral from London, England. Prior to the actual tales, however, Chaucer offers the reader a glimpse of fourteenth century life by way of what he refers to as a General Prologue.
Rad Essay Research Paper
“The Wife of the Bath’s Tale” is the most affecting piece of literature studied this semester. The ranges of emotions displayed by the story’s characters are a function of Chaucer’s personal feelings. The reason the literature has been so affecting is because of the character development, and emotional differences from one character to the next.
The Time Period And People Of Geoffrey
Chaucer Essay, Research Paper The Time Period and People of Geoffrey Chaucer Geoffrey Chaucer is one of the greatest authors of his time. His distinctive use of characters in his literary works is one of a kind. Chaucer s works were accomplished during the Middle Ages. During this time period the whole community revolved around the church, the village and the surrounding farmland.
Geoffrey Chaucer Essay Research Paper Does Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer Essay, Research Paper Does Chaucer truly understand human nature? Geoffrey Chaucer, author of The Canterbury Tales, is known as the Father of English poetry. Some have said that Chaucer has the perfect understanding of human nature. All people identify with this piece of poetry in every time period, culture, and race.
Chaucer 2 Essay Research Paper Chaucer already
Chaucer 2 Essay, Research Paper Chaucer already summarizes the characteristics of the Knight as making up a perfect gentle-knight, and the many deeds of valor add more credence to Chaucer s summary. The modest bearing is contrary to the “lad of fire” and although the Squire had “wonderful strength and agility”, he did not use it to the full extent that his father used his own.
The Canterbury Tales The Perfect Love Essay
, Research Paper The Canterbury Tales: The Perfect Love The Canterbury Tales, written by Geoffrey Chaucer around 1386, is a collection of tale told by pilgrims on a religious pilgrimage. Three of these
THE CANTERBURY TALES Essay Research Paper The
THE CANTERBURY TALES Essay, Research Paper The Canterbury Tales Chaucer uses satire in the Canterbury Tales to expose his attitude towards the Catholic Church of the Middle Ages. The first way in which he does this is by satirizing a common nun of the Middle Ages. Chaucer, in The Canterbury Tales, tells of a nun who is supposed to be married to the church.
Compare And Contrast The Kngiht And The
Squire Essay, Research Paper Compare and Contrast the Kngiht and the Squire Geoffrey Chaucer portrayed a cross section of medieval society though The Canterbury Tales. “The Prologue” or foreword of this work serves as