AP Seminar Medieval Chivalry

Code of conduct

A mannerly etiquette for knights

What did medieval chivalry establish?

Established a code of conduct which governed religious, social, and moral behaviors

What are the five points of code of conduct?

5 points: humility, piety, integrity, loyalty, and honesty

Medieval romance

Medieval romance is a literary genre (prose/verse) that focuses on the code of chivalry and courtly love

What did medieval romance narrate?

Narrated a king's quest (for holy relic or lady love) or a trial of one's virtues

What did medieval romance carry?

Carried a strong Christian influence but often included supernatural elements

Arthurian Legend

Tales about the legendary king Arthur and the knights of the Round table

Symbols of Arthurian Legend

King Arthur

Round Table

Camelot

The Holy Grail - GIVES ETERNAL LIFE

Merlin

Exacalibur

Supernatural abilities

Round table

Shows all knights as equal

Exacalibur

King Arthur's sword

When was Sir Gawain and the Green Knight?

14th century romance; from Arthurian legend

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Sir Gawain, King Arthur's nephew and a knight of the Round able, goes on a trial to test his courage and honesty

How was Sir Gawain and the Green Knight written?

Written in poetic form and uses alliteration

What gifts do Sir Gawain and Lord Bertilak exchange each day? Why?

Gawain's kisses from the lady for Bertilak's winnings from hunting

Done to test Gawain's loyalty

How does Sir Gawain get the green sash?

After refusing the lady's ring, she offers her sash telling him that whoever wears it won't be harmed

What happens when Sir Gawain faces the Green Knight?

He feints hitting him twice, then only nicks him in his neck

What do the three ax blows represent?

It represents him being honorable with kisses twice and then third nick for hiding sash

Describe Sir Gaawain's reaction to Green Knight's reasoning for his three feints

He feels ashamed and cowardly

Who wrote Le Morte d'Athur?

Sir Thomas Malory

Who was Sir Thomas Malory?

Son of prosperous parents

Fought in 100 Years War, knighted and served in parliament

Why was Sir Thomas Malory imprisoned?

Imprisonment because he challenged the ruling government

What genre is Le Morte d'Athur?

Medieval romance

What is book I of Le Morte d'Athur on?

Book I is about the future king's birth and youth

What is book XXI of Le Morte d'Athur on?

Book XXI speculates that the king who has died will rule again

Characters of Le Morte d'Athur

King Uther Pendragon

Duke of Cornwall (aka Duke of Tintagel)

Lady Igraine

Merlin

Sir Ulfius

Sir Ulfius

King Uther's trusted advisor

Robert Browning

Son of a father who loved art and literature; mother pursued music and nature

Married Elizabeth Barrett, a famous poet

How is "My Last Duchess" written as?

Written as a dramatic monologue (personal poem)

Dramatic monologue

A form of speech from a single character to an imaginary audience; there is no dialogue as the poet speaks through an assumed voice

Background of "My Last Duchess"

Duke of Ferrara of Italy from 16th century is the speaker and aristocrat

What happens to the Duke of Ferrara's wife?

His wife of three years dies suspiciously and he wants another marriage

What poetic style does Browning use?

Iambic pentameter - aabbcc

What does the Duke say causes the Duchesses' smile?

Other men

What makes the Duchess blush?

The painter's compliments, her riding her white mule, the sunset, and the cherry branch she was gifted`

Who painted the Duchess?

Fra Pandolf

Elizabeth Barret Browning

Britain's best known female poet

What was Elizabeth Barret Browning's early life like?

Claimed sickness and lived as an invalid until Robert showed his appreciation for poetry

Sonnets from the Portuguese

Sonnets from the Portuguese is comprised of 45 sonnets about her love for her husband, Browning

Sonnet 43

Shares Elizabeth's deep, personal feelings about love

How was "How do I love thee?" written?

A Petrarchan sonnet yet uses iambic pentameter (aabbcc)

What is the form of a petrarchan sonent?

First 8 lines (octet) raise a problem, last 6 (sestet) resolve the issue, and between lines 8 and 9 is volta (sudden shift)

What emphasizes' Elizabeth's emotions in "How do I love thee?"

Catalog, repetition, and anaphora all emphasize her emotions

Catalog

Catalog - a list of items, people, etc

Anaphora

Anaphora - repetition of word/phrase that begins a sentence

How does Elizabeth deacribe love?

In abstractions

Where is Shalott?

Shalott is an island near Camelot and in the tower is the Lady of Shalott

What was ongoing in Camelot?

In Camelot trade was ongoing with reapers (farmers) working in the mornings

Who knows of the Lady of Shalott?

The reapers are the only ones to know of the Lady of Shalott

Describe her as a fairy

Rhyme scheme of The Lady of Shalott

Rhyme scheme: aaabcccb

What does Lady Shalott do each day?

Weaves a magical web

Why does the Lady of Shalott not look directly at Camelot?

There is a curse on her

How does Lady of Shalott see the real world?

Through her mirror

How does Sir Lancelot serve as a foil to the Lady of Shalott?

He is described as bold and shiny

What is the mistake the Lady of Shalott makes?

She looks directly at Sir Lancelot

The mirror cracks, her web flies out the window, and a storm starts brewing

What happens to the Lady of Shalott? What is Sir Lancelot's reaction?

She dies after drifting in a boat and Sir Lancelot compliments her beauty

Author of Le Morte d'Athur 

Sir Thomas Malory

Author of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

The Pearl Poet

Author of "My Last Duchess"

Robert Browning

Author of The Lady of Shalott

Alfred Tennyson

Author of "How do I love thee?

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Who did the rules in society for women mainly apply to?

Middle and upper class

What did an unmarried woman need in public to not appear scandalous?

A chaperone (usually a married older woman)

Did a lady ever acknowledge a gentleman in public?

No, not unless her bowed to her first

What is the power of the "cut"?

A woman intentionally ignoring someone to signal that they were no longer socially acceptable

What topics were strictly taboo amongst women?

Money, pregnancy, or anything remotely "earthly"

Couverture

A woman's legal identity would vanish after being married under this principle

What were a woman's property rights like?

Women would lose their property and money to their husband the minute they married

What was the "obey" clause?

Marriage vows explicitly required women to obey their husbands

What was the goal of motherhood?

A woman's primary duty was to provide heirs - if not she would be seen as a failure

What was the corset?

It signaled moral uprightness

What were layers of prosperity?

A woman never showed her ankles and would wear up to 6 layers of petticoats or a massive crinoline cage to maintain the required silhouette

What was the morning call?

Ladies spent a significant amount of their day "calling: on neighbors to maintain social ties

What was women's education like?

They were taught "accomplishments" like piano, French, embroidery, and watercolor

Who is King Arthur's father?

King Uther Pendragon

Who is Igraine?

The wife of the Duke of Cornwall and Arthur's mother

Why does Uther want Igraine?

He wants an heir and is attracted to her

Who helps Uther carry out his plan?

Merlin

What happens to the Duke of Cornwall?

He is killed during the siege

How does Uther gain access to Igraine?

Merlin disguises him to look like the Duke

What does Uther do while disguised?

He sleeps with Igraine

What does Merlin ask for in return?

Uther's son (Arthur)

What happens after the Duke's death?

Uther marries Igraine

Who is born to Uther and Igraine?

Arthur

Who raises Arthur?

Sir Ector

Who is Kay?

Sir Ector's son and Arthur's foster brother

What problem arises after Uther's death?

There is no clear king

Who creates the plan to find the next king?

Merlin (with the Archbishop of Canterbury)

What magical object is used to choose the king?

Excalibur in the stone

Where is the sword placed?

By a church in London

Why does Arthur go to the tournament?

With Sir Ector and Kay

Why does Arthur pull the sword from the stone?

To get a sword for Kay, who forgot his

He pulls it out easily despite many others not being able to

How does Sir Ector confirm Arthur's identity?

Arthur pulls the sword out again in front of others

What does pulling the sword prove?

Arthur is the rightful king - he is crowned king of England

Lines 8-14 in How do I love thee?

Earthly love

Lines 12-14 How do I love thee?

Eternal, ideal love

What does romance take inspo from?

Folklore

What is the accolade ceremony, a ritual that was borrowed from the church?

A knight being knighted by his monarch

To encourage a knight to perform his best in battle, a noblewoman would give him

A personal token