Courage, Wisdom, Loyalty (Chivalry of Knights) A long, long time ago when there were knights around, they had codes that they were supposed to follow. The Code of Knights was basically just a set of standards or rules that they were required to follow. To start off, if they wanted to be considered a glorious knight, they were required to be courageous and brave in all aspects. Along with this, they had to have wisdom; they needed to have knowledge and certainly know their right from wrong. The last code they had to follow, was they needed to be loyal to their king and queen. This meant that they couldn’t go off and have relationships, and they were also supposed to treat all women with respect. In the stories The Green Knight and Morte …show more content…
For example, in Morte d’Arthur, on page 187, Arthur said, “Alas, this unhappy day!” However, he ended up hopping on his horse to go to fight anyways even though he knew he was going to die. This shows that he had a ton of bravery and courage in him. If you think about how most people these days would’ve acted if they were in this same situation, they probably would’ve ran so they could get out of such a horrible situation. In The Green Knight, on line 373, “Strike once more; I shall neither flinch nor flee; but if my head falls to the floor, there is no mending me!” Sir Gawain said this. What he was doing was sacrificing himself so that he could show his bravery. Gawain just walked up and told the knight to chop his head off with the axe. In all honesty, this is so much courage that is shown here, that it’s …show more content…
The Green Knight as well as Morte D’Arthur had knights that were involved that showed major loyalty towards their king or queen. There was a time that you could see how maybe some of them didn’t, for example, Bedivere when he told Arthur he was going to throw the sword in the lake; he didn’t actually do it until the third time. On line 482 in The Green Knight, it says, “I hold you polished as a pearl, as pure and as bright as you had lived free of fault since first you were born.” What is significant of them saying this, is that when it comes to loyalty, it shows how loyal he had been his whole life as a knight. That’s a huge important factor of being a knight, and when the other knight saw that he did that his whole life, he was very proud of
Life during the Middle Ages was full of social change, division, and classism. This feudal society of Britain was divided into three estates. (social classes) Within the second estate was the the knight who was a soldier for the king who fought in many battles. Even though the knight is expected to have the strength and the skills to fight in battle, all knights during the Medieval period additionally had a chivalrous aspect to them. Chivalry was the honor code of a knight which included bravery, courtesy, honor, and gallantry toward women. Within the stories of the “Wife of Bath’s Tale” and “Le Morte d’Arthur”, the code of chivalry was broken by knights which show the corruption of England’s feudal society.
King Arthur and his knights represent the pinnacle of bravery, chivalry, and honor. However, when a strange knight, the Green Knight, enters Camelot with a challenge, none of the knights accept it (?). No knights wanted to go blow for blow with the Green Knight for fear of losing their lives. It is not until Arthur rises to face the challenge, to defend the honor of his court, that Gawain steps forward and accepts it. Therefore, the purpose of the Green Knight is to teach Sir Gawain to value his honor and the honor of the king more than his life.
In Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, the author shows, in a deeper, fictional descriptive fashion, a look into English life of the late 1300s to the 1400s. Written in an ambiguous undertone, this poem is left for interpretation by the reader. This seemingly unknown author examines the personalities and character traits of Sir Gawain, and other people within the patriarchy by examining them through the different what they did in life, and how they conducted themselves within specific company. Particularly through Sir Gawain, the Pearl Poet examines more than just pride within this text, but bravery, honor, and temptation.
Concerns over the medieval people’s ability to faithfully endorse Christianity were echoed in medieval texts through Sir Gawain’s search for redemption. People were expected to demonstrate their unmoved faith, especially since the Church played a significant role in their lives. Sir Gawain embodies the impeccable role as an endorser of chivalry to inspire other knights which allow for open discussion about his flaws to ease iron-clad expectations. Sir Gawain is presented with a call to action in both Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Chaucer’s “The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale” in The Canterbury Tales which is delegated by higher powers. His representation of the knights, therefore, portrays the people’s own trial for penance as an individual
In the historical poem, ‘Sir Gawain and the green knight’ it is easy to pick the two protagonists Sir Gawain and the Green knight. They are both knights and their heroism is developed through high power and their Christian faith. However, the mode of characterization varies as both Sir Gawain and every other man in the poem argue about the advancement of a Christian hero. Every man including sir Gawain all have real individual characteristics such as self pity, fear, and dishonesty, and though they are characterized by flaws they all excel thus not falling under the classification of just not any common heroes but Christian heroes.
Many forms of chivalrous code can be found today, from The Cowboy’s Code to the Rules of Courtly Love. These codes are stated with the hope that people will try and follow them to some degree; yet only the perfect could adhere to them all. Considering the fact that such perfection is impossible, the authors merely set out a guideline for honorable behavior. In the context of medieval times, a knight was expected to have faith in his beliefs; for faith was considered to give hope against the despair that human failings create.
In the Medieval Period, knights dedicated their lives to following the code of chivalry. In Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur, a number of characters performed chivalrous acts to achieve the status of an ideal knight. Their characteristics of respect for women and courtesy for all, helpfulness to the weak, honor, and skill in battle made the characters King Arthur, King Pellinore, and Sir Gryfflette examples of a what knights strove to be like in Medieval society. Because of the examples ofchivalry, Le Morte d’Arthur showed what a knight desired to be, so he could improve theworld in which he lived.
During the Medieval Times, knights hold high status and are seen as sovereign, yet their actions are contradicting. Knights stand for loyalty, justice, and chivalry; however, most are liars, cheaters, and foolish. Throughout medieval literature, authors create characters that contain both attributes and utilize literary elements to highlight this medieval crisis. Many Knights maintain a loyal and noble character because chivalry outlasts hypocrisy.
In the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, brotherly love is the origin of the entire tale when Sir Gawain offers to undertake the Green Knight’s challenge instead of Arthur, “Then Gawain at Guinevere’s side, Made to the king a sign: “I beseech you, Sire,” he said, “Let this game be mine.”” (Gawain 116-119). In First Knight, brotherly love is also expressed in many ways. Camelot itself is centered around its people and parity. One of the biggest examples would have to be the Round Table where the High Council meets. “No head. No foot. Everyone equal...even the king. In serving each other, we become free. That is the very heart of Camelot” (First Knight). King Arthur says this so he does not make himself of any more importance than his knights and people, which conveys a great accord of brotherly love towards them. Both stories portray loyalty through brotherly
The knight from The Wife of Bath Tale is the least moral of all the knights, because of his unbelievable actions towards women. “He saw a girl...alone as she was born, and, despite her resistance, he ravished her” (Chaucer, “The Wife of Bath Tale” 184). He clearly didn’t care about being chivalrous or having any morals when he molested this girl. Even though he is considered a knight, or squire, by King Arthur’s court “..King Arthur had in his court a lusty squire..” (Chaucer, “The Wife of Bath Tale” 184). The knight still had the nerves to undertake such a disgraceful and despicable action towards someone whom he was suppose to have courtesy for. His actions have not only dishonored King Arthur but every knight of the court as well. Although the knight is hopelessly adulterated in his own selfish desires, he does show a scant amount of chivalry when he says to the old lady“You have my word” (Chaucer, “The Wife of Bath Tale” 187). By saying this the knight shows that he possesses honor, a virtue of chivalry, the virtue of being able to keep one’s word. But after being saved by what the old lady taught the knight, he tries to bail on his word when she requested him...
...ir courage as they prepare. Nelson uses the example of Beowulf’s last great battle to show how even with an extensive, powerful boast of bragging and promise, his objective of slaying the dragon was not accomplished. Beowulf did in fact kill the dragon, but the problem with his boasting lies in these lines: “I shall through courage / gain gold, or battle, fierce mortal wound, / will take your king!” (2535-2537). Beowulf’s use of either-or boasting did not save his life. His initial bragging did push him to victory over the dragon, but in his second boast he claimed that he would gain from victory
Here the Green Knight is talking to Gawain explaining his valor and honor in comparison to the other Knights of the Round Table. This statement that the lord made is perfectly valid, yet Gawain again defers this praise and believes himself to be unworthy. In the entire court of King Arthur, Gawain was the only knight who was brave enough to take the challenge presented by the Green Knight.
The code of Chivalry can be described as a brave, loyal, courteous, distinguished courage or ability that is admired for their brave and noble qualities. Chivalry is a system of ethical ideals that arose from feudalism and had its highest development in the 12th and 13th centenry.(Columbia ElectronicEncyclopedia).Respect is an essential part of chivalry. The code of chivalry is a set of rules followed by the knights during the middle ages. The evolution of heroic and chivalry code has changed over time beginning from the Middle ages to now. The three stories Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Lanval and Beowulf illustrate what it takes to be considered a chivalrous knight.
Closely associated to the romance tradition are two idealized standards of behavior, especially for knights: courage and chivalry. The protagonist within many medieval romances proved their worth by going on quests, as many a knights went in those times, thus returning with great tales of their travels and deeds. Many modern people think of chivalry as referring to a man's gallant treatment of women, and although that sense is derived from the medieval chivalric ideal, chivalry could be seen as more than that. Knights were expected to be brave, loyal, and honorable-sent to protect the weak, be noble to...
Do you remember as a kid you dressing up as a knight, imagining saving someone from a castle from a dragon? Haven’t you always been fascinated by the image of the "Knight in shining armor?" Who hasn't wondered what it was really like to live the life of a knight? Sadly real knights from the Middle Ages aren’t about rescuing people from dragons. This guide will teach you all about how to be a successful knight in European history, the Middle Ages, or Medieval period, lasted from the 5th to the 15th century. It began with the collapse of the Western Roman Empire and merged into the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery. A knight was a male warrior during Medieval Times that served a lord under the code of chivalry, much like samurai with their code of bushido. This code made knights follow a set a rules, and described qualities they should possess. (Hopkins, Knights) For example he is to be fearless and valiant while having qualities such as being loyal, generous, and polite. Women couldn’t become knights because the only purpose they had at that time was: to marry well, be loyal to their husband, and to have sons. (Edge, Arms & Armor of the Medieval Knight) stated that