The Tale of the Knight and the Loathly Lady
The Use of the “Loathly Lady” Archetype
● The motif of the “Loathly Lady” was an archetype in medieval literature
(eg. “The Marriage of Sir Gawain”)
● Chaucer diverts from tradition by adding a darker element to the Tale
through the rape of the maiden at the start. This allows him to shift a
traditionally romantic tale into a satire that examines nobility and
criticises public perception of “gentillesse”. This maintains interest from
the audience.
○ “By verray force, he rafte hire maidenhead” (Line 888). The
language is forceful, and the event is not given much focus as the
narrator is quick to move on. This underlines how women are
powerless against male aggression.
○ Other changes include the fact that the Knight remains nameless,
adding to the satirical aspect of the Tale since the Knight’s actions
and lessons can be applied to knights/wider gentry as a whole.
■ He is referred to only as a “lusty bacheler” (Line 883),
which contradicts the typical image of a knight, one of
shining nobility. This allows Chaucer to construct a witty
satire which twists the traditions of the stereotypical
medieval tale.
○ Another change is the fact that the queen intervenes in the
Knight’s punishment, showing female maisterie.
■ “And yaf him to the queene, al at hir wille, / To chese
whether she wolde him save or spille.” (Lines 897-898)-
notable use of the rhyming couplet to accentuate the
Queen’s power.
○ Typically, the Tale would involve a nobleman of higher rank, but
Chaucer chooses a knight to subvert expectations of chivalry and
, goodness- this surprises the audience, maintaining their attention
whilst allowing Chaucer to criticise notions of chivalry/gentillesse.
● Arguably, the Tale is a “Chivalric Romance”, using adventure and
tension to romanticise and add interest to a moral parable or didactic
purpose (see analysis of tension and suspense below).
○ The Wife subverts expectations by adopting this genre instead of
the bawdy “fabliau” which would have accompanied the tone of
the Prologue.
Structure
● The Tale is exceptionally short in comparison to the Prologue,
increasing the pace to maintain audience interest.
● There are fewer digressions, as the Tale is fairly straightforward.
○ The Tale embraces brevity where the Prologue leans towards
excess.
○ However, when the digressions are employed, they build more
tension as a result of their scarcity.
○ For example, the Wife uses the classical allusion to Midas to
interrupt the Knight’s quest, building suspense by mildly
frustrating her audience.
■ “Pardee, we wommen konne no thing hele; / Witnessee on
Mida, - wol ye heere the tale?” (Lines 950-951). Here the
narrator directly addresses her audience, and the WIfe
uses the digressions to insert herself into the Tale. The
rhetorical question fosters intrigue. The Wife uses
hyperbole (eg. “But nathelees, hir thoughte that she dide, /
That she so longe sholde a conseil hide” (Lines 965-966) )
to mock how men regard women as untrustworthy. She
alters the legend slightly. Traditionally, Midas’ barber
accidentally reveals the king’s secret to the entire kingdom.
In the Wife’s version, only a section of marshland learns the
The Use of the “Loathly Lady” Archetype
● The motif of the “Loathly Lady” was an archetype in medieval literature
(eg. “The Marriage of Sir Gawain”)
● Chaucer diverts from tradition by adding a darker element to the Tale
through the rape of the maiden at the start. This allows him to shift a
traditionally romantic tale into a satire that examines nobility and
criticises public perception of “gentillesse”. This maintains interest from
the audience.
○ “By verray force, he rafte hire maidenhead” (Line 888). The
language is forceful, and the event is not given much focus as the
narrator is quick to move on. This underlines how women are
powerless against male aggression.
○ Other changes include the fact that the Knight remains nameless,
adding to the satirical aspect of the Tale since the Knight’s actions
and lessons can be applied to knights/wider gentry as a whole.
■ He is referred to only as a “lusty bacheler” (Line 883),
which contradicts the typical image of a knight, one of
shining nobility. This allows Chaucer to construct a witty
satire which twists the traditions of the stereotypical
medieval tale.
○ Another change is the fact that the queen intervenes in the
Knight’s punishment, showing female maisterie.
■ “And yaf him to the queene, al at hir wille, / To chese
whether she wolde him save or spille.” (Lines 897-898)-
notable use of the rhyming couplet to accentuate the
Queen’s power.
○ Typically, the Tale would involve a nobleman of higher rank, but
Chaucer chooses a knight to subvert expectations of chivalry and
, goodness- this surprises the audience, maintaining their attention
whilst allowing Chaucer to criticise notions of chivalry/gentillesse.
● Arguably, the Tale is a “Chivalric Romance”, using adventure and
tension to romanticise and add interest to a moral parable or didactic
purpose (see analysis of tension and suspense below).
○ The Wife subverts expectations by adopting this genre instead of
the bawdy “fabliau” which would have accompanied the tone of
the Prologue.
Structure
● The Tale is exceptionally short in comparison to the Prologue,
increasing the pace to maintain audience interest.
● There are fewer digressions, as the Tale is fairly straightforward.
○ The Tale embraces brevity where the Prologue leans towards
excess.
○ However, when the digressions are employed, they build more
tension as a result of their scarcity.
○ For example, the Wife uses the classical allusion to Midas to
interrupt the Knight’s quest, building suspense by mildly
frustrating her audience.
■ “Pardee, we wommen konne no thing hele; / Witnessee on
Mida, - wol ye heere the tale?” (Lines 950-951). Here the
narrator directly addresses her audience, and the WIfe
uses the digressions to insert herself into the Tale. The
rhetorical question fosters intrigue. The Wife uses
hyperbole (eg. “But nathelees, hir thoughte that she dide, /
That she so longe sholde a conseil hide” (Lines 965-966) )
to mock how men regard women as untrustworthy. She
alters the legend slightly. Traditionally, Midas’ barber
accidentally reveals the king’s secret to the entire kingdom.
In the Wife’s version, only a section of marshland learns the
