The Knights Tale Analysis

The Knights Tale

Religion is connected and influences the characters in the epic story “The Knights Tale” which is one of the “Canterbury Tales”. The Knight’s Tale is a very romantic story as it is presented, of two knights who have fallen in love with a maid without ever physically touching her. This tale is supposedly a true story passed down among the knights of the day. I would have to brand the story as an impressive story because of the epic story line that it follows from the knights being liberated, then falling in love with a woman that they had never made physical contact with, then fighting to the death for her hand in marriage. The main characters are set free to attenuate the story, as well as fall in love at first site. The idea

of fate and destiny is an overwhelming theme in the story. This essay topic is powerfully sustained by “The Knights Tale” because in the story they are very swayed by their mythological religion.
The Knights Tale would have to have been one of those very predictable stories to where you can guess the ending. Religion and philosophy play a vital role in the Knight’s Tale. In the story though they did not share a lot of the same religion as we do to this day they were very influenced by their gods and goddesses. Throughout the story the characters would go to the gods seeking guidance or the god would arrive to them to guide or empower the character about whatever task lay ahead. This is echoed in the Knight’s Tale even though it was told centuries later.
As I read and analyzed the story I realized that every character had a god or goddess that they went to for guidance in hard times.

Palamon visited the temple of Venus to receive her blessing before he went into battle, Emelye visits the temple of Diana, and lastly Arcite visit the temple of Mars and begs the god of war for victory in the battle. Even though the gods that they address may be different they still are a lot like people of today because we also look to God during our tough times. The story also uses biblical and mythological characters to prove and support their points. The author mentions Hercules and Solomon by name to say neither the strong man nor the wise man can compete with love (Smith). Another way that I have seen that the authors showed the strong role in religion was the fact that all of the characters prayers were answered; the god Saturn tells the other gods that he has a plan by which Mars, Venus and Diana can grant the prayers of their supplicants. Arcite wins the battle, but then his horse throws him and his chest is crushed. Dying, he wishes Palamon to wed Emelye. (Ed Friedlander)This answers Palamon’s prayer to wed Emelye, answers Arcite to win the battle and finally answers Emelye’s prayer to wed the man that truly loves her. Mythological characters play a very strong role in “The Knights Tale” from the characters praying to them to worshiping their statutes to building their statues in their stadium to show their gratitude to the

gods.
In conclusion “The Knights Tale” is a story that demonstrates a great example of an epic story with a twist the fact that the main characters did not have control over who won during the fight for the hand of Emelye instead the result of the fight was settled by the gods. The idea of “courtly love” is a common theme during the middle Ages. (Chambers) The story demonstrates that courtly love is a strong point during that time period because the knights treated her like she was a reward or trophy and they were willing to die for her.