Chivalry: Purpose And Influence

In two stories there is a code that knights follow. Chivalry is the code that they follow. The code says that a knight should be a brave warrior, a good christian, and selflessly fighting for justice. The knights are supposed to fight for their king and queen. In the stories Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and from Morte d’Arthur they show the idea about chivalry.

In Geoffrey Chaucer’s poem, The Knight’s Tale, the author encapsulates chivalrous characteristics in his telling of a battle for love. In its fundamental form, chivalry idealizes a knight’s conduct, both on and off the battlefield (Gregory-Abbott). Chaucer employs this “heroic code [of] bravery, loyalty, and service to one's lord” to illustrate the idillic knight throughout the narrative (Rossignol). Chaucer’s poem, The Knight’s Tale, exhibits the ideals of chivalry in the form of two knights, desperately in love with the same woman, and a wise Duke who embodies the voice of reason. Each knight upholds honor through compassion, troths, and heroism on the battlefield, despite their afflictions with each other.

The historian Richard Kaeuper notes that prowess being crucial to honor may have contributed as much to the ‘problem of violence as it provided a solution’. Therefore, this appears to convey why the concept of chivalry began to be associated with violence and warfare as knights, in the pursuit of honor, became reliant on violence and battle to prove their aptitude. This idea is supported by a medieval knight Sir John Chandos, who stated that men brought up for martial calling ‘cannot live without war and do not know how to’. Maurice Keen argues that ‘chivalry was quintessentially bellicose’ as it presented those who fought has having a ‘pinnacle of honor’. As a result, the use of force by knights as a way of denoting their gallantry led to the belief that violence was intrinsic to the notion of chivalry.

When asked to think of the word “chivalry” and the chivalric code, what is the first thing which comes to mind? Many would visualize the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Most people overlook that chivalry was a code of conduct, designed specifically for the hierarchical order of society and difficult lifestyle during medieval times. The code of conduct included many ideals such as courage, honor, and protecting the weak and was followed by the knights; it also helped control the warrior class by imposing such strict expectations, ensuring they won’t violently turn on those they are assigned to protect. Chivalry played a very important role in the medieval time period.

Each different aspect of the code of chivalry held a separate role in society. Whether it be religious or barbaric, chivalry tended to hold a moral guideline among those who followed it. This moral guideline held them true to their duties to man, God, and women (Sex, Society, and Medieval Women). All of which are reflected in the three themes of Chivalry: Warrior chivalry, religious chivalry, and courtly love chivalry (Sex, Society, and Medieval Women). These three hold their individual roles, all stimulating a different part of the mind and creating a code held by all areas of life in those who hold it. The underlying question posed in this intense pledge is whether those who took the oath lived it out accordingly. To live out Chivalry is

Chivalry is defined as “the medieval knightly system with its religious, moral, and social code” (Oxford). During medieval times, those who received an immense amount of recognition were the ones who abided by the code of chivalry. These were the people who earned respect from other by giving it themselves. For example, when jousting, or fighting another knight, men were still to uphold a respect in regards to social status towards their opponent. If one were to lose this fight, they would bow down to the other, accepting the fact that they had been bested. On the other hand, if they proved successful in

The word chivalry is often associated with knights of the medieval ages. This term was used during the 11th and 12th century. The code of chivalry is a code of conduct that reflected bravery and service to others. This code of conduct was expected of the medieval knights. In his book, La Chevalerie, Leon Gautier wrote the ten commandments of chivalry which were the following: 1. Believe the Church’s teachings and observe all the Church’s directions, 2. Defend the Church, 3. Respect and defend the weak, 4. Love your

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ‘Chivalry’ as “the system, spirit, or customs of medieval knighthood,” (“Chivalry”). The late Letitia Baldridge, who served as the White House Social Secretary for Jacqueline Kennedy as well as an advisor for many more first ladies, has been quoted with saying “Chivalry isn 't dead. It 's just no longer gender-based,” (Baldrige). Baldrige, who was the author of more than twenty books on subjects ranging from etiquette to business and interior design, has also been recognized as amongst some of America’s first woman small business owners (Baldrige). Whereas the concept of chivalry has evolved over the years, a perfect example of its meaning can be found in the fourteenth century poem, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The poem opens with allusions to Greek and Roman history and eventually sets the story on Christmas in Camelot with King Arthur and his knights of the round table. Gawain, King Arthur’s nephew and a knight in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, faces trials and temptations that one would typically expect from a knight of the round table. Through careful and juxtaposed analysis of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and articles by reputable authors, this paper will examine the theme a knight’s chivalric code in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and the transformation of Sir Gawain as he faces multiple trials.

Dictionary).  At the beginning of the Middle Ages, chivalry was strictly pigeon holed by its followers and members into only protecting religious pilgrimages and to maintain the church of God, to serve in valor and combat, and to bind oneself to courtly etiquette and the respect and protection of women.  Many of these beliefs and ideals stemmed from medieval literature, especially influenced by Spanish and Arabic literature, such as Arabian Nights, bringing forth

There is no known name for the pioneer who came up with the idea of the code of chivalry. It was basically a handbook that stated proper civilian behavior. This code began to teach the “warriors,” to not use there weapons towards personal gains, but rather use it for noble reasons. As people became aware with this, they began to share the tales of prestigious acts portraying chivalry all throughout the Western world. This philosophy began to apply to all types of people, especially respect for the warriors who fought seeking for justice, instead of revenge. They began to use words of kindness, and most importantly they had self-confidence to handle war matters in a gentle

Chivalry was relevant in many ways in the Middle Ages. High expectations of virtuous and noble behavior on behalf of God, the church, and those the church marked as worthy of protection were the Christianized form of chivalry (Gregory-Abbott). “The ideal chivalric knight was brave, loyal, and determined as well as compassionate, just,

One of the main elements of chivalry is bravery, in the story we read Beowulf's last Battle, an example of braver was ,”He could see how his king was suffering … Wiglaf mind was made up ; he raised his yellow shield and drew his sword.” in the story Wiglaf went back to help his king fight, that showed bravery. An example of bravery today is people going/volunteer in the military and army. That shows bravery because, you're sacrificing your life for other and your country.

Remember when a man used to open a car door for a woman to climb into? That was the good old days when chivalry among men was still valued. At medieval times the most important aspects of chivalry were courage, honor, and strength. In many stories about well respected knights you here of their battle to do what is right to make them a good knight. You can find specific examples of each of these values of chivalry.

These rules of conduct are evident in the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. However modern chivalry is difficult to identify or define as the rules that govern modern day behavior have been curtailed. The role and guidance of the church is often secondary to the wants of society. The system of chivalry belongs to men however in a predominately egalitarian society the roles of men have been diminished. Women are no longer damsels in distress needing men to save them.

The term chivalry means to treat others, women especially with courtesy, sympathy and respect. The chivalry theory, which comes from the mindset of treating women like higher beings, states that women offenders are treated more leniently than men by the criminal justice system. Male chivalry means