A Comparison/Contrast of “The Knight’s Tale-Canterbury Tales“, Essay Example

The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast The Knight’s Tale-Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by the Gawain Poet (anonymous), and Le Morte D’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory retold by Keith Baines. The three tales are similar because the knights are fighting to prove their loyalty to the King by virtuous means of fighting, sorcery, devolution and other means. There is a figment of love that seems to conquer all in all three tales. However in Sir Gawain and The Green Knight the plot of the story is different in that it teaches the story of honesty, loyalty and commitment to the royal power of Kingship. Often different dishonest means were used embellished with sorcery to test the loyalty of the Knights. This means was important to the king because the Knights were the king’s right hand man. What is common with Canterbury Tales and Le Morte D’ Arthur is a commonality of love that existed amongst the knights and the ladies of the castle.

Even though perilous fights were always present amongst the knights, power of the kingdom was always an internal fight for the love of a lady that appeared to take precedence over anything else. Duels were often necessary to win a lady’s respect and hand in marriage. With that said, Canterbury Tales and Le Morte D’Arthur share common similarities. Sir Gawain and The Green Knight was a test of personal character attributes with relation to family members of the royal kingdom. There was not much mention of love for a particular lady although a lady was brought into the situation to test the strength of the knight’s loyalty to the King.

Love is always a weakness for some and can be strength if it is a mutual feeling. People fight to no end to find a mutual love if it is real. That is why the epic of love and war are often intertwined into English tales. Knights travelled many perilous journeys to prove their value and worth and to discern the love a woman. That chivalry is not often found in today’s generation of men.  I can appreciate that frame of mind that possessed a man to have that strong bond of love for a woman.

Works Cited

Malory, S. Le Morte D’Arthur London, UK: Everyman’s Library London JM Dent and Company, 1909

Gawain, Poet (anonymous). Sir Gawain and the Green Knight London, UK: London Press Review London, ca. 1350

Chaucer, Geoffrey The Knight’s Tale-Canterbury Tales London, UK TY Crowell and Company London, 1903