The Knights Tale
Geoffrey Chaucers 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. In this prologue, Chaucer introduces all of the characters who are involved in this imaginary journey and who will tell the tales. Among the characters included in this introductory section is the Knight. Chaucer initially refers to the knight as “a most distinguished man” and, indeed, his sketch of the knight is highly complimentary.
The knight, Chaucer tells us, “possessed/Fine horses, but he was not gaily dressed.? Indeed, the knight is dressed in a common shirt, which is stained “where his armor had left mark.? That is, the knight is “just home from service” and is in such a hurry to go on his pilgrimage that he has not even paused before beginning it to change his clothes.
The knight has had a very busy life as his fighting career has taken him to great many places.
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