Comparison and Contrast of the Knight and the Squire in The Prologue of The Canterbury Tales

In The Canterbury Tales Prologue, Geoffrey Chaucer relays the people whose stories he will tell. Chaucer sets his Prologue in Old England during the Middle Ages, when the Church was corrupt and men thought that they could buy their way into heaven. The characters are all described in detail. The demeanors of the characters, their clothing- even their horses are described in preparation for the main stories: The Canterbury Tales. The way Chaucer describes his many individuals as if he is purposely attempting to make them as different as possible. Two characters that he describes are the Knight and his son, the Squire. These two differ in many ways, as often shown in Chaucer’s work. What makes the Knight and the Squire special; however, are the similarities that this father-son couple holds toward each other. The beauty of the comparison and contrast between the Knight and the Squire (their character, their clothes, and their experiences), so close on the family tree, can be seen in The Prologue. The apple doesn 't fall very far from this tree, but this doesn 't mean that it won’t hit some branches on the way down. Differences between the Knight and Squire are visible in their character, although in this aspect there are also comparatives (." A Comparison of the Knight and the Squire in Chaucer S the Canterbury. Studymode.com). For instance, while the Knight is described as “modest” and “distinguished” (The Canterbury Tales Prologue, Line 70; 71) the latter of the two is deemed “a lad of fire” (Line 82). On the contrary, in Chaucer’s work the knight is distinguished in the story as “chivalrous” and “honorable”, while the squire reveals himself to be very similar. As a matter of fact, these words are repeated in each of the character sketches in The Prologue. Also in The Prologue, Chaucer states that the Knight’s “bearing (was) modest as a maid” (The Canterbury Tales Prologue, Line 71). He owned fine horses, yet his clothes were worn and stained. If

References: "A Comparison of the Knight and the Squire in Chaucer 's the Canterbury." A Comparison of the Knight and the Squire in Chaucer S the Canterbury. Studymode.com, Oct. 1999. Web. 18 Sept. 2013. . Chaucer, Geoffery. "The Prologue." Introduction. The Canterbury Tales. Trans. Neville Coghill. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Line 43-ine 102. Print. Rinehart, and Winston. "The Middle Ages." Elements of Literature. By Holt. Vol. Sixth Course. Austin, New York, Orlando, Atlanta, an Francisco, Boston, Dallas, Toronto, London: Harcourt Brace &, 2000. 100-08. Print. "Tempus ' Sewing & Garb Accessories Weeb Site: A History of Sleeves." Tempus ' Sewing & Garb Accessories Weeb Site: A History of Sleeves. Ragnar Torfason, 28 Mar. 2006. Web. 18 Sept. 2013. .