The Use Of Chivalric Code In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

Literature of the Middle Ages can not be discussed without acknowledging the undeniable importance of chivalry. Chivalry in relation to the middle ages is defined as “the code of conduct adhered to by Medieval knights with gallant knightly values including honor, bravery, courteousness and honesty.” This key characteristic is essential in defining an ideal knight as well as his expectations. A knight must live by a chivalric code in which he becomes indebted to the people, his fellow knights, and most importantly, his lord. No other knight displayed more of a devotion to upholding the code then Lanval of Marie de France’s lai “Lanval.” Lanval demonstrates his chivalric nature in essential every action from maintaining comitatus amongst the

Whats a good medieval romance without chivalry? The combination of qualities expected of an ideal knight, especially courage, honor, courtesy, justice, and a readiness to help the weak. “The world of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is governed by well-defined codes of behavior. ... The ideals of Christian morality and knightly chivalry are brought together in Gawain's symbolic shield. The pentangle represents the five virtues of knights: friendship, generosity, chastity, courtesy, and piety.”

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.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a classic example of the behaviors of a medieval knight and how the code of chivalry works within the courts and towards women. When Sir Gawain visits Bertiak’s castle, he respectfully treats the elderly woman and Bertiak’s beautiful young wife with the same level of dignity. “To the elder in homage he humbly bows; the lovelier he salutes with a light embrace. They welcome him warmly, and straightaway he asks to be received as their servant, if they so desire” (lines 973-976). The treatment of women is an essential part of the code of chivalry. If Sir Gawain had only given attention to the pretty young woman, then he would not have been abiding by the knight’s code of honor. He also keeps the code of chivalry intact when he says “Lover have I none, nor will have, yet awhile” (line 1790). Sir Gawain says this to Bertiak’s attractive wife, when she tries seducing him in the bedroom, which proved Sir Gawain’s loyalty to Bertiak, upholding his chivalric code. Honorable Sir Gawain demonstrates the knightly code of chivalry throughout the poem.

    Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a tale that takes place in the medieval period. During this time period, knights were considered very common and were expected to follow one main code of law, chivalry. This code mainly stated that a knight must be loyal to his king, honest, modest, and brave. Chivalry is practiced in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in the form of tests that are given to Gawain to reveal his true character, and what is valued most to him. Throughout these tests, Sir Gawain proves that he values his honor over his life and will not fall to temptations displayed to him.

The legends and tales of the knights of King Arthur’s Round Table have resounded for ages—vivid stories of courageous and gallant knights usurping evil while simultaneously maintaining an upstanding reputation. Through the Arthurian tales, one has the opportunity to experience heroic narratives of exemplary models of knights who clearly illustrate the chivalry and honorability one should aspire to possess. No more evidently is this theme displayed than in the 14th century epic poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight—a narrative of Sir Gawain, nephew of the legendary King Arthur, and his heroic journey against a mysterious green knight. In this heroic journey, the inherent charisma Gawain possesses and is continually praised for affirms the

The code of chivalry is an important plot element in Sir Gawain and The Green Knight that constructs ideal characteristics for the court of Camelot under King Arthur’s rule. This code also represents perfection, to which Camelot was described as being close to perfect. Even though never expressly stated within the work, other kinsmen related to Arthur outside Camelot share varying ethics within the code. Clearly The Knight’s code was more than a goal for perfection but also a blueprint for ideal morality.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight along with The Canterbury Tales features impressive knights that all boast a chivalric code. As Sir Gawain and the Green Knight unfolds, we readers are led to look beneath the attractive surface of chivalry and question exactly what chivalry is through examples such as: Sir Arthur , Sir Gawain, the Green Knight, Palamon, and Arcite.

The medieval time period brought along a unique style of romance. Romance during the Medieval time referred to French and German poetry dealing with chivalry and the quests of knights in warfare as well as their bravery and courage (Wheeler 1). The chivalry of knights towards women is demonstrated in Milun, Sir Orfeo, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Each of the writings have a different way of unveiling the knight’s chivalry, yet they all share a common theme. Although chivalry is a common theme in all three texts, medieval romance can vary greatly. Some other themes shown throughout the three texts are loyalty, trust, compassion, respect, and devotion.

The romance “Sir Gawain and The Green Knight” is a tale in which Gawain’s integrity is challenged by the Green Knight. A romance is a story involving heroes that are held to a strict code of bravery, usually set in a medieval time and place. During this period of time knights were the primary heroes. Knights are very well respected much because of their code of chivalry. The aspects of chivalry include honesty, bravery, modesty, loyalty, honor, and a host of other respectful characteristics. The most popular legends are of King Arthur and his honorable knights of the Round Table. Arthur was important his self but a noteworthy knight of his was Gawain, who you will learn about later in this essay. “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a romance in which Gawain, the meekest of Arthur’s men, accepts the challenge from the Green Knight that includes receiving seduction from the Green Knight’s wife and Gawain’s admittance to his wrongdoing.

Sir Gawain and Don Quixote…these brave men bolster the honor, courage, and bravery which can be only demonstrated by that of the chivalrous knight. They face strong adversity, yet are able to use their wit and cunning in order to gain the upper hand. They uphold the laws of chivalry every knight must obey. First a knight must obey God. Then a knight must obey his King and his Lords. And then a knight must obey his Lady Love. Yes with their majestic nobilities, these brave men represent the epiphany of all that is great about knighthood. Of course this is all unless one is referring to Don Quixote.

In the days of knights, kings, and jousts, there existed the knightly code of chivalry. This code is seen throughout medieval texts and is described as,“a moral system which went beyond rules of combat and introduced the concept of Chivalrous conduct - qualities idealized by the Medieval knights such as bravery, courtesy, honor and great gallantry toward women...The Code of Chivalry was the honor code of the knight. The Code of Chivalry was an important part of the society and lives of people who lived during the Medieval times and was understood by all.”(Alchin). The respected knight not only followed these rules, but also lived to serve a king. In the two tales of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Morte D’Arthur, three of the chivalrous rules are clear to see. In these two tales, the three rules of the nights that are prevalent in the stories are, courage, honesty, and strength.

Throughout most of the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight; chivalry and its codes are permeated through the story’s journey and the story’s characters. The codes that Sir Gawain shows in his story are piety which was believing in God, generosity, courage, courtesy, and chastity. In movies the codes of Chivalry Change and are distorted to fit the Movie, one of the most famous and often regarded as a the “Holy Grail” of Medieval movies is Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The similarities between the book and the movies are very obvious in the fact that they both emulate the reality of the world that once was portrayed , but obviously one written in the time of when these stories were popular

The Middle Ages, or Medieval time, was an era of war, plague and political oppression. It is thought to have begun with the fall of the Roman Empire (history.com). After the fall of the Roman Empire, there were no laws or government to protect the poor people, so they “turned to lords to keep the peace and act on their behalf” ("Characteristics of the Feudal World"). This led to the beginnings of Feudalism, a social system in which people worked and fought for nobles who gave them protection and land in return (“Feudalism”). Under the feudal system, the Pope was positioned at the top of the hierarchy pyramid.

In the Arthurian legend, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the story is used to shape the author’s idea of what the perfect knight is. The chivalry that the author describes is unrealistic, and portrays a falsified chivalric system in the time of Arthurian legends. It is an overzealous sense of honor and concern about the court’s reputation that begins the plot, and it is a continued adherence to chivalric values that actually ensures that the plot actually progresses. It is very easily seen by any reader that these tenets of chivalry including, but not limited to, respect, reputation, and honor, are held very dear to the Knights of the Round Table. Multiple times throughout the story, the characters’ concern with these characteristics physically