Chivalry in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, The Knight’s...

The term â€Å"chivalry† refers to one of the most popular medieval social ideals. Indeed, this term has excited the imagination of poets and readers throughout history, and modern cultures continue to revise the chivalric ideals of past ages. However, pinpointing what the term meant within the medieval period is difficult at best. The source of this difficulty lies within the fact that there was never one consistent definition for chivalry. Indeed, the meaning of the word seems to shift between cultures and throughout time. For example, the earliest usage of the word seems to denote only mounted cavalry; however, as time shifts, the word becomes synonymous with certain martial ideals. As the period progresses, the ideal of†¦show more content†¦The fourteenth century work Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is one of the most famous and complex of the medieval romances. This text puts Sir Gawain, one of Arthur’s greatest knights to the test, and in doing so, interrogates the chivalric ideals. The tale begins with what seems to be a stock romantic scene. Arthur has gathered his knights together for a celebration, and as is typical with Arthur, he refuses to begin the proceedings until there has been an â€Å"adventure.† As if to answer his request, the Green Knight arrives, but the adventure that he offers is certainly not the one that Arthur expected. The Knight, whose appearance clearly marks him as an outsider, offers to trade strokes with any knight brave enough to challenge him. His challenge is met with silence, and it is clear that these knights, who represent the greatest gathering of chivalry in history, clearly fail to live up to their ideals. Angered by this intruder and shamed by his own knights, Arthur himself decides to take up the challenge. The Knight mocks Arthur as a â€Å"berdless† boy, questioning the masculinity of the leader of the chivalric host. Only Gawain recognizes his duty and accepts the challenge. His swing removes the Knight’s head, but the Knight’s magical powers allow him to live. He charges Gawain with the task of seeking him out soShow MoreRelated King Arthur Essay1157 Words   |  5 PagesMonmouth show Arthur as a strong, central character, making him the dominant figure in the story. He is the one who goes on quests and battles, gaining respect and glory for his court. In romances, however, Arthur is most often overshadowed by his knights, staying mainly in the background as the source and the inspiration behind their great chivalric deeds. GRAPH The first written chronicle of Arthurs adventures comes from Nennius, a monk from North WalesRead More The Use of Magic in Medieval Literature Essay2847 Words   |  12 Pagestime, however, in the time period ranging from Beowulf to Malorys Arthur, there has been an evolution in attitudes and the consequent treatment of magic in medieval literature. The discussion of magic involves not only the disparity between Christian and pagan tradition but also of gender roles, most notably in the Arthurian mythos. Beowulf, Marie De Frances Bisclavret and Lanval, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Sit Thomas Malorys Le Morte DArthur involve the concept of magic and magical creaturesRead MoreHistory of British Literature3343 Words   |  14 Pagesimportant continental narrative verse form, was introduced in England. It drew from three rich sources of character and adventure: the legends of Charlemagne, the legends of ancient Greece and Rome, and the British legends of King Arthur and the Knig hts of the Round Table.  Layamons  Brut, a late 13th-century metrical romance (a translation from the French), marks the first appearance of Arthurian matter in English (see  Arthurian legend). Original English romances based upon indigenous material include  KingRead MoreEssay on Chivalry2466 Words   |  10 PagesChivalry Chivalry, as defined by Encyclopedia Americana is a system of values and ideals of conduct held by knights in medieval Europe. In its institutional form, chivalry was an informal, international order to which many, but not all, of the ruling class (nobility) belonged. The word is derived from the Latin caballus (horse) through the French chevalier (â€Å"horseman† or knight). Chivalry was born from Feudalism in the late middle ages introducing a new, feminine point of view stressing