The Middle Ages

King Edward died in 1066 & Duke of Normandy laid claim to England’s throne; he won England through battle, becoming England’s 1st Norman king—William I This brings French influence into England, including ideas of feudalism & chivalry

Feudalism King parceled land out to lords; lords granted land to vassals in exchange for an oath of military duty

Heroic Ideal – demands skill & courage of king & his followers in all aspects of life King’s duty: Protect & share spoils of war + Person’s duty: Provide military service/protections & give back to kingdom = Code of Reciprocity

Knights had to show loyalty to 5 things: Their Word Earthly Lord or King God Lady Fellow Knights

Knightly duties: To love God & give his life for Him To possess justice & loyalty; to protect the poor & weak To stay clean in flesh & pure in spirit To avoid pride

Chivalry Describes courtly behavior off the battlefield (championing the weak, acting devoutly and piously, upholding the truth) Became associated with courtly love (knight showed skill in poetry and music, pledged to defend and protect a noblewoman. Many knights carried tokens from their ladies, such as scarves or gloves that she would bestow upon the knight before he rode into battle) Swearing an Oath Swearing means making a promise. A knight who swore in truth could be counted on to keep his word. A knight who didn't keep his word was not honorable.

Ideals of Chivalry Prowess Loyalty Generosity courtesy Piety Temperance Chastity

Additional Info: The knight’s reputation was very important as an indication of his character He often sought adventures in battle or w/ women to heighten/develop his reputation A knight was expected to attend Mass

Medieval Romance - genre of literature characterized by: Form of narrative poetry that came after the old heroic poem Everyday language—didn’t have to be read only by the Greek or Latin scholars set in the world of knights, kings, and supernatural creatures Includes quests & tests of the knight (moral & physical strength) Element of the supernatural Written for nobles Three stages of a medieval romance: a dangerous quest, a test of honor or courage, and a return to the beginning point of the quest

Malory-English author of Le Morte d’Arthur Sir Thomas Malory of Newbold Revell Knighted in 1442 Served in Parliament of 1445 (*title-Sir)

An upstanding character??? violent, lawless individual committed crimes such as poaching, extortion, robbery, and murder Most of Malory’s life from 1451 was spent in prison (*probably did most of his writing there)

Igraine/Uther--Arthur’s parents Merlin--magician to whom Arthur was promised as payment for his father’s pact with the magician

Arthur became king of Britain when he removed the sword from the stone Powerful; heroic--joins fight “rode steadily” into Mordred’s army to fight Not scared; proud; unmoved by fear

Sir Mordred Arthur’s son Wicked, greedy, arrogant Selfish--Arthur & his men must beg him to accept peace terms Brave, fearless, unmoved by fear (*like Arthur) Works until he gets what he wants

Both are faithful leaders who are unmoved by fear Both men share this... Both are faithful leaders who are unmoved by fear

Guinevere--Arthur’s wife; queen

Lancelot--Knight of the Round Table; had an affair with Guinevere

Morgan Le Fay--Arthur's half sister; the daughter of Arthur's mother Igraine and her 1st husband; an adversary of Arthur's Also spelled Morgaine

Lady of the Lake--mysterious female who gave Arthur Excalibur

Excalibur--had special powers

Romance hero Romance hero – usually born under mysterious circumstances grows up in obscurity & undergoes a childhood initiation involving a magic weapon In his maturity he fights to defeat evil and promotes peace. Aided by magic weapons and wise mentors Fate is often uncertain. Very mysterious events surrounding his death suggest he may return when his people need him the most.

Arthur-Guinevere-Lancelot triangle--a lesson in love, fidelity, and forgiveness Arthur’s pulling of the sword from the stone--mankind’s continual hope that an unrecognized leader will arise from us to lead us in our purpose Promise of the leader’s return--Symbolizes the better hopes we share for times to come.

“Utopia” – a perfect society based on selflessness Camelot--humanity’s nearest approach to the city of God on earth Round Table--symbol of equality and friendship

Holy Grail quest--a search for spiritual fulfillment

Dream/vision--foreshadows Arthur’s death Foreshadowing Dream/vision--foreshadows Arthur’s death

Symbolism Dream/vision--Second chances for life, for peace chair--throne wheel--instability of Arthur’s throne/rule/kingdom platform--isolation--Arthur ultimately faces this “darkness” alone gold robes--Arthur’s dress--indicates riches & wealth/royalty In black lake--worms, serpents, wild beasts--the dangers that await Arthur (Sir Mordred and his army)

Color Symbolism Lake--black Ladies--black hoods/cloaks/robes death, evil, or something harmful hard to see through dark water--symbolizes blindness/naivete--Arthur can’t see through Mordred Ladies--black hoods/cloaks/robes Another indication of death Have come to take Arthur to the “other side”--Avalon (heaven??)

Honorable Acts Committed Knights & King stay to fight until the bitter end Sir Bedivere carries his king to save him; Lucas helps Sir Gawain (even in death) helps warn his king, Arthur, staying loyal even after mortal life

Dishonorable Acts Committed Son vs. Father & vice versa Robbers/looters--stealing from dead bodies & those mortally wounded Sir Bedivere--twice doesn’t throw Excalibur into the lake per Arthur’s request and lies to Arthur about it (*he is seduced by thoughts of the sword’s material) [richness=greed]

Here lies Arthur, the once and future King. Final comment in the text Arthur’s strange death, departure, and promised return are typical of all romance heroes Arthur’s return is always hoped for

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Sir Gawain was a moral story. “Anti-romance” (most romances didn’t preach a moral) Two divisions of the story: tests physical courage—beheading and returning for payment tests moral courage—temptations Sir Gawain has been shown to be ruthless and bloodthirsty by some writers, and noble and courageous by others possesses the ideal traits of a Knight of the Round Table: Physical ideals--strength, skill at arms, horsemanship Non-physical ideals--courage, humility, courtesy, and loyalty

Symbol of Truth - Five-pointed star (Pentangle) Gawain’s strength symbolized in the star on his shield Faultless in 5 senses Faultless in 5 fingers Faith in 5 wounds of Christ on cross Fierceness from 5 joys from the Virgin Mary 5 virtues: generosity, love for fellow man, purity (truth & goodness), courteous, courage Truth was valued above all other virtues in the code of honor Color Symbolism-colors are used to represent/give meaning to the work. Color-green Green sash Setting/time of year