The Canterbury Tales in regard to the Middle Ages
The Canterbury Tales are generally perceived by many as a prominent contribution to medieval literature. Indeed, it represents a fully-fledged depiction of a social stratification of that time, as well as the linguistic peculiarities and features of people’s robes. Thereby, it shows readers the genuine portrait characteristics and the accurate historical framework of the Middle Ages, which is crucial to the understanding and the analysis of the individuals’ worldviews, their values, and habits. Furthermore, the author displays a broad range of various characters throughout the chapters, primarily concentrating on their portrayals and deeds. (Kudrnova, 6) Additionally, the framework that author presents encompasses the philosophical beginning and the moral narrative as well, as it is evidently shown through the prism of the portrait of the Knight.
Character Analysis of the Knight
In the Canterbury Tales, the Knight is presented as a gallant and courageous man, the one who “…loved chivalry, truth and honour, freedom and courtesy” (Murphy 2) Additionally, his physical characteristics are also described in detail: “…of his stature he was of even length, and wonderly deliver and of great strength” (Murphy 4). In turn, these qualities are generally related to the formulaic portrait of a knight of that time.
Author’s Narrative Voice
Besides the detailed description of the Knight, the author decides to refine his plot-thematic picture, thus adding the intellectualized part as well (Kolve 134). For instance, at the end of the first section, he brings into question the idea of “demande l’amour”, thus presenting not just the conventional narrative of the realm in which he exists but the beginning of the introduction of moral ideas and therefore philosophical thought (Howard 227). Therefore, the Canterbury Tales displays a fully-fledged historical framework that goes beyond the conventional representation of characters.
Works Cited
Howard, Donald Roy. The Idea of The Canterbury Tales. University of California Press, 1978.
Kolve, V. A. Chaucer and the imagery of narrative: The First Five Canterbury Tales. Stanford University Press, 1984.
Kudrnová, Eva, Depiction of Women in Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales in Comparison Across Medieval Genres. Masaryk University, 2010.
Murphy, Michael. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. University Press of America, 1991.