Lizabeth Thompson Mayo for MST English Department

 Based on 12 th century tales of the romance languages—derived from “Romanz”, loosely translated as “speech of the people” or “vulgar (common) tongue” instead of Latin  Content: verbal narratives about knights and heroes told by troubadours and minstrels, wandering story singers. Became written stories by 14 th century as upper class learned to write

 Hero’s role/Hero quest  Code of Chivalry  Role of Women  Use of Supernatural

 Adventure tales featured a “knight errant” on a journey/ quest  Usually involved a physical and spiritual quest (metaphor for spiritual fulfillment shows influence of Church)  Involves tests, successes and failures, atonement for mistakes/sins, and eventual fulfillment.  Used hero quest cycle as pattern (see notes)  Hero’s obscure origins usually revealed at crucial plot point  Hero reluctant to take on on responsibility role but accepts

 Code of behavior the knights followed  Included bravery, honor, loyalty, piousness, humility, abstinence/ purity, generosity toward foes, helpfulness toward weak, and protector of women  Knight had to prove his virtue, specifically his purity of heart and purpose  Purity of heart will give knight fame and respect back at home. But most importantly, it will make it easier for him to find spiritual fulfillment.

 Love was not a requirement; it could be a reward or wish fulfillment.  Women had two positive roles and two negative roles, which also fit key parts of the hero quest cycle  Positive: Victim = damsel in distress might serve as call to adventure  Positive: Reward for job well done = gift at end  Negative: seducer = temptation to pull knight away from quest  Negative = betrayer = challenge that knight must overcome to achieve quest

 Although texts contained religious references, often incorporated supernatural elements as challenges/ tests.  Ex: dwarves, fairies, magicians, giants, shape shifters  Created by authors to add excitement but also to test character’s virtue  “The ordinary laws of nature are slightly suspended.” critic Northrup Frye. Means we willingly ignore the natural way and temporarily accept supernatural as part of fantasy tale