Medieval Romance

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Medieval Romance
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Basic Narrative Pattern

• A quest, in which the hero undertakes a dangerous
  journey in search of something of value

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Reflection of Society

• System both of government and of landownership.
• Give oath of loyalty, receive land.
• Nobleman ruled land, judged legal cases, imposed
  taxes, and maintained an army

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Elements of Romance

• Unusual or exotic setting
• A near perfect hero
• A test of the hero
• Brave knights
• An evil enemy
• Battles, quests, contests, tests
• Magical or supernatural elements events

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Elements of Romance

• Good vs. Evil
• Female figures who are usually maidens (beautiful
  in need of rescue), mothers, or crones
• High-born figures, such as kings or queens
• Themes of love, loyalty, faith, courage in a
  blend of realism and fantasy

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Courtly Love Knightly Adventure

• Some Rules of Courtly Love

• He who is not jealous cannot love.
• Boys do not love until they reach the age of
  maturity.
• When one lover dies, a widowhood of two years is
  required of the survivor

From The Art of Courtly Love by Andreas Capellanus
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Courtly Love Knightly Adventure

• Some Rules of Courtly Love Cont . . .

• It is not proper to love any woman whom one would
  be ashamed to seek to marry.
• A true lover does not desire to embrace in love
  anyone except his beloved.
• The easy attainment of love makes it of little
  value difficulty of attainment makes it prized.

From The Art of Courtly Love by Andreas Capellanus
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Courtly Love Knightly Adventure

• When made public love rarely endures.
• A new love puts an old one to flight.
• Good characters alone makes any man worthy of
  love.
• Rich jealousy always increases the feeling of
  love.

• Some Rules of Courtly Love Cont . . .

From The Art of Courtly Love by Andreas Capellanus
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Courtly Love Knightly Adventure

• Some Rules of Courtly Love Cont . . .

• He whom the thought of love vexes eats and sleeps
  very little.
• A true lover considers nothing good except what
  he thinks will please his beloved.
• Nothing forbids one woman being loved by two men
  or one man by two women.

From The Art of Courtly Love by Andreas Capellanus
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Ideals of Knightly Conduct

• Courage
• Loyalty
• Courtesy

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Code of Chivalry

• Loyalty
• Maintain commitment to the people and ideals you
  choose to live by. Never compromise.
• Defense
• Stay true to the oath to defend the liege lord
  seek always to defend your nation and your family.

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Code of Chivalry

• Prowess
• Seek excellence in all endeavors. Use strength
  for justice not for personal gain.
• Seek always the path of right, or unencumbered
  by bias or personal interest, no matter what the
  cost.

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Code of Chivalry

• Humility
• Do not boast of your own accomplishments let
  others do this for you. Honor others before
  yourself.
• Courage
• Be ready to follow the most difficult paths. Be
  prepared to make personal sacrifices in service
  of others.

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Code of Chivalry

• Faith
• Have faith in your beliefs, for faith roots you
  and gives hope against the despair created by
  human failings
• Generosity
• Be generous as much as your resources allow
  generosity in this way counters gluttony.
• Nobility
• Hold to the virtues and duties of a knight,
  realizing the ideals cannot be reached.

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Code of Chivalry

• The Ten Commandments of the Code of Chivalry
• I. Believe all that the Church teaches, and
  observe all its directions.
• II. Defend the Church.
• III. Respect all weaknesses, and constitute
  thyself defender of them.
• IV. Love the country in which you were born.
• V. Do not recoil before your enemy.
• VI. Make war against the Infidel without
  cessation, and without mercy.
• VII. Perform scrupulously your feudal duties, if
  they be not contrary to the laws of God.
• VIII. Never lie, and remain faithful to your
  pledged word.
• IX. Be generous, and give largess to everyone.
• X. Be everywhere and always the champion of the
  Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil.

From Chivalry by Leon Gautier
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• May be based in fact
• Feature these elements
• Heroic figures and memorable deeds
• Quests, contests, or tests
• Patterned events (for instance, events repeated
  three times)
• Included
• Detailed descriptions
• Plot twists
• Sophisticated characterization

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King Arthur

• Was King Arthur real?
• No one knows, but his name has popped up since
  the sixth century, and by the ninth century, he
  was a folk hero.

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Morte dArthur

• Written by Sir Thomas Mallory
• First English prose version of King Arthurs
  life.
• Romance medieval legend
• King Arthur battles his illegitimate son,
  Mordred, loses his knights and dies himself
• Values
• Chivalry, bravery, loyalty, warfare, honor,
  conquests, heroism
• Themes
• Love, loyalty, betrayal

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Sir Gawain the Green Knight

• Romance medieval legend
• Values
• Heroism, honor, chivalry, bravery, beauty,
  honesty, loyalty
• Gawain is Arthurs loyal nephew he is tested by
  three challenges
• Gawain is admirable, but not invulnerable