(Chivalry Found in Four Texts Over the Middle Ages)
In the Middle Ages, there are legends of King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table. King Arthur was a great king because he was a noble knight and a good Christian that ruled his people fairly. His knights were supposedly good men and noble knights as well as long as they followed their code of chivalry. Paul Grendler explains the code of chivalry between these knights of the time when he writes, “Chivalry refers to the lifestyle and moral code followed by medieval* knights. It takes its name from chevalier, the French word for knight. Chivalry included the values of honor, valor, courtesy, and purity, …show more content…
Although chivalry began as a code of conduct for medieval warriors, it adapted to the changing social conditions of the Renaissance. The Tradition of Chivalry. In the feudal* system of the Middle Ages, knights pledged their loyalty and service to their lords. This relationship became part of the code of chivalry. Literary works also contributed to ideas about "knightly" behavior. They portrayed knights as both courageous warriors and refined men” (Chivalry). From this we can hold the conclusion that the knights of the Round Table that served under King Arthur were held to the highest expectations, being brave and courageous soldiers and warriors, being the humblest of lords to their people, and the most faithful and honorable Christians. The code of chivalry that was held between these knights can be found in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, translated by Marie Borroff, The Song of Roland, translated …show more content…
King Arthur was a great king because he was a noble knight and a good Christian that ruled his people fairly. His knights were supposedly good men and noble knights as well as long as they followed their code of chivalry. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight translated by Borroff, Gawain proves honorable by the code of chivalry because of his courageous act, his honorable action of keeping his word, and his noble manor of carrying through with the deal despite the grim circumstances. Chivalry can be found in The Song of Roland translated by Goldin, when Roland defends his country for his king in his absence. In Chrétien de Troyes’ Perceval: The Story of the Grail, Perceval is chivalrous by his proper manner even though it served him wrong. Morte D’Arthur, written by Sir Thomas Malory, is another story of King Arthur that proves him a noble and chivalrous man because of his pride to defeat wrong, and as well, there are examples of what it’s like to break the code of chivalry. The code of chivalry that was held between these knights can be found in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight translated by Marie Borroff, The Song of Roland translated by Frederick Goldin, Perceval: The Story of the Grail written by Chrétien de Troyes, and Morte D’Arthur written by Sir Thomas