Knighthood and Chivalry Courtly Love The Round Table “Gawain, Torre, and Pellinore”

Knighthood Flourished on the Continent via traveling minstrels and troubadors Came from France to England with the Norman Conquest At first knighthood was a conferred, not inherited, badge of class

Knighthood Boys of noble birth were given military training Moved from page to squire and to knight, if proved fit

Knighthood In the “dubbing” ceremony, the candidate receives the “accolade,” a blow on the neck Christianization = vigil at the church altar

Chivalry Evolution from the Teutonic code of comitatus cheval = horse chivalry cavalry, warfare on horseback

Chivalry Developed in 11th c. during the Crusades to counteract feudal warfare Ideals of courage, battle-fitness, generosity, faithfulness, and service (lord, Savior, and lady) Deepened gulf between classes

Courtly Love South of France 13th C. Church attempted to introduce protection for female weakness Increase devotion to the Virgin Mary

Courtly Love Later tales involve sexual love between knight-errant and his honored lady After 13th C. = church disapproval and decline of chivalry Code was passed as the social conventions of the “gentleman”

Courtly Love Adoration of a beautiful, intelligent noblewoman who remains chaste and /or unattainable The IDEAL

Courtly Love Knight performs noble deeds for his female ideal If she favors his devotion, respect prevents consummation of their love She is married to someone else

Courtly Love Knight keeps her name a secret but carries a memento (glove, scarf) Celebrates her in poetry and song

The Round Table Probably Celtic in origin Given Christian symbolism by Robert de Boron Last Supper Round Table Grail Table

The Round Table Select group of knights “Siege Perilous” = empty seat for he who would triumph in the quest for the Holy Grail

“Gawain, Torre, and Pellinore” Lodegreaunce bestows Round Table and 100 knights as a wedding gift 3 empty seats Siege Perilous (not yet born = Galahad) One yet to come = Percival Another yet to come = Lancelot

“Gawain, Torre, and Pellinore” Gawain devolves into a vengeful figure Pellinore has killed King Lot (Gawain’s father) Gawain will kill Lamorak (Pellinore’s son) Remember Agamemnon and Orestes?

Pellinore’s Line Torre is Pellinore’s illegitimate son Carries on without a father Alyne is Pellinore’s illegitimate daughter Dies unrecognized by her father

Pellinore’s House Pellinore Killed Lot Killed by Gawain legitimate illegitimate Torre Killed by Lancelot’s men Perceval (raised in woods by mother) Aglovale Killed by Lancelot’s men Alyne suicide Lamorak Killed by Gawain

Gawain and the Hart Accidentally beheads woman Wears her corpse as penance Rebuked by Guinevere (“Wife of Bath’s Tale”)

Torre and the Brachet Conflicted by promise to lady and knight’s plea for mercy Returns with knight’s head Rewarded with an earldom Inner nobility reflected in quest

Pellinore and the Lady Cursed by Alyne for lack of assistance Kills Nyneve’s captor and returns with her Returns with Alyne’s head Cursed to be deserted at his greatest hour of need

Oath of the Round Table To fight only just causes = Pellinore and the lady At all times be merciful = Gawain and the hart Put the service of ladies foremost = Gawain and the hart, Torre and the brachet

Oath of the Round Table Represents the ideal More often broken than kept Violence predominates Taking of life seems minor

Further Resources Select this link for excellent Arthurian resources The Camelot Project at University of Rochester