Chaucer's "The Knight's Tale"

Paper Summary:

This paper provides an introduction to "The Knight's Tale." Points of literary analysis are discussed, as well as mention of previous work that may have influenced Chaucer in his writing of this story. Theories of understanding the intended meaning of the story are offered.

From the Paper:

""The Knight's Tale" is one of the most memorable in Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales." It tells the story of two young knights, Palamon and Arcite, who are imprisoned together in a tower, and both fall in love with the same girl, Emelye. Chaucer wrote it in Middle English, which, unlike Old English, is fairly easy to read and understand by modern readers. For example, at the end of the story, Chaucer has the lines, "The Firste Moevere of the cause above,/ Whan he first made the faire cheyne of love,/ Greet was th'effect, and heigh was his entente." For with that faire cheyne of love he bond/ The fyr, the eyr, the water, and the lond/ In certeyn boundes, that they may nat flee (The Knight's Tale, 2987?2993). They show Emelye why she must marry Palamon, and they are extremely poetic in their talk of "air, water, and land, and the fair chain of love." The meaning is not lost, even though the words may look unusual."

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