The Code Of Chivalry In The Song Of Roland

In??Sir Gawain and The Green Knight?,?the author portrays the nature and code of chivalry as well as the humanistic features of the knights. Knights were but an extension of the king. They were not allowed to do inappropriate things as they were considered the representatives of Arthur. They were meant to treat women appropriately. Chivalry was their main feature.

As feudalism impacted everyone in England, chivalry did as well. The Code of Chivalry greatly impacted the lives of the knights. As we all know knights were expected to be strong, skillful and brave. The Code of Chivalry “was a moral system which went beyond rules of combat and introduced the concept of Chivalrous conduct - qualities idealized by knighthood, such as bravery, courtesy, honor, and gallantry toward women” (“MedievalCode”). This code could be seen as a new life that must be followed by the knights. The Code of Chivalry had a numerous amount of rules to follow. Some of the rules included protecting the weak and defenseless, obey the authority, keeping faith, and speaking the truth at all times (“MedievalCode”). In addition, knights were seen as heroes to the people of the land. The code also presented the knights more desirable to the women of the land

They say Chivalry is dead. But the underlying theme of it returns through all forms of medieval literature. One great example is the Arthurian legend. King Arthur, Sir Gawain, and the knights of the round table use chivalry to explain many Christian values and topics such as salvation, morality, and truth. While on their adventures, these knights exhibited great aptitude within their faith pertaining to these religious tokens, but at other times their values slipped and the heroes had their fall. One such theme that was first introduced in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was salvation.

At this point in history the men who fought the wars were lead by their leaders with a code of chivalry. Chivalry can be explained as “the Anglo-Saxon code on steroids.” (McGee) Which is, explained further, a moral system for a good way to conduct fighting. The knights in Arthurian time went even further with that code to say that it was a way to conduct oneself not only in battle, but at all times. Knights, by being chivalrous, were kind to all people, fought well and true, kept faith and believed in the Christian God, and fought for their kings. Chivalry can be found across the Arthurian texts, The Song of Roland is one of the texts that has multiple examples of chivalry.

Chivalry and culture transformed the High Middle Ages in the Song of Roland (Le Chanson de Roland) because of the fact that it provides built-in drama for the poets and storytellers. This was originally a song that’s passed down by minstrels and later written down by monks around the twelfth century. Chivalry is a set of systems and social codes governing the behavior of knights and gentlewomen. It also includes a set of oaths of one’s loyalty in regards to the overlord and observing certain warfare. Throughout the poem/song, it showcases the characteristics of a perfect knight in that day and age. The book differs from real events by changing some aspects of location, ethnics, and the time period.

     An act of chivalry is described as the qualifications or character of the ideal knight. Knights were expected to uphold this code of conduct. In the English literature Le Morte d?Arthur, French for ?The Death of Arthur?, by Sir Thomas Malory, the characters display acts of chivalry from beginning to end. Though the code of chivalry contains many qualities or acts, nevertheless bravery, loyalty, and courtly love are demonstrated more throughout this literature.

“The motto of chivalry is also the motto of wisdom to serve all, but love only one” (Balzac 1). During the Medieval Age, there once existed a moral system that introduced a set of conducts such as, virtues, honor, and courtly love. This was known as the Code of Chivalry. These codes where available and practiced in knight's daily life. The idea of chivalry is extremely valuable to the people, that even everything a knight wore symbolized something valuable or unique. In other words, chivalry was no game. Authors during the chivalric period were influenced by the concept of chivalry and romance that the authors wrote about it in their work. During the Medieval Age and the Renaissance period chivalry, courtly love, and romance played a

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.

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.

Chivalry, in the same way, is a series of codes a European fallow to achieve the qualifications to be a knight. One of the main qualifications are to have courage in battle. Performing loyalty to lord, they always receive a piece of land, in exchange. Like in the movies, a knight was a protector

A knight’s Code of Chivalry was a system of morals that they lived by. Knights were very respected people because they lived by that code. A person’s morals or personal code can reflect a person’s character. I realized mine throughout the time I spent taking care of my great grandmother.

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.

Chivalry, the combination of qualities expected of an ideal knight such as courage, honor, and courtesy, began in the medieval times along with courtly love, a medieval tradition of love between a knight and a noblewoman. A Knight’s Tale involved two great knights by the name of William Thatcher and Count Adhemar. Although they both showed great strength and skill, William was the better example of chivalry and courtly love because he protected the weak, respected women, and honored the other knights. William was a better example of a chivalrous knight because he protected the weak. For example, in A Knight’s Tale, William jousts Sir Thomas Colville, but instead of defeating him after Colville is injured, he honors him and shows mercy by

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.

However, the description of chivalry is not only portrayed through the imagery in the novel but moreover through the behavior of Philip Marlowe. For hundreds of years, the knight is one of the most fascinating figures or motives of the history which has not lost his symbolic brightness and power. If one is looking for a definition of a knight it always includes certain terms like strong, noble, chivalrous, morally straight or protector of the weak as well as the existence of a certain code. According to this code it is the duty of a knight to protect women, children and to have faithfulness. This is exactly the behavior that Marlowe displays throughout the novel. Within the novel there are several passages and examples