Parts 1 and 2 of The Knight's Tale

Parts 1 and 2 of The Knight's Tale from The Canterbury Tales demonstrate "literature in motion," when motion is considered as emotional ups and downs, not physical movement.  After all, the "ups and downs" on the "ride" of life are based on emotions, not physical location.  The characters in the story are constantly having changes in emotion.  Theseus goes from being elated, at the very beginning of the story, to vengeful, after he meets the widows, who were victims of Creon.  Palamon is bitter about being locked up in the tower until he sees Emelye, with whom he immediately falls in love;  his excitement about being in love quickly turns to anger when Arcite falls in love with Emelye.  Arcite, who seems to be very fortunate after he is released from prison, is actually devastated because he can no longer see Emelye.  Parts 1 and 2 also show that love, which is an extremely positive force in the ideal situation, can tear people apart when infused with jealousy.  Love's positive and negative aspects are displayed in Parts 1 and 2;  Palamon and Arcite's love for Emelye gives them hope while they are imprisoned, but it also turns them against each other and nearly kills them both before Theseus finds them and puts an end to their battle.