The Middle Ages King Edward died in 1066

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 1 st 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 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 1 st 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 – Ø usually born under mysterious circumstances Ø grows up in obscurity & undergoes a childhood initiation involving a magic weapon Ø In his maturity he fights to defeat evil and promotes peace. Ø Aided by magic weapons and wise mentors Ø 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

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 – 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 – 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 • 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

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