Medieval Romance The term romance comes from Romance

Medieval Romance

• The term “romance” comes from “Romance languages, ” meaning those languages derived from Latin (French, Italian, Spanish) • Many of the first romances were written in those languages • Examples: – Le Morte d’Arthur (The Death of King Arthur) – Le Roman du Rose (The Romance of the Rose) – Tristan and Isolde – Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

CHARACTERISTICS • A highly artificial and stylized genre • Characters are lords and ladies • Love and chivalry– somewhat contradictory themes • Magic and enchantment, religious mysticism • Lots of fighting, gore, pageantry • Quests • The Knight as a central character

The Knight • A WARRIOR, CHRISTIAN and LOVER • Possesses good manners, delicacy, protocol • Has deference and passion (both!) for ladies • Has skills as a poet, musician, writer, speaker and dancer

The beginning of "The Knight's Tale" illuminated manuscript, Huntington Library, California

13 th century illuminated manuscript: Lancelot du lac fait porter un échiquier magique à la Reine Guenièvre

"The Rescue of Guinevere" by William Hatherell (1855 -1920)

The Romance and Love • The Romance tells of ideal, not realistic love • Love is so passionate as to cause fever and illness • Love is usually outside of marriage • Adultery is almost always inevitable, but has tragic consequences

The Knight and Lady • The Knight dedicates himself to the glorification of his Lady, either in secret or openly • He wears her colors to tournaments, devotes his trophies to her • All of his acts of heroism and valor are in her honor • The Lady is generally demanding, sometimes cruel, but always beautiful, intelligent and spirited.

“Lancelot and Guinevere‘s First Kiss, ” Manuscript illustration, c 1400. Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris

Works Cited and Consulted • • • Hatherell, William. “The Rescue of Guinevere. ” Oil on canvas, 1910. Rpt. “Arthurian Legends Illustrated. ” Kathleen Nichols. Pittsburg State U. , 2003. 21 Sept. 2008. <http: //www 2. pittstate. edu/engl/nichols/arthur 2. html>. “The Knight’s Tale. ” Ellesmere Manuscript, ca. 1400. Illuminated manuscript. San Marino, CA. : The Huntington Library. Rpt. “The Knight’s Tale in Images. ” Luminarium. 1997 -2006. 21 Sept. 2008. <http: //www. luminarium. org/medlit/knightimg. htm>. “Lancelot and Guinevere’s First Kiss. ” Unknown artist. Manuscript illustration, c. 1400. Paris: Bibliotheque Nationale. Rpt. “Lancelot du Lac. ” Timeless Myths. 1999. 21 Sept. 2008. <http: //www. timelessmyths. com/arthurian/lancelot. html#Kiss>. “Lancelot du lac fait porter un échiquier magique à la Reine Guenièvre. ” Unknown artist. Late 13 th C. Rpt. “Tableaux ayant pour sujet les échecs. ” 21 Sept. 2008. <http: //www. jmrw. com/Chess/Tableau_echecs/pages/112. htm>. Leighton, Edmund Blair. “The Accolade. ” 1901. Rpt. CGFA. 21 Sept. 2008. <http: //cgfa. sunsite. dk/l/l-5. htm#eleighton>. Love, D. “‘Al this Peynted Process': Chaucer and the Psychology of Courtly Love. ” English Studies. 83. 5 (Nov. 2002), 391 -398.