Chivalry and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Introduction
In the medieval world, chivalry was a code of conduct—a principle of behavior—expected of courteous knights, as endlessly expressed by one of the most famous knights of all time, Don Quixote.[footnoteRef:2] In the medieval story Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, chivalry takes center stage in the action, as the plot essentially pivots on what it means to be chivalrous and how chivalry should be embodied. Sir Gawain undergoes a moral test; the Green Knight is a kind of mythical, mystical judge who puts him through the test; and at the end of it, Sir Gawain emerges humbled and conscious of his shortcomings. The tale is a moral one[footnoteRef:3] and this paper will examine how the medieval concept of chivalry is applied in the story and what it means for Sir Gawain personally after he realizes the fullness of his behavior and all…...
Chivalry has been a part of some societies since the Middle Ages. It originally applied to men who became knights and it became their code of conduct that served their lords, their countries and their Church. That code of conduct definitely included some admirable characteristics and definitely excluded some shameful characteristics. Through the centuries, it has evolved and has a lot less to do with fighting. However, many of the values live on and are like Christ.
Extended Definition of Chivalry
"Chivalry" originally comes from an Old French term: chevalerie, which means "horse soldiery" or the cavalry. This is because the idea of chivalry began with Charlemagne's cavalry -- his knights - and meant a code of conduct including bravery, training and service to other people during the European Middle Ages. The idea kept evolving and by the Late Middle Ages it meant a code of behavior more tied to morality,…...
By the late thirteenth century he had his own seal. The various officials concerned with the holy infirmary, the infirmary for sick brothers and almsgiving were under his authority. From 1340, the hospitaller was a brother from the tongue of France."(Nicholson, 77) Thus, the knights were mainly warriors who nevertheless had numerous other attributions, such as being actively engaged in charity actions and other social services. Percival's quest for the Holy Grail exemplifies the sublime missions assigned to the most virtuous of knights.
Thus, knighthood can be identified as an important cell in the Middle Ages, with a complex ideology of its own but also with a determinate role in society.
orks Cited
Harper-Bill, Christopher ed. And Ruth Harvey ed. Medieval Knighthood IV: Papers from the Fifth Strawberry Hill Conference 1990. oodbridge: Boydell, 1992
Kaeuper, Richard . Chivalry and Violence in Medieval Europe. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.
Nicholson, Helen. The Knights Hospitaller.…...
mlaWorks Cited
Harper-Bill, Christopher ed. And Ruth Harvey ed. Medieval Knighthood IV: Papers from the Fifth Strawberry Hill Conference 1990. Woodbridge: Boydell, 1992
Kaeuper, Richard W. Chivalry and Violence in Medieval Europe. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.
Nicholson, Helen. The Knights Hospitaller. Woodbridge: Boydell, 2001.
Prestage, Edgar. Chivalry: A Series of Studies to Illustrate Its Historical Significance and Civilizing Influence. London: Kegan Paul, 1968
Chivalry in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Although Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is considered to be a romantic poem because of its nature and the era in which it was written, it does not represent romance in the traditional sense of courtly love during the medieval times. It is worth mentioning that Sir Gawain and the Green Knight does not substantially represent any of the conventions listed in "The Art of Courtly Love" by Capallanus, but instead focuses on the chivalrous nature of an honorable knight who struggles when his chivalry comes into conflict with his basic need for self-preservation.
This paper will examine Gawain's character, which is clearly very noble, and how this conflict between morality and mortality becomes almost a mockery by the poet by the end of the poem. Through satire, the poet is able to show the reader how even the noblest and most honorable…...
mlaWorks Cited
Abrahms, M.H. ed. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. New York: Norton and Company. 1986.
This discovery was maliciously divulged by the Cardinal Richelieu, who wanted to bring disgrace to the Queen as his way of scheming against King Louis XIII's leadership in France. Adultery was a practice acknowledged to occur rampantly but done with discretion, because this remains a taboo in 17th century society, wherein the novel was set. That is why the Musketeers deemed it necessary that in order to help the Queen 'save face' from potential embarrassment, they must be able to re-procure the diamonds the Queen had given her lover, which the Cardinal maliciously requested the Queen to wear in a social, public function for the King. As reflected in the novel, the apparent disquiet that this revelation about the Queen's extra-marital affair was explicated by Dumas in the novel: "...the redness of the queen's eyes donated that she had been sleepless or tearful. ut this last circumstance was not…...
mlaBibliography
Collington, T. (2002). "History is not just a thing of the past: The chronotopic transpositions of La Reine Margot." Literature Interpretation Theory, Vol. 13.
Dumas, a. E-text of "The Three Musketeers." Project Gutenberg web site.
Fromkin, D. (2006). "Dumas gastronomique." The New Criterion.
Valiunas, a. (2003). "Dumas among the gods: the three Musketeers and other French fantasies." The American Spectator.
Chaucer's The Knight's Tale
Jonathan Zaun
The societies which flourished throughout Europe during the medieval period were built upon a foundation of institutionalized honor known as chivalry. Orders of knighthood were established throughout the region which sought to produce exemplary soldiers and leaders of men. Medieval knights earned membership to this warrior class by defending their nation from external threats while always striving to uphold a personal code of conduct. The concept of chivalry emerged to encompass the entirety of a knighthood's commitment to virtue, at once describing his proficiency on the battlefield, his willingness to protect a woman's honor, and the supreme loyalty he pledged to his liege. A chivalrous knight was expected to demonstrate prowess in the art of combat, honesty and truth in his dealings with others, honorable behavior when confronting his enemies, and freedom from the hold of worldly possessions; displaying a courtly manner while seeking to attain…...
Dark Ages
The author of this report is asked to answer to a number of questions relating to the Dark Ages. Specifically, the author is asked to define what "Dark Ages" means. Second, the author is asked to ask how this society unwittingly paved the way for a preservation of literature and art from the classical era. In particular, the author is asked to identify how Ireland was instrumental in this re-emergence. Finally, there is to be a summation of the Arthurian legend and how modern ethics is driven in part by this literature and dynamic and a definition of chivalric code is also to be offered.
Questions Answered
In terms of history, the Dark Ages is the millennia or so that followed the end of the oman Empire. It refers to the cultural and economic downfall that ostensibly happened in Western Europe after the oman Empire was reduced to waste. For the…...
mlaReferences
Fordham. (2013, October 9). Internet History Sourcebooks. FORDHAM.EDU. Retrieved
October 9, 2013, from http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/roland-ohag.asp
MLT. (2013, October 9). Code of Chivalry. Medieval Life and Times. Retrieved October
9, 2013, from http://www.medieval-life-and-times.info/medieval-knights/code-of-chivalry.htm
Dark ages and the middle ages existed between fifth and fourteenth century. The Dark Ages observed traditional and modern clashes when there was no intellectual growth not only the public but also the kings and rulers of the countries were illiterate. The Roman culture was deteriorating and the intellectual growth in Roman society stopped. The Dark Age prevailed in whole of Europe and. It is stated that the period was a transition between the Roman height and the High Middle Ages. The Latin literature also fell and the progress could not continue. The social and cultural dominancy of the Europe over rest of world could not sustain. The history speaks that the social and demographic richness and achievements converted into social challenges. It was a time of backwardness for the rich as well as poor as compared to the Roman era when literature and literary growth was prevalent.
Annotated ibliography
The annotated…...
mlaBrehaut. E., (1912), "An Encyclopedist of the Dark Ages," Concilio Toletano, Retrieved from:
http://bestiary.ca/etexts/brehaut1912/brehaut%20-%20encyclopedist%20of%20the%20dark%20ages.pdf
Hall, F.R., (1980), "CHAUCER AND CHIVALRY," Knight Templar Magazine, pp.28
Knighthood and Chivalry: Heroism, Love, and Honor in "Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer and "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"
Fourteenth century literature was characteristically based on medieval period, wherein the dominance of Christianity is evident in estern society during that time. Influenced by the image of a knight, who serves as a warrior and man of noble birth, literary works during this period centered on the virtues taught to be important by the Church: love, honor, and chivalry. These are the characteristics that every heroic knight should have: respect for other people and the self, respect for love, and protecting those people who are unable to protect themselves from harm.
These are the traits that readers see in the images of the 'knights' depicted in Geoffrey Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" and "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight." Belonging to the 14th century estern literary period, these works have illustrated how knights are…...
mlaWorks Cited
E-text of "The Knight's Tale." Available at http://www.literatureclassics.com/etexts/98/89/.
E-text of "The Tale of Sir Thopas." Available at http://www.literatureclassics.com/etexts/98/96/.
Homelessness in America has been a problem for a very long time. The homeless are a vulnerable population therefore something has to be done to make sure that the situation is either controlled or improved. One suggestion I would make is putting the homeless up in a local shelter and tries to re-integrate them back to the society very rapidly. The shelter encourages the people to look out for themselves by requiring that the homeless take part in the upkeep of the shelter if they want to stay. The second suggestion would be enabling these homeless people at these shelters go back to work. Social workers can help the homeless get their birth certificates or proof that they are citizens and a social security card hence they can be bale to get work. These ideas can make the homeless more responsible and hence they can be able to stand out…...
mlaReference
Rebecca Bay, (2014). Testing for the Chivalry Hypothesis within the Central Nebraska Drug Court System. University of Nebraska at Kearney. Retrieved July 24,2014 from http://www.lopers.net/student_org/SSRP/papers/pdf/crj_bayr.pdf
Knight's Tale:"
How does it illustrate the principles of chivalry?
"The Knight's Tale" is meant to illustrate the medieval ideals of chivalry to the knight's listening audience of fellow pilgrims. In this story of courtly love, two men named Palamon and Arcite are in love with the same woman, Emelye. The two men are great warriors, both imprisoned in a tower after being on the losing side of the conflict between Thebes and Athens. The fact that King Theseus does not kill them shows his noble chivalry. Later, Theseus frees Arcite, on the condition that Arcite leaves Athens forever. Although Palamon is still in prison, he at least can see Emelye every day, as she is Theseus' sister-in-law.
Both knights are miserable at this state of affairs -- Arcite for the loss of his beloved and Palamon for the loss of his freedom. Arcite is so desperate he disguises himself as a…...
Future King
Book II: "The Queen of Air and Darkness,"
Character Flaws
Morgause raises four boys. She is not a good mother, and she does not give her boys a sense of right and wrong. She often ignores them for days at a time and beats them when they displease her. She acts as if they were pets rather than human beings, to be loved or not at her convenience. But despite this common maltreatment, the boys turn out very differently. Gawaine is the oldest of the boys and in many ways the most normal. He becomes a knight in Arthur's court, fighting for him loyally. The way in which he is affected by his upbringing is his rages. When provoked Gawaine goes into a berserk rage in which he does things he would normally never do. The next child, Agravaine, is probably the least well-adjusted of the four. He tends to…...
William Wallace is perhaps one of Scotland's most famous historical figures, but the popular conception of him owes more to Hollywood screenwriters than actual historiography. Adaptations such as 1995's raveheart (itself based on a poem written over a century after Wallace's death) have popularized the figure, but in many cases they have glossed over or even omitted the most noteworthy elements of Wallace's military career by focusing on his role as a charismatic leader, rather than his abilities as a military strategist.
y examining what information is available about Wallace's military exploits, and particularly the attle of Stirling ridge, it will be possible to see how Wallace's successes in the first War of Scottish Independence were the combined result of his knowledge of Scottish terrain and the deployment of unconventional tactics and strategies that played off of the ritish military's own confidence and sense of superiority.
efore discussing the attle of Stirling…...
mlaBibliography
Azaryahu, Maoz and Kenneth E. Foote. "Historical Space as Narrative Medium: On the Configuration of Spatial Narratives of Time at Historical Sites." GeoJournal 73, no. 3
(2008): 179-194.
Barrow, G.W.S. The Kingdom of the Scots. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2003.
Cowan, Edward. "William Wallace: The Choice of the Estates" in The Wallace Book .
Jerry's "unfailing impulse of contrition -- a sort of chivalry" struggles against the boy's impulse to be accepted and viewed as a man (3). The lack of father figure in the story underscores Jerry's preoccupation with the group of boys.
The symbolism in "Through the Tunnel" offers a perfect opportunity to explore Freudian theory. In fact, the symbolism emerges like it would in dreams. The titular tunnel is the central image, being an overt representation of the vaginal canal. Moreover, Jerry contemplates the opening of the canal, its vulva, for a long time before entering it. References to the "promontory" of the beach, "strokes," and finally an "explosion" offer phallic imagery too. Jerry is driven to explore the tunnel by a group of boys that he longed for with "a craving that filled his whole body," (5). The longing also suggests homosexuality, which is tempered soon by Jerry's deeper desire…...
Like so many of us, he feels that heaven has cursed him. The element of disgrace would mean that he has fallen out of favor with God. He feels that all of his efforts are "bootless" (useless). However, the skylark has risen above this, implying that by remembering his love, he will also rise above it.
This author used the example of heaven because it is universal. We all think about our mortality and want to make sure that our lives have meaning. Without it, we are lost and rudderless. However, like the skylark, love will help us rise above the situation and finally make our way through the troubles of life that we all have.
4) the issue of Jews, Judaism and the character of Shylock are famous and among the most examined aspects of the Merchant of Venice. The raise all sorts of questions about whether or not Shakespeare…...
Chivalry refers to a code of conduct that was developed in the latter part of the Middle Ages in various parts of western Europe, most notably in what are parts of modern day France and Britain. Though it may be referred to a system or the chivalric code, it is not actually a codified system of norms or behaviors, but instead an informal code of moral behavior. Its origins can be traced back to around 1170, though it draws upon moral codes from earlier times, especially the Carolingian Empire, which featured a similar idolization of the soldier/warrior.
Chivalry is a very....
I. Introduction
II. Impact of Medieval Romance on the Bosa Saga
I. Introduction
II. Body
1. In the fantasy novel The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, heroism is portrayed as a journey of personal growth and self-discovery, as the protagonist Bilbo Baggins evolves from a timid hobbit into a brave adventurer.
2. The exploration of the vast and enchanting world of Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien serves as a metaphor for the characters inner exploration and development, showcasing how heroism is not just about physical feats, but also about inner strength and moral courage.
3. In George R.R. Martins A Song of Ice and Fire series, heroism is depicted as....
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