Chivalry In The Canterbury Tales
Demosthenes, an orator of ancient Athens, once said “You cannot have a proud and chivalrous spirit if your conduct is mean and paltry; for whatever a man’s actions are, such must be his spirit.” (Third Olynthiac) This quote touches upon the anticipated behavior that knights are esteemed to have. Knights are counted upon not only to speak of accepting the conduct of chivalry once dubbed, but also to carry out what they were taught through their actions (Kaeuper 1). A prime example of literature broadcasting chivalry is in Geoffrey Chaucer’s, The Canterbury Tales; specifically the Knight’s Tale. The Knight’s Tale fits someone with his career because the genre is a chivalric romance. The story includes beliefs looked for in a knight including
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the code of conduct, the treatment of women, and their handling of friendship and brotherhood. By acting out the conduct of chivalry, knights are seen as meritorious citizens in the eyes of Christians during this period. Knights are seen as noble, courageous, and skilled, while carrying out God’s work in driving the Muslims out of God’s holy land. The Knight is selected first to tell his tale signifying his rank socially. Because the Knight followed the rules of knighthood tenaciously, Chaucer regarded him as someone who every knight should aspire to be. The Knight relays all he has learned from being a knight into his tale, which shows the true things he values and learned during his knighthood (Schlager 134).
Knighthood was not achievable by any man in the Medieval Era.
Training to become a knight was given only to boys from noble families who owned land and have the right to a coat of arms. Having the coat of arms was such a scrupulous prerequisite since the King could only grant it and showing the family owed feudal service to the king. By showing the owe feudal service to the King, they are required to give a certain amount of knights for the country. After moving to a lord's manor, the knights-to-be learned how to ride a horse which is one of the most important tasks in being a knight.. Training several hours a day learning how to use weapons properly, both on foot and while mounted, the boys . Some boys learned how to read, write, and how to say their prayers correctly. Older boys were trained in matters of social hierarchy, manners, war tactics, and survival. Once boys training to become a knight were teenagers, they began to practice in armor, climb ropes and ladders, learn how to jump off a horse. The last stage of becoming a knight is indefinitely becoming a squire. Once it was decided which squires would move on to become a knight, those selected go through a major ceremony called a dubbing. (Moira 42) The ceremonial dubbing took place in a church or chapel with religious rituals. The knights kneel before the queen so she may tap them on each shoulder with the flat side of a sword, giving them their hard earned title of a knight. Once the dubbing was over, the
knights were held to remembering their training and how to properly act as a knight taught to them in the knightly code of conduct (Schalger 134).
Every great knight is envisioned to carry out the code of conduct for a knight, which was that of chivalry and honor. The code of conduct for a knight varied depending on secular or Christian chivalry. Secular chivalry was carried out by knights, who were supporters of feudalism, dominant in military and political stances. Aside from political and military powers, knights have power based on their military training, worth, and supplies, such as a suitable horse. His armor consisted of a long-sleeved hauberk with thousands of linked iron rings reaching above the knees, leather gloves, an arming cap, and gauntlets. The best horse a knight could have is the Destrier, however it was the most expensive. These horses were used because they had great speed, endurance, and size giving the knights the advantage needed in warfare. Christian chivalry was developed to change the bad behaviors, institutions, rulers, and secular literature advertised in secular chivalry into a moral, religious, and social code of knightly conduct. Christian chivalry also included acquiring the virtues of courage, respect for women, honor, and service to the lords. Christians also pushed for chivalry to demand respect for the church and clergy. The virtues owned by Christian knights are fidelity, piety, obedience to the clergy, and service to God. Regardless of if it is secular or Christian chivalry, both were widely disseminated in literature (Schalger 137).
the code of conduct, the treatment of women, and their handling of friendship and brotherhood. By acting out the conduct of chivalry, knights are seen as meritorious citizens in the eyes of Christians during this period. Knights are seen as noble, courageous, and skilled, while carrying out God’s work in driving the Muslims out of God’s holy land. The Knight is selected first to tell his tale signifying his rank socially. Because the Knight followed the rules of knighthood tenaciously, Chaucer regarded him as someone who every knight should aspire to be. The Knight relays all he has learned from being a knight into his tale, which shows the true things he values and learned during his knighthood (Schlager 134).
Knighthood was not achievable by any man in the Medieval Era.
Training to become a knight was given only to boys from noble families who owned land and have the right to a coat of arms. Having the coat of arms was such a scrupulous prerequisite since the King could only grant it and showing the family owed feudal service to the king. By showing the owe feudal service to the King, they are required to give a certain amount of knights for the country. After moving to a lord's manor, the knights-to-be learned how to ride a horse which is one of the most important tasks in being a knight.. Training several hours a day learning how to use weapons properly, both on foot and while mounted, the boys . Some boys learned how to read, write, and how to say their prayers correctly. Older boys were trained in matters of social hierarchy, manners, war tactics, and survival. Once boys training to become a knight were teenagers, they began to practice in armor, climb ropes and ladders, learn how to jump off a horse. The last stage of becoming a knight is indefinitely becoming a squire. Once it was decided which squires would move on to become a knight, those selected go through a major ceremony called a dubbing. (Moira 42) The ceremonial dubbing took place in a church or chapel with religious rituals. The knights kneel before the queen so she may tap them on each shoulder with the flat side of a sword, giving them their hard earned title of a knight. Once the dubbing was over, the
knights were held to remembering their training and how to properly act as a knight taught to them in the knightly code of conduct (Schalger 134).
Every great knight is envisioned to carry out the code of conduct for a knight, which was that of chivalry and honor. The code of conduct for a knight varied depending on secular or Christian chivalry. Secular chivalry was carried out by knights, who were supporters of feudalism, dominant in military and political stances. Aside from political and military powers, knights have power based on their military training, worth, and supplies, such as a suitable horse. His armor consisted of a long-sleeved hauberk with thousands of linked iron rings reaching above the knees, leather gloves, an arming cap, and gauntlets. The best horse a knight could have is the Destrier, however it was the most expensive. These horses were used because they had great speed, endurance, and size giving the knights the advantage needed in warfare. Christian chivalry was developed to change the bad behaviors, institutions, rulers, and secular literature advertised in secular chivalry into a moral, religious, and social code of knightly conduct. Christian chivalry also included acquiring the virtues of courage, respect for women, honor, and service to the lords. Christians also pushed for chivalry to demand respect for the church and clergy. The virtues owned by Christian knights are fidelity, piety, obedience to the clergy, and service to God. Regardless of if it is secular or Christian chivalry, both were widely disseminated in literature (Schalger 137).