The Knight's Tale
Three Circles of Interest
1. Human interest = rivalry in love between A & P
2. Ethical interest = conflict of obligations
(romantic love >< military comradeship
3. Theological interest = method by which Divine Providence stabilizes a situation
World of the KT
1. legendary Athens (classical)
2. 14th c. England (realistic)
3. never-never land of chilvalric romance (chivalric)
Parallel Events
1. Tale beings with ritual: wedding, conquest, funeral
2. Tale ends with ritual: tournament, funeral, wedding
Differences between A & P
1. Arcite has a holy love for Emelye
2. Arcite puts love above law
3. On day of tournament A prays to Mars for victory, P prays to Venus for Emelye
Tale is Tragic
(even in description of the temples)
1. Venus -- begins and ends with sorrows
2. Diana -- most vivid picture is death of Acteon
3. Mars -- gruesome chaos
William Frost. "An Interpretation of Chaucer's KT."