The Knight at Dawn

The knight symbolizes the values of the Middle Ages, particularly the idealized version of the era popular in fiction. The story doesn’t delve into historical details about knights’ roles as warriors, instead portraying the titular character as a majestic and self-contained figure who evokes the grandeur and chivalry often associated with tales set in the medieval era: “The knight sat on the black horse. His armor shone in the moonlight” (47). The knight has no name or dialogue in the story, and the children never see his face. These authorial decisions reinforce his role as a symbolic embodiment of the Age of Chivalry, rather than a distinct individual. Many popular tales about knights promote ideals like courage and kindness toward those in need. Accordingly, the knight in this story rides to the children’s rescue on his black steed after they become lost in the fog. The novel closes with Jack dreaming that he and Annie are “with the knight again” (56), reinforcing that the encounter with the knight inspires Jack to move forward on his journey toward overcoming fear.

Later in the Magic Tree House series, Jack and Annie learn that the knight is Morgan Le Fay, who uses her shapeshifting powers to come to the children’s aid in the first three books before introducing herself to them in the fourth.