Compare And Contrast The Squire And The Knight
Fiona
Compare and Contrast Essay: The Squire and the Knight
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As the saying goes, “Like father like son”. The knight and the squire are two
characters in The Canterbury Tales, written by Geoffrey Chaucer. The knight is the squireʼs father and in some ways they are similar, and some ways very different. To better understand these characters it is important to understand their similarities and differences. For example, they have both participated in war, but their experience levels set them apart. Though similar in traits pertaining to the actions they take there are drastic differences in the motivation behind these actions.
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The knight and the squire share qualities that endear them both to the reader.
One such quality is their willingness to fight in battles. It was said that, “In fifteen moral battles [the knight] had been” (Chaucer l 63). It is also said, “[The squire] had seen some service with the cavalry/ In Flanders and Artois and Picardy” (ll 87,88).Having fought in multiple battles, it would seem that the squire had inherited some of his fatherʼs skills on the battlefield. Chaucer also points out that both the knight and the squire are brave. The fact that “[The knight] had done nobly in his sovereignʼs war/ And ridden into battle, no man more,” Illustrates his bravery. He rode into more battles than any other man, exhibiting his extreme courage and bravery, and did so nobly. Chaucer extolled the Squireʼs valiance in the battles he fought, saying he, “... had done valiantly in little space/ Of time...” (ll 89,90) Finally, they are both courteous. Chaucer showed us this when he said the knight, “... had followed chivalry,/Truth, honor, generousness, and courtesy.” (ll 45,46). A great night always follows the code of chivalry and Chaucer does a great job of showing an example of a perfect knight. Chaucer also shows the Squireʼs courtesy, “Courteous he was, lowly and serviceable.” (l 101) While praise for the squire
is faint compared to that of the
Compare and Contrast Essay: The Squire and the Knight
!
As the saying goes, “Like father like son”. The knight and the squire are two
characters in The Canterbury Tales, written by Geoffrey Chaucer. The knight is the squireʼs father and in some ways they are similar, and some ways very different. To better understand these characters it is important to understand their similarities and differences. For example, they have both participated in war, but their experience levels set them apart. Though similar in traits pertaining to the actions they take there are drastic differences in the motivation behind these actions.
!
The knight and the squire share qualities that endear them both to the reader.
One such quality is their willingness to fight in battles. It was said that, “In fifteen moral battles [the knight] had been” (Chaucer l 63). It is also said, “[The squire] had seen some service with the cavalry/ In Flanders and Artois and Picardy” (ll 87,88).Having fought in multiple battles, it would seem that the squire had inherited some of his fatherʼs skills on the battlefield. Chaucer also points out that both the knight and the squire are brave. The fact that “[The knight] had done nobly in his sovereignʼs war/ And ridden into battle, no man more,” Illustrates his bravery. He rode into more battles than any other man, exhibiting his extreme courage and bravery, and did so nobly. Chaucer extolled the Squireʼs valiance in the battles he fought, saying he, “... had done valiantly in little space/ Of time...” (ll 89,90) Finally, they are both courteous. Chaucer showed us this when he said the knight, “... had followed chivalry,/Truth, honor, generousness, and courtesy.” (ll 45,46). A great night always follows the code of chivalry and Chaucer does a great job of showing an example of a perfect knight. Chaucer also shows the Squireʼs courtesy, “Courteous he was, lowly and serviceable.” (l 101) While praise for the squire
is faint compared to that of the