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"In fifteen mortal battles he had been And Jousted for our faith at Tramissene Thrice in the lists, and always killed his man" (63-65).

Chaucer is sure to include how respectable the Knight is because of his service to the King through secular battles. Chaucer describes that the Knight has been in "fifteen mortal battles", whether it be in Alexandria, Egypt or at the Mediterranean Sea, in which he is pitted against the most powerful; however, the Knight has yet to lose one (63-64). The Knight is thus given a distinct prowess, unparalleled by others like the Friar and Haberdasher.

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Criticism on Chaucer's Interpretation of the Knight from LitCharts

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Criticism on Chaucer's Interpretation of the Knight from LitCharts

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"The narrator is sincere in his description of the Knight as a noble, chivalrous man, determined to fight for the glory of God and always victorious. Unlike many of Chaucer’s portraits, which satirize the figure being shown, Chaucer is genuine in his praise for the Knight"
-Adrienne Raphel
http://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-canterbury-tales/general-prologue#summary-28478

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Criticism on the Role of the Knight from University of Rochester

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Criticism on the Role of the Knight from University of Rochester

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"Keeping this in mind, it seems wise to consider the knight as a figure straddling both religious and secular martial obligations. Some of the campaigns in which he participated may be fraught in nature (the Alexandrian crusade, for instance), but the problems associated with those campaigns do not necessarily suggest that his portrait in the General Prologue is a subversive one"
-Leila K. Norako
http://d.lib.rochester.edu/crusades/text/canterbury-tales-prologue-knight

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Criticism on the Characterization of the Knight from Washington State University

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Criticism on the Characterization of the Knight from Washington State University

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"The Knight is traditionally seen as one of the few idealized characters among the portraits, representing the chivalric ideal and seeming to be a peacemaker when he can... The Knight hasn't changed gear from battle ("Al bismotered with his habergeon"), indicating that he has immediately committed himself to holy pilgrimage"
-Dr. Michael Delahoyde
http://public.wsu.edu/~delahoyd/chaucer/GP.html

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Rather than portraying a sin or oddity in outward appearance in the Knight, Chaucer applies a few of the seven heavenly virtues to him. The most prevalent of the seven heavenly virtues are diligence and humility. The Knight's diligence is displayed through his work for the wellness of his country and King. His humility is illustrated through his modest nature and lack of ostentatious belongings, with the exception of his horses.
It is evident that Chaucer praises the character. He presents no sins nor obscure physical features in the Knight as he does with other characters such as the Wife of Bath. Ultimately, the Knight is the standard of perfection in Chaucer's book. The satire will likely criticize those who lack the qualities of the "most distinguished man" (43).

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"And though so much distinguished, he was wise And in his bearing modest as a maid... He possessed Fine horses, but he was not gaily dressed. He wore a fustian tunic stained and dark" (70-77).

Despite the Knight's massive success on the battlefield and many favorable characteristics, the Knight is incredibly humble. He is "modest as a maid" which is displayed by the lack of ostentation in his outfit: "fustian tunic"  (72, 76). Unlike some of Chaucer's other characters, which he ridicules, the Knight is incredibly non-materialistic and humble.

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The Evaluation of the Knight's Disposition

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The Evaluation of the Knight's Disposition

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"There was a Knight, a most distinguished man... To ride abroad had followed chivalry, Truth, honor, generousness, and courtesy... He had done nobly in his sovereign's war... And ever honored for his noble graces" (43-50).

Chaucer purposefully begins the prologue with the introduction of the Knight in order to set the standard of excellence. Chaucer describes that the Knight bears "truth, honor, generousness, and courtesy" which indicates that he is of the most supreme in the land (46). Because Chaucer honors the Knight "for his noble graces", it is inferred that these characteristics are what Chaucer is trying to invoke in every being (50).