In "The Knight's Tale", Chaucer clearly draws on themes used by other writers and is particularly influenced by the work of Giovanni Boccaccio . In Boccaccio's Teseida delle Nozze d'Emilia he creates the character of Emilia, with whom the Theban brothers Arcite and Palemone fall in love. In "The Knight's Tale", Chaucer introduces his version of the love interest Emelye in the garden scene. By comparing this scene, found in Part I of "The Knight's Tale," and Boccaccio's Teseida, readers can examine the differences between how the two authors characterize the woman in question. While Boccaccio gives depth to Emilia and presents her as the main character, Chaucer provides much less detail regarding Emelye, thus downplaying her importance in the play and emphasizing the significance of the two brothers and their interactions. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In "The Knight's Tale," featured in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, Chaucer tells his version of Boccaccio's Teseida. Although the basic plot is the same, Chaucer is very selective in what he chooses to tell his audience. In the Oxford Guides to Chaucer, Helen Cooper notes that "'The Knight's Tale' tells the same story [as the Teseida] at less than a quarter of the length (65)." An example of how Chaucer shortens the tale is to offer only a brief description of Theseus' conquest of the Amazons and his return to the city, which takes Boccaccio two books to describe. The Knight, the narrator of Chaucer's tale, chooses to fly over the battle scenes because he has "a great sense of being here" (886). This technique warns the reader of the fact that the second part of Boccaccio's story is the one that needs to be given a new twist. The context of the sighting of Emelye in the garden in "The Knight's Tale" is the same as the original scene in Theseida in that Emeyle, Theseus' sister, is walking through the garden when Acrite and Palamon spy on her and fall in love. immediately. Despite his similar treatment of this character, Chaucer makes several significant changes to the love interest in his story. In both lyrics Emeyle/Emilia is a beautiful blonde picking flowers in the garden while singing. However, the texts differ in their description of these actions. In the Teseida Emilia «sings graceful love lyrics» and «love songs» (3,8-10). In "The Knight's Tale", however, there is no mention of Emeyle singing love songs. Instead, Chaucer simply notes that "as angel hevenyshhly she soon" (1055). Chaucer deliberately omits these types of descriptions in an attempt to downplay the theme of romantic love in the story and emphasize the dynamic between the brothers. Similarly, Chaucer changes Emeyle's level of awareness regarding the affections of Arcite and Palamon. In Boccaccio's version, Emilia notices that her brothers are watching her and returns to the garden numerous times. Emilia "knew that she really liked it, she took pleasure in it, and she esteemed herself more beautiful, and now she adorned herself more every time she returned to the garden" (Boccaccio 3:19). She not only realizes their affections, but also encourages them "trying to give more pleasure to those who look at her" (3.29). Boccaccio also spends time characterizing Emilia, describing her as "too young for mature love" and vain (3:19 and 30). By providing readers with such details, Boccaccio paints a vivid picture of Emilia's appearance as well as her character. Unlike Boccaccio, Chaucer makes no mention of Emeyle noticing the brothers' affection, and thus does not suggest that Emeyle makes any effort to please him 67)..