1. what effect does chaucer achieve by contrasting the squire with the knight?

Geoffrey Chaucer (1340s – 1400) effectively portrays the moral standards (what should be) of the medieval period (Chaucer's age) by the character of Knight; and he paints what the society of that time really is by the character of squire.

Explanation:

By characterizing knight with ideal characteristics of chivalry, heroism, and modesty Geoffrey Chaucer wants to depict the ideal moral standards of that time - how Chaucer himself wished the society to be. Knight represents an ideal character.

Although knight and squire belong to the same social class (they are father/son), Chaucer writes about both of them in full detail.

After characterization of knight, Chaucer characterizes squire. Squire is a vain individual who takes much pain to have better appearance. He does not want to be chivalric, but his main concern is to appear chivalric.

We can also interpret that Knight's character shows the age of chivalry which was about to end during Chaucer's time. Real chivalry was a thing of past (like Knight) and now just a shadow of chivalry remained (in the character of squire).

the answer is:

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