Allusions In The Canterbury Tales

In Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales: The Prologue, a group of thirty people go on a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Thomas Becket. Throughout the passage, he uses carefully chosen language to describe each of the pilgrims and give them all a unique character. Being one of the most noble and highest-ranking members of the pilgrims, it is only fitting that the author decides to introduce the Knight first. Geoffrey Chaucer uses an allusion to the chivalric code, a description of his clothing, and a comparison with another pilgrim to characterize the Knight.

Chaucer uses an allusion to the chivalric code to characterize the

Knight. At the beginning of the Knight’s section, he says, “Who from the day on which he first began/ To ride abroad

At the end of the Knight’s section, he says, “He wore a fustian tunic stained and dark/ With smudges where his armor had left mark” (lines 77-78). Despite being the highest ranking member of the pilgrims (according to the social order) and possessing many fine horses, the Knight wears surprisingly modest and dirty clothing. This shows that even after a long day of riding into battle and beating the Muslims, the Knight is humble enough to join the others on the pilgrimage. Chaucer also says, “And in his bearing modest as a maid.../ He was a true, a perfect gentle-knight“ (lines 71-74). Here, the author gives a description of what the Knight is like outside of battle. This shows that despite having such a reputation as a great warrior with many accolades, the Knight is surprisingly modest and gentle outside of battle.

Chaucer also uses a comparison with another pilgrim to characterize the Knight. In the Squire’s section, he says, “...was embroidered like a meadow bright/ And full of freshest flowers, red and white” (lines 91-92). The Squire dresses in some of his finest finest clothing, as he cares more about attracting and impressing women than the point of the pilgrimage, which is rendering thanks. In comparison, this emphasizes how modest the Knight is and how noble it is for him to care more about his Christian faith.

Therefore, Geoffrey Chaucer uses an allusion to the chivalric code,