1. How does the description of the Knight in the General Prologue inform our reading of The Knight's Tale?
2. Can we trace any Christian elements to the Knight's Tale? If so, where? If not, how does this inform our reading of both the tale and the tale's purpose?
3. For what is Palamoun rewarded in the tale?
4. Discuss the passivity of Emilia in the tale. Does the absence of a female voice affect the balance of the tale?
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Emelye isn't completely passive in The Knight's Tale because she makes a declaration to Diana of her wishes to remain a maiden. Of course, her wishes end up counting for nothing and, given her mourning over Arcite and her acceptance of Palamon, she either becomes content with the idea of marriage, or at least assumes a facade of contentment.
She has a 'voice' but not a means of action like Arcite and Palamon, who may duel for her hand. The fact that she has desires which she is given the opportunity to express and are then ignored in favour of those of Theseus (peace with Thebes), Arcite (victory) and Palamon (love) shows that Chaucer did give her a voice, and in doing so, highlights how in romance literature, the female voice must submit to that of the chivalric male, whose duties seem incomplete without devotion to a fair maiden.
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