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1
Pace
Name________________________________
English 12CP

A Knights Tale
Connecting the film to The Canterbury Tales

Prepare yourselves for an anachronistic story. One that will

make you question the stars.
Some background information: The film takes its title from Chaucer's "The Knight's
Tale" in his Canterbury Tales, though the plot is not especially similar. The film, while
not a spot on replica of "The Knight's Tale" as Chaucer told it, does give us many
insights into societal norms during the Middle Ages. It is also stated in the DVD
commentary, director Helgeland, co-commentating with Bettany, that the film was
intended to have occurred sometime in the 1370s during a six-month period in
which Chaucer had apparently gone missing. The film was to show what he might
have done during this time, which Helgeland says later on in the commentary
inspired Chaucer to write his Canterbury Tales.
**The first Canterbury tale is "The Knight's Tale." In the film, Chaucer also
threatens two men he
encounters with undying humiliation through fiction; these characters seem to
have inspired the
venomous descriptions of two of Chaucer's most infamous characters. Can
you guess who?
The scene in which the lady Jocelyn asks William to lose a joust to prove his love and
then reverses her proposal for him to suddenly win, is also a direct reference to the
classic tale of King Arthur, Guinevere, and Lancelot.
Initially, critical reception was mixed, with complaints about the anachronisms (the
classic rock in a film that takes place during the Middle Ages). Roger Ebert gave the

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film 3 stars out of 4 and commented that "Some will say the movie breaks tradition
by telling a medieval story with a soundtrack of classic rock. They might as well
argue it breaks the rules by setting a 1970s rock opera in the Middle Ages. To them I
advise: Who cares?" and that in this film the director "pointed out that an orchestral
score would be equally anachronistic, since orchestras hadn't been invented in the
1400s."
I.

Characters Fill in the appropriate boxes with character

information and analysis
The Knight

His Squires
________________________________

AKA (Also Known As)

Sir Ulrich von Lichtenstein from
Geldeland
His Lady

and
________________________________
His Enemy

His Liege Lord

__________________________AKA
The Black Prince of Wales
His Father
II.

Plot

1. How does William become a knight?

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2. According to the rules of feudalism, why would William never be allowed to be a
knight?
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3. What does William mean when he says A man can change his stars after his
first joust posing as Sir Ector?

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_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
4. As William is convincing Wat and Roland to go along with his scheme, he
mentions the unfairness of the system that only allows nobility to be knights.
What is his argument?
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5. Other than the fact that he is naked, what is a clear difference between Geoffrey
Chaucer and William, Wat, and Roland?
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6. Why is it not surprising that the three had not heard of Chaucer or his book The
Book of the Duchess?
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7. When Chaucer says Oh well, it was allegorical and Wat replies, Well, we wont
hold that against you. Thats for each man to decide for himself! what is the
basis of the misunderstanding?
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8. When William asks her to speak, Jocelyn replies But sir, my sex are marred by
their silence when William asks her to speak. Also, when Kate is asking about
Williams armor, she says Do they say I cant do it because Im a woman?
What does this show you about the role of women in the Middle Ages?
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9. Two characters from "The Prologue" are responsible for Chaucers troubles early
in the film. Which two are they?
_________________________________ and __________________________________
Even though this is not a part of The Canterbury Tales, why is it believable?

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10. When Chaucer tells them later I will eviscerate you in fiction every last
pimple, every last character flaw. I was naked for a day. You will be naked for
eternity what does he mean? Even though this movie is not based on fact, why
would the films writer have had the character say that?
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11. Chaucer serves as Williams herald, introducing him to the crowd before a joust.
Why is this appropriate to what you know about Chaucer?
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12. Chaucers second introduction of William before a much larger crowd, he begins
by saying he first met William in Jerusalem praying after having been in Saracen,
Italy and Greece. He also refers to him as the seeker of serenity. How does this
fit with what you know of the knight in The Canterbury Tales?
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13. When William is knocked unconscious briefly, his mind returns to his childhood
and a conversation with his father. What do you learn about him?
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14. In his third joust, William defeats his opponent after he is told His people
starve while he sits at banquet. Why does this inspire William to fight harder?
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15. William jousts Sir Thomas Colville in Rouen, but instead of defeating him after
Colville is injured, William honors his request to keep his honor in tact.
A. What does this show about William?
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B. How does this pay off for William later in the story when the true identity of
Colville is revealed?
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16. Who did Sir Thomas Colville turn out to be?
___________________________________________
Why did he disguise himself? Does this seem like a
plausible event? Why or why not?
__________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
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17. In what country do the jousting tournaments take place?

______________________________
What nationality are William and his knights?
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18. William and his knights speak English, as do Chaucer and Jocelyn. Given the
location of their tournaments and the level of society each represents, what
language should each character speak?
William: _______________________________
Wat & Roland: ______________________
Jocelyn: _______________________________

Count Adhemar:

_____________________ Chaucer: _______________________________

19. Why doesnt William write his own letter to Jocelyn? Explain your answer.
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20. Jocelyn tells William If you would prove your love, you should do your worst.
Instead of winning to honor me with your fine reputation, I want you to lose .
To show your obedience to your lover and not to yourself.

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A. What does this remind you of from The Canterbury Tales/info about the Middle
Ages?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
B. She later changes her mind and tells him that in order to prove his love for her,
he will win the tournament. Does this also fit with your answer to part A? How
so?
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
21. William has a flashback on the barge traveling back to England of when he
was first placed in service to Sir Ector. For how long was his commitment and
why would his father send him away?
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_____________________________________________________________________________________

22. [Setting] William visits Cheapside, an area of London populated by the lower
class. Where is this reference in "The Prologue" of The Canterbury Tales?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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23. After William is found out to be a phony, Jocelyn says she is willing to run away
with him, even if it means living in a hovel with pigs because the poor can marry
for love. How is this a true statement of life in the Middle Ages? Why was
noble/royal marriage so protected by edicts of sanctity?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

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24. He that strives to touch a star oft stumbles on a simple straw. You have been
weighed; you have been measured, and you have been found wanting. In what
world would you have ever beaten me? Who says these words to William; when
are they said, and what do they mean?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
25. Prince Edward knights William after William has been in the stockade. Why does
he do this and does it fit with what you know about the rules of chivalry and
knighthood? Explain.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
26. William continues to fight in the final joust even after he is seriously injured.
Why does he do this?
__________________________________________________
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__________________________________________________________
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27. Did watching this movie help you understand the
Middle Ages and The Canterbury Tales? If so,
specifically, what details did you notice? If not, why not - explain clearly?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

28. In the chart below list anachronistic findings in the film.

First, define anachronism.
______________________________________________________________
Anachronism

How so?

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