Knighthood and Chivalry Courtly Love

The Round Table“Gawain, Torre, and

Pellinore”

Knighthood and Chivalry Courtly Love

The Round Table“Gawain, Torre, and

Pellinore”

Knighthood Knighthood

Flourished on the Continent Came from France to England with

the Norman Conquest At first knighthood was a

conferred, not inherited, badge of class

Flourished on the Continent Came from France to England with

the Norman Conquest At first knighthood was a

conferred, not inherited, badge of class

Knighthood Knighthood

Boys of noble birth were given military training

Moved from page to squire and to knight, if proved fit

Boys of noble birth were given military training

Moved from page to squire and to knight, if proved fit

Knighthood Knighthood

In the “dubbing” ceremony, the candidate receives the “accolade,” a blow on the neck

Christianization = vigil at the church altar

In the “dubbing” ceremony, the candidate receives the “accolade,” a blow on the neck

Christianization = vigil at the church altar

Chivalry Chivalry

Evolution from the Teutonic code of comitatus

cheval = horse chivalry cavalry, warfare on

horseback

Evolution from the Teutonic code of comitatus

cheval = horse chivalry cavalry, warfare on

horseback

Chivalry Chivalry

Developed in 1th 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

Developed in 1th 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 Courtly Love

South of France 13th C. Church attempted to introduce

protection for female weakness Increase devotion to the Virgin

Mary

South of France 13th C. Church attempted to introduce

protection for female weakness Increase devotion to the Virgin

Mary

Courtly Love 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”

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 Courtly Love

Adoration of a beautiful, intelligent noblewoman who remains chaste and /or unattainable

The IDEAL

Adoration of a beautiful, intelligent noblewoman who remains chaste and /or unattainable

The IDEAL

Courtly Love 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

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 Courtly Love

Knight keeps her name a secret but carries a memento (glove, scarf)

Celebrates her in poetry and song

Knight keeps her name a secret but carries a memento (glove, scarf)

Celebrates her in poetry and song

The Round TableThe Round Table

Probably Celtic in origin Given Christian symbolism by Robert de

BoronLast Supper

Round Table

Grail Table

Probably Celtic in origin Given Christian symbolism by Robert de

BoronLast Supper

Round Table

Grail Table

The Round TableThe Round Table

Select group of knights “Siege Perilous” = empty seat for

he who would triumph in the quest for the Holy Grail

Select group of knights “Siege Perilous” = empty seat for

he who would triumph in the quest for the Holy Grail

“Gawain, Torre, and Pellinore”

“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

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, Torre, and Pellinore”

Gawain devolves into a vengeful figure

Pellinore had killed King Lot (Gawain’s father)

Gawain will kill Lamorak (Pellinore’s son)

Remember Agamemnon and Orestes?

Gawain devolves into a vengeful figure

Pellinore had killed King Lot (Gawain’s father)

Gawain will kill Lamorak (Pellinore’s son)

Remember Agamemnon and Orestes?

Pellinore’s LinePellinore’s Line

Torre is Pellinore’s illegitimate son Carries on without a father

Alyne is Pellinore’s illegitimate daughter Dies unrecognized by father

Torre is Pellinore’s illegitimate son Carries on without a father

Alyne is Pellinore’s illegitimate daughter Dies unrecognized by father

Pellinore’s HousePellinore’s House

PellinoreKilled Lot

Killed by Gawain

TorreKilled by Lancelot’s

men

Alynesuicide

AglovaleKilled by Lancelot’s

men

Perceval (raisedin woods by

Mother)

LamorakKilled by Gawain

legitimate illegitimate

Gawain and the Hart Gawain and the Hart

Accidentally beheads woman Wears her corpse as penance Rebuked by Guinevere (“Wife of

Bath’s Tale”)

Accidentally beheads woman Wears her corpse as penance Rebuked by Guinevere (“Wife of

Bath’s Tale”)

Torre and the Brachet 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

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 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

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 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

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 Oath of the Round Table

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

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

Further ResourcesFurther Resources

Select this link for excellent Arthurian resources

The Camelot Project at University of Rochester

Select this link for excellent Arthurian resources

The Camelot Project at University of Rochester