Eyler, Joshua R. and Sexton, John P. "Once More to the Grove: a Note on Symbolic Space in the 'Knight's Tale' ." The Chaucer Review, Vol. 40, No. 4 (2006), pp 433-9.
In this article Eyler and Sexton explore the contradiction found in the "Knight's Tale" in regards to the grove where Theseus finds Palamon and Arcite fighting. They point out that Theseus destroys the grove in order to build the lists where the tournament between the cousins is later held; and then, when Arcite dies Theseus declares that he will be buried in the same grove which was supposedly destroyed, making no mention of the lists which had been built in its place. Eyler and Sexton suggest this is no simple oversight on Chaucer's part, and that rather this contradiction served to highlight the role which chaos plays in this story. Theseus tries hard to impose order upon this chaos, but in the end his well-mannered and regulated tournament is overthrown by the will of the gods, yeilding the same result that the original, 'savage' duel could have created. Eyler and Sexton argue that in the end the only real victor is the chaos which overthrows every attempt for order.
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Malissa Kent
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