Study Guide For The Knight's Tale

Study Guide for The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

& “The Knight’s Tale” , more specifically

Who wrote The Canterbury Tales and when did he live?

The writer of The Canterbury Tales was Geoffrey Chaucer, who was born about 1342.

In what period of English Literature was The Canterbury Tales written?

The Canterbury Tales was written in Middle English in the late 14th Century.

How were The Canterbury Tales different from literature that came before it?

Chaucer wrote in Middle English vernacular, which is contrary to most stories written in latin at that time.

Name three major contributions Geoffrey Chaucer made to literature?

Chaucer influenced Shakespeare and many other literary artists

Chaucer’s techniques of iambic pentameter

Though almost everyone in the group “looks up to him”, he is still very humble.

What does the Knight wear for clothes? Describe him, so that we can get a good picture in our minds of what he looks like.

The Knight wears a tunic that is made from a rough cloth and a chainmail cloak stained from his last battle.

Do some research on The Chivalric Code and list here five values of it:

Courage

Mercy

Valor

Honor

Honesty

Who are the main characters in “The Knight’s Tale”? Name every character of consequence mentioned, and what role he or she plays in the story.

The Narrator

Tells the story as it progresses

Theseus

Duke of Athens

Conquerer and leader

Kills Creon

Conquers Thebes and properly buries the bodies

Imprisons Palamon and Arcite

Releases Arcite and banishes him from Athens

Ends up holding a tournament between Palamon and Arcite for Emiy’s hand

Constructs a stadium for the tournament with 3 temples to the gods Venus, Mars, and Diana.

Palamon

Young Thebian soldier

Friend of Arcite

Imprisoned with Arcite by Theseus

Escapes prison after 7 years

Begins to fight Arcite over Emily

Arcite

Imprisoned by

because some women stopped him in the street and begged him to bring the people of Thebes justice. Theseus notices the horrible way people have been treated there, and finds Arcite and Palamon. Instead of killing them, he decides to imprison them for the rest of their lives with no chance of Parole. They are upset for several years, until one May, Palamon sees Emily, tending to her garden, from the window of their jail cell. He immediately falls in love and cries out, causing Arcite to take a look, and he also instantly falls in love with Emily. They begin to fight over who deserves her, but then realize their arguments are futile because they are both imprisoned for life. Around that time, Perothesus meets with Theseus and petitions the Duke for Arcite’s freedom. Theseus agrees, on the condition that Arcite is banished from Athens or he will be executed. Arcite leaves and the men are jealous of one Another; Arcite is jealous because Palamon can see Emily still, and Palamon is jealous because Arcite is not imprisoned and is able to fight to win Emily over. Arcite is so depressed that he is no longer with Emily and becomes so depressed that he is unrecognizable. Mercury (messenger of the gods) appears to him in a dream and urges him to return to Athens. He takes his squire, dresses in rags, and returns to Athens. He is employed as a page in Emily’s chamber under the