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Bell Ringer #2: 1/14/11. Have you ever done or said something that you later regretted? If so, what did you do and why did you later regret it? If given a second chance, would you behave differently?. Literature during the middle ages. Languages.
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Bell Ringer #2: 1/14/11 Have you ever done or said something that you later regretted? If so, what did you do and why did you later regret it? If given a second chance, would you behave differently?
Languages Latin was the language of the Roman Catholic Church, which dominated Europe The Church was the only source of education Thus, Latin was a common language for Medieval writings.
A notable amount of medieval literature is anonymous. Medieval authors often tended to re-tell and embellish stories they heard or read rather than invent new stories.
Writings Catholic clerics were the intellectual center of society in the Middle Ages, and it is their literature that was produced in the greatest quantity.
Characteristics of Medieval Literature • Heroism • from both Germanic and Christian traditions, sometimes mingled • Beowulf • Sir Gawain and the Green Knight • Presentations of idealized behavior • literature as moral lesson • loyalty to king • chivalry • use of kennings (especially in Beowulf) • A figurative, usually compound expression used in place of a name or noun. Example, storm of swords is a kenning for battle.
Use of Allegory An allegory is a figurative mode of representation conveying a meaning other than the literal. Much of medieval literature relied on allegory to convey the morals the author had in mind while writing--representations of abstract qualities, events, and institutions are thick in much of the literature of this time.
The Ideal of Courtly Love This relationship was modeled on the feudal relationship between a knight and his liege lord. The knight serves his courtly lady with the same obedience and loyalty which he owes to his liege lord. She is in complete control; he owes her obedience and submission
The knight's love for the lady inspires him to do great deeds, in order to be worthy of her love or to win her favor.
“Courtly love" was not between husband and wife because it was an idealized sort of relationship that could not exist within the context of "real life" medieval marriages. In the middle ages, marriages amongst the nobility were typically based on practical and dynastic concerns rather than on love.
“Courtly love" provided a model of behavior for a class of unmarried young men who might otherwise have threatened social stability. Knights were typically younger brothers without land of their own (hence unable to support a wife). They became members of the household of the feudal lords whom they served.
The lady is typically older, married, and of higher social status than the knight because she was modeled on the wife of the feudal lord, who might naturally become the focus of the young, unmarried knights' desire.
The literary model of courtly love may have been invented to provide young men with a model for appropriate behavior. It taught them to sublimate their desires and to channel their energy into socially useful behavior (love service rather than wandering around the countryside).
The "symptoms" of love were described as if it were a sickness. The "lovesick" knight’s typical symptoms: sighing, turning pale, turning red, fever, inability to sleep, eat or drink.
The Quest • In addition to the theme of Courtly Love, the Quest was highly important: • the code of conduct observed by a knight errant who is wandering in search of deeds of chivalry. This knight is bound by a code of behavior - a set of conventional principles and expectations
A quest is a hero’s journey towards a goal. The objects of quests require great exertion on the part of the hero, and the overcoming of many obstacles. • The hero's must obtain something, or someone, by the quest and with this object return home.
Usually, an inner and outer problem for the character is set. The hero is introduced; audience identifies with them The hero lacks something, has a tragic flaw, or a deep wound The call often produces disorientation and discomfort for the hero The call is often in the form of a dire warning
Excuses are used to avoid the call This hesitation illustrates the formidability of the challenge ahead Resistance creates change and strength, allowing the hero to grow A physical or metaphorical crossing is made The crossing is an irrevocable leap of faith, from which there’s no turning back
The hero faces his greatest fear The hero “dies,” so he can be reborn The hero gains new perception This new perception may create a moment of clarity The moment may be of great self-realization for the hero It may also be an epiphany for the hero’s companions
The Hero Is often of divine descent endowed with great strength and ability" or "a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities"
Main Character: Sir Gawain • Very courageous and brave • Attempted to show a flawless example of a chivalrous Christian hero • Taught the lesson that every man is somehow flawed
Sir Gawain Element of Romance Literature • Set in a remote place and time • Incorporates the marvelous and miracles • Hero is superior to other men and his environment • Involves a “Testing Plot” - Tester is unrealistic and remote - Test is extreme - Hero usually fails and falls prey to temptation - Tester allows hero to learn his lesson and regain a sense of virtue
Sir Gawain Main Characters • Arthur: King of Camelot • Sir Gawain: Representative of the King’s court • Green Knight: Ambiguous in nature (What could he possibly represent?) - Green body: supernatural- Green/Gold equipment: youth or life/peace- Axe: war
Sir Gawain “The Game” • Governed by very specific rules that the player will have to follow • Tests important knightly virtues • Involves seemingly inevitable death
Sir Gawain Code of Chivalry • Posses faith in God • Loyal to people, principles, and promises • Without deceit • Upright and Virtuous
What FIVE virtues of a knight do you think the game will attempt to test?
Sir Gawain The Five Virtues of a Knight • Generosity • Companionableness • Courtesy • Pure mind • Compassion
Sir Gawain The story’s protagonist. A loyal knight to King Arthur, as well as his nephew. Gawain goes on his quest to meet the Green Knight in order to uphold his knightly values.
The Green Knight Sir Gawain’s main opposition in the story. He is a richly decorated knight, who has green skin and hair.
King Arthur The king of Camelot. Uncle of Sir Gawain. It is at his celebration feast that the Green Knight challenges the court to a game.
Lord Bertilak The Lord of the castle at which Gawain spends his time before meeting the Green Knight.
Minor Characters • Lady Bertilak- During the competition between Gawain and her husband, she tests Gawain’s integrity and honesty • Morgan le Faye (The old lady)- Powerful sorceress trained by Merlin. Assists Lady Bertilak in testing Gawain • Guinevere- King Arthur’s wife and Queen. Seated next to Gawain during the court’s feast.
Camelot The holiday celebrations take place at King Arthur’s castle in Camelot. It is here that the Green Knight challenges Gawain to exchange swordly blows to the neck with him.
Bertilak’s Home On his quest to meet the Green Knight, Gawain stays here for a short period of time.
The Green Chapel The supposed home of the Green Knight. Gawain is sent here to keep his end of the bargain which he made with the Green Knight at Arthur’s holiday celebration a year prior
Major Conflict • Gawain vs. Green Knight – Gawain must seek out the Knight to fulfill his part of the game’s agreement that will lead to his death • Gawain vs. Gawain - Gawain’s struggle to decide between his duties as a knight and the worth of his own life.
Questions to Consider: • What jobs are there today that ask someone to put his/her life before someone else? • If you had a agreed to risk your own life for to protect or as a duty to someone else, and you had a chance to escape your death/duty… would you do it? Even if it meant dishonor to your name? • Is there anyone to whom you are completely honest with 100% of the time? • If you promise someone you will be honest with them and an opportunity arises for you to lie within them every knowing, would you do it?
Activity: Extra! Extra! Read all about it! The events in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight are pretty outrageous considering that a man resembling the Jolly Green Giant shows up wanting his head cut off, takes off with his talking head, convinces his wife to seduce Gawain, and attempts to take off Gawain’s head! And if we really think about it, those tabloids we see at the checkout line are pretty out there, too. Put the two together and this story would make a great checkout line tabloid story. Your assignment is to look back over the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and write up a tabloid article about it. Make it as outlandish, absurd, funny, impossible, or nonsensical as you want. You MUST draw one picture to go along with your article. Remember, it’s usually pretty obvious those pictures on the newsstand tabloids are botched. The funnier the picture and article, the better the article. You can even give your tabloid a silly name. Your article needs to be at least a page (min. three paragraphs) to tell the full story from the book (picture included). Be creative!
