The Image of a Knight in History and in Literature

Муниципальное автономное общеобразовательное учреждение  «Гимназия №87»

The Image of a Knight in History and in Literature

(Образ рыцаря в истории и литературе)

                                                                            Работа Скляр Анны

                                                                            ученицы 10в класса

                                                                           МАОУ  “Гимназия№87”

                                                                           Руководитель:

                                                                           Клерикова Ольга Алексеевна

Саратов 2015

Contests

1. Introduction ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙3
2. Chapter 1 “Knights in Literature” ∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙5
3. Chapter   2 “Knights in History.”∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙8

§1 The Definition of the Word "Knight"  

§2  Education                                     

§3 The Rules for Knights to Follow

§4 The Nature of the Knights 

§5 The Way of Life

4. Conclusion∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙ 12
5. Bibliography and References∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙14
6. Appendix1∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙15
7. Appendix 2∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙16

Introduction

 The late twentieth and  the early twenty-first centuries, marked in the world of globalization have increased dramatically. The world community is going through a difficult stage of all social processes. Globalization has covered the economic, political and cultural spheres of society.

 The theme is actual, because it deals with a wide range of issues concerning both history   and literature.

It is declared that the Government of the Russian Federation dedicated the year 2014 to Culture. The year 2015 is known, as the year of Literature. The goal of my research work is to study the difference between knights in historic romance and historical documents.

What should we do with  our life in the modern world? We’re living in the 21st century now, so why do women still refer to a “knight in shining armor” in today’s society?

 You see history and literature see different things in the knights. Undoubtedly, attitude of people to knights varies greatly. Have you ever thought how differently people imagine them?

 When they think of a Knight, they think of someone in heavy armor and close range weapons that fights to defend the weak and honor of  the king of the country.

On the other hand today’s woman doesn’t want a guy who gives her all the power and the time and hopes to be chosen by her.

 Is chivalry dead? Do modern women really want chivalrous men, or is it just another confused myth? Surely the chivalrous approach to women is outdated now.

So, is there still a modern day equivalent of the medieval knight? Or has he died?

Nowadays a lot of women can take care of themselves, and don’t need  to be offered gifts. In fact, if you try to show your interest in a woman through gifts, she will assume that you doubt that she loves you.

Chivalry is not dead, but the way that people behave and interact with each other has changed. Behavior that may have been considered chivalrous in medieval times is going to be considered pretty weird. If you take it literally today the fundamental qualities a modern woman is looking for in her “ideal knight” have not actually changed that much at all.

Girls do like nice, kind behavior from fellows, but only if it comes from a guy whom they see as a real man.

As you can see, the knights of the medieval times played a big role in society. The phenomenon is discussed in different works of modern scientists.

That is why, in my research work I have decided to find out the role of them in the life of people ,especially young.

The research method is an interview. I interviewed 90 teens between the age of 14-15 from Gymnasia №87. In the analysis we studied some major points of the problem. I have prepared some questions to find out the attitude of the students towards the topic under the discussion. According to the questionnaire more than 80 % of young women share the idea that a knight is an ideal man. They imagine the knights as literary characters from books. Most young respondents who are confused about chivalry and whole “knight in shining armor” tales, usually mistake “chivalry” with old-fashioned “gentlemanly” behavior that was used in the late 1800s to early 1900s. (Appendix 1)

Being able to find a real man in the modern world is a huge challenge for most women. You will often hear women saying, “Where are all the real men?”

It is not chivalrous, it is not what modern women want and it is not how to go through the flow of a sexual courtship in the modern world.

So the purpose of the study 

• to investigate the nature of knights in history (historical documents) and in literature (historic romance)
• to compare it with the literary heroes of  the Middle Ages
• to define a place and role of knights in our society
  

At the moment the definition of the knight whom girls dream of, is almost completely different from the definition during the previous centuries.

As a consequence it is necessary to know the culture and understand the different things.

To analyze this theme means to compare the most important things, to define their similarities and differences.

That`s why I consider the topic under discussion to be very important and interesting today.                                          

I found my report to be useful and of practical value.

So, the practical goal of our work is to produce a study guide based on the documents.

Chapter 1

Knights in Literature

 According to fairy tales and stories passed down from the ages, it appears that women imagine an ideal man putting his coat for her so that she wouldn’t get her feet wet in a puddle. We also see tales of women being won over by a man scores a victory in a jousting tournament and wins her heart.

 Heroes originate in the mists of time and myth. Morton W. Bloomfield says that "the original hero in early literature was probably based on the king who died for his people, the warrior who defeated the tribe's enemies. What do you have in your mind when you hear the word ”knight” ?As I have already said we remember books.

 Historically, the ideals of chivalry were popularized in medieval literature, especially in Britain and in France. The image of the knight, however, comes from the “Song of Roland” and other legends of Charlemagne and his paladins, which spread from France to England with the Norman conquest of 1066.

Chivalric ideals began to be known in literature with Geoffrey Monmouth’s Historia Regum Britanniae. "History of the Kings of Britain” was written in the 1130s.  Knights and their deeds have remained a well-loved topic of fiction and fantasy.  From the troubadors’ ballads devoted to  love, to tales Thomas Malory’s “Le Morte d’Arthur”, to modern stories like “A Knight’s Tale”, medieval knights capture the imagination of young and old.  “King Arthur and the Knights of the Round “ is an excellent example of such prose. Sir Thomas Malory wrote the book “The Death of Arthur,” written in 1485. The scientists suppose the works were important in defining the ideal of chivalry, which is essential to the modern concept of the knight, who appreciates the values of faith, loyalty, courage, and honour. We can also remember Geoffroi de Charny's “Book of Chivalry”, with the idea of importance of Christian faith in every knight`s life. During the Renaissance, the genre of chivalric romance became even more popular in literature. A new form of realism in literature was greatly popularized by Miguel de Cervantes' “Don Quixote”. This novel explored the ideals of knighthood and the main hero was considered to be the real knight in all the meanings of the word.

The stories of chivalrous knights and their maidens in distress have remained popular for hundreds of years. So their impact on modern literature is enormous, influencing the modern genre of fantasy.  Even today, popular tales such as “Robin Hood” or the story of Tristan and Isuelt have their readers.  The passage of centuries has only served to heighten our fascination to stories of  bravery, honor and romance.

  For me the best book of this kind of literature is “Ivanhoe”. It is a historical novel by Sir Walter Scott. The novel was first published in 1820 subtitled “A Romance”. “Ivanhoe”, set in the 12th-century England, is sometimes credited for increasing interest in romance and medievalism. The story is set in 1194, after the failure of the Third Crusade, when many of the Crusaders were still returning to their homes in Europe. King Richard, who had been captured by Leopold of Austria on his return journey to England, was believed to be still in captivity.

Wilfred of  Ivanhoe, the main character, is a knight and son of Cedric the Saxon. He is noble, the hero represents a middling individual in the medieval class system who is not exceptionally outstanding in his abilities, as is expected of other quasi-historical fictional characters, such as other men. 

 He comes from a Saxon family recently returned from the Crusades in the Middle East. He's also estranged from his father, Cedric, who refuses to forgive Ivanhoe for leaving his family in England to follow the Norman King Richard I to war. Ivanhoe is a brave warrior, he is also a great lover of the ladies. Saxon noble woman Rowena loves him, and Rebecca also falls in love at first sight.

Scott emphasizes that Ivanhoe is a man of his time. The story begins with the scene of the tournament, which is presided over by Prince John, King Richard's younger brother. Other characters in attendance are Cedric, Aethelstane, Lady Rowena, Isaac of York, his daughter Rebecca, Robin of Locksley and his men, Prince John's advisor Waldemar Fitzurse, and numerous Norman knights. The author describes his hero in such words: “ When the helmet was removed, the well-formed, yet sun-burnt features of young man of twenty five were seen, amidst a profusion of short fair hair.”

 “All eyes were turned to see the new champion which these sounds announced, and no sooner were the barriers opened than he paced into the lists. As far as could be judged of a man sheathed in armour, the new adventurer did not greatly exceed the middle size, and seemed to be rather slender than strongly made. His suit of armour was formed of steel, richly inlaid with gold, and the device on his shield was a young oak-tree pulled up by the roots, with the Spanish word Desdichado, signifying Disinherited. He was mounted on a gallant black horse, and as he passed through the lists he gracefully saluted the Prince and the ladies by lowering his lance. The dexterity with which he managed his steed, and something of youthful grace which he displayed in his manner, won him the favour of the multitude.” ^[1] (My translation: Насколько люди могли судить, воин был немного выше среднего роста и казался довольно стройным. Его доспехи были отлиты из стали, богато инкрустированы златом... Ловкость, с которой он управляет своим конем и изящество манер заработали ему хорошую репутацию в обществе.)

Because he is severely wounded in the competition and because Cedric refuses to have anything to do with him, Ivanhoe is taken into the care of Rebecca, the beautiful daughter of  Isaac, who is a skilled healer. She convinces her father to take him with them to York, where he can be treated. The story then goes over the conclusion of the tournament including feats of archery by Locksley.

The legendary Robin Hood, initially under the name of  Locksley, is also a character in the story, The character that Scott gave to Robin Hood in “Ivanhoe“ helped the modern notion of this figure as a cheery noble outlaw.

Other major characters include Ivanhoe's intractable father, Cedric, one of the few remaining Saxon lords; various Knights Templar, most notable of which is Brian de Bois-Guilbert, Ivanhoe's main rival and a number of clergymen.

 Critics of the novel have treated it as a romance intended mainly to entertain boys. The book maintains many of the elements of the Romance genre, including the quest, a chivalric setting. Other critics assert that the novel creates a realistic and vibrant story, idealizing neither the past nor its main character.

For a Scottish writer whose early novels were prized for their historical accuracy, Scott was remarkably loose with the facts when he wrote his masterpiece. But it is crucial to remember that “Ivanhoe“ is entirely a romance.

To sum up we can see that the book is read to please, not to instruct, and is more an act of imagination than the work of research. Despite this fancifulness, however, “Ivanhoe” does make some historical points.

Chapter 2

Knights in History

§1 The Definition of the World "Knight"

Let’s start by looking at what “chivalry” actually means.

 Chivalry (noun):

1. The medieval system or institution of knighthood, the combination of qualities expected of an ideal knight. Especially courage,  honor, justice, and a readiness to help the weak.

2. Courteous behavior, especially that of a man towards women.

Here’s what the dictionary has to say about the word “knight”.        

The term “'knight” was derived from the old English "cinht", meaning “youth”.

Another version defines the word “knight” originated from the Anglo-Saxon word “cniht,” meaning “boy.”

From German the word “knight” (nīt) – (noun) is a defender, champion, or zealous upholder of a cause or principle.

§2 Education

Any man could be made a knight, but most new knights had fathers who were knights or who belonged to the nobility.

The knight is usually created through appointment to an order of knighthood. Young men were prepared to become knights. Knighthood training was a long and often hard process. Knighthood training began in early childhood when a basic education and good manners and rules of etiquette were taught at home. At the age of 7 young boys were sent away to the castles and homes of wealthy lords or relatives to embark on their knighthood training. From the age of seven to fourteen these young boys were given the role of a Medieval Page. From fourteen to twenty-one these 'apprentice knights' were referred to as Squires. The different types and styles of Knighthood training depended on the age and strength of the future knights. Knighthood training was focused on weapon practice which included enhancing skills in horsemanship, the two-handed sword, battle axe, mace, dagger and lance.

Siege warfare was a common occurrence during the Medieval times , an important requirement to capture the enemies and their castles. Becoming a Knight included learning about the strategy, process and weapons used in siege warfare. Siege Warfare during the Medieval times of the Middle Ages was conducted according to Chivalric Rules and a settlement would always be attempted, according to the Chivalric Code before Siege Warfare commenced. Knighthood training included all of these aspects of siege warfare. The Squires would be expected to understand the options available when defending a castle - the layout and traps included in the castle design. A young squire, or even a page, would be expected to defend a castle according to their skills and strength. A crossbow might be issued to a squire or page as it required minimum strength and few skills to operate. Attacking a castle would also be studied. This would include learning about Siege Weapons - the Trebuchet, Ballista, Mangonel, Battering Ram and Siege Towers. Skills in climbing were important. Knighthood training would also include the process of undermining a castle. During his long period of Knighthood training a squire or page must also learn bravery and the ability to withstand extremes in cold and heat, tiredness and hunger. It was not all hard work. The future knights also enjoyed attending tournaments - great fun for these young men.

§3 The Rules for Knights to Follow

1. He had to demonstrate loyalty to the King and his fellow Knights.

2. The Squire would go through this for about seven years until his Master or Knight believed he was ready to become a Knight.

3. The true knights were easy to differentiate from the knights that only had a lust for power.

4. The Knight's service to a lady can be looked at as nothing more than submission to her desires.

There is always a hidden anxiety inside in proving oneself to be a worthy knight, driven by male ego.

5. The knights were expected to fight bravely and be loyal to their lords.

6. Chivalry began to soften the harsh edges of feudal warfare and knights were expected to treat their fellow knights and inferiors with respect and good will.

7. Knights used many different types of weapons. A knight's sword was his most important weapon. Lances were for knights on horseback to knock off the enemy of the knight. A very unusual weapon was the bola. Knights with bows and arrows mostly used the larger shields.

§4 The Nature of the Knights

Epic heroes possessed the qualities of valor, military skills, loyalty, generosity, and honor. They were persons, who fought, because he had to, for the survival of their tribes. Although the hero is constantly aware of his own mortality, he never shirks "from threat or peril. It is a hero's duty to preserve his life by valour. The world in which he lives and fights is a very simple world, rigidly, and comfortingly, described by the laws of the Church and Emperor".

 It is in battle that the mettle of the epic hero is tested, showing valor, generosity, honor, and skill in battle, loyalty, at this period is more intricate and more significant. It is a quality of the soul.

The chivalric knight must also know temperance, courtesies, a reverence for women, and courtly skills. It is not enough that he performs on a field of battle; he must also be presentable at court.

His education included training in speech, good manners, and foreign languages, in addition to riding, hunting, wrestling, and fighting. They should also be skilled musicians.

As in heroic poetry, the chivalric knight is tested through feats of arms. However, whereas the epic hero fights only when circumstances require, the chivalric hero sets out to find a test or an adventure in which he can prove himself. "The trial through adventure is the real meaning of the knight's ideal existence”.

 The chivalric hero rarely fights in defence of his people, but in defence of an ideal or an abstraction.

Some scientists say the chivalric hero himself is "largely an idealization which bears little relation to social reality and certainly did not spring from it”.

On the contrary some knights are men of honor who had an important role in society. The lord provided armor and horses for his knights, and the knight repaid him with his loyalty.

§5 The Way of Life

The classic image of a knight is a soldier who fights the enemies of his lord and king on horseback while upholding the principles of chivalry.

In the feudal era, the opportunity to become a knight was, in practice, restricted to the nobility they usually had the wealth necessary to own and maintain the horse, armor, and weapons that knights needed to defend their lords’ lands.

In 1149, the Order of the Hatchet was created to honor the women of the town of Tortosa in Catalonia (Spain), who dressed as men to repel the Moors who had invaded their town. They were made the equivalent of knights.

Knights often wore a padded coat under the armor to soften blows given by enemies.

A Knight was a mounted man-at-arms of medieval Europe. A knight in armor would present a very strange appearance on a modern battlefield.

Even in peacetime knights looked for conflicts in which to engage. A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a monarch or other political leader for service to the Monarch or country, especially in a military capacity. Historically, in Europe, knighthood has been conferred upon mounted warriors. During the High Middle Ages, knighthood was considered a class of lower nobility. By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior.

Often, a knight was a vassal who served as a fighter for a lord, with payment in the form of land holdings. The lords trusted the knights, who were skilled in battle on horseback.

Thus I have come to the conclusion that knights had got the special training and rather good education, but led the way of life when they nearly had no chance to be always good looking, gentle and polite.  

Conclusion

 I want to stress the importance of the proper image of a right man in the life of young people. The knights in the Middle Ages were accorded the highest rank of society and often a member of the king’s court .Their role in stories or epics is not only a warrior but a lover.

 As you see I have proved that different people imagine knights differently. Sometimes their opinions are far from the reality.  According to the literature of  the Middle Ages every knight was handsome, brave, a talented soldier and a proper gentleman. But the fact is artifacts show us another picture. According to the historic documents there were short, dirty and sometimes rude. Due to wars they usually participated in they had no any opportunity to demonstrate their feelings and good manners towards the noble ladies.

On the other hand the writers show us outstanding heroes, who the women were dreaming of. It is worth creating such works. You see it is more pleasant to read about a perfect handsome knight, then about a rude human being like a hobbit.                                                                   

You see chivalry is not dead, it is still very much alive, but the way that people behave and interact with each other has changed. Behavior that may have been considered chivalrous in medieval times is going to be considered pretty weird if you take it literally today.

Generally speaking, most women love the scenes in a movie with the “knight in shining armor” .They love his courage and bravery; they love his honorable intentions and his fight for justice and they love it when he shows himself to be the man people can trust and rely on.

Women respect men who believe in themselves. Men who have confidence in themselves and their ability to achieve what they want in life, A modern woman doesn’t need a man who can defeat an enemy army, but she does need a man who has the strength to be victorious in whatever field he embarks on in life. If life throws challenges on his way, a woman wants to feel as though she can rely on him to be strong and not break down.

When you learn how to really believe in yourself as the man you are, women also believe in you as the man you are and begin referring to you as a real man.

During the process of the investigation I have learned a lot of exciting information.

What do we need to solve the problem?  We need the following:   to understand       the facts about the reality, that we face what I try to emphasize in my research work.

Summing up I want to stress the importance of the topic under discussion.

As we see, there are various applications of chivalry in history and in literature .It is important and actual to realize the importance of a formation of the image of a modern man (knight). The younger generation should be taught to preserve the best features of human nature, value the most essential reaches on the Earth.

 In today’s world, you don’t necessarily have to go to battle with a sword to fend off armies of invaders or wrong-doers, but you do need to be able to battle through the challenges and obstacles of modern life. To do this, you need to develop and build on the following qualities in yourself: physical strength, the strength of will and nobility.

Bibliography and References

1. Huppé, Bernard F. "The Concept of the Hero in the Early Middle Ages."
2. Concepts of the Hero in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
3. Life in a Medieval Castle by Joseph and Frances Gies.
4. Eds. Norman T. Burns & Christopher J. Reagan. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1975.
5. Jones. Gwyn. Kings, Beasts and Heroes.
6. London: Oxford University Press, 1972.
7. Mathew, Gervase. "Ideals of Knighthood in Late-Fourteenth-Century England."
8.  Twentieth Century Interpretations of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: A Collection of Critical Essays.
9.  Charles Moorman “A Knyght There Was: The Evolution of the Knight in Literature”
10. Lexington: University of Kentucky Press, 1967
11. Нил Моррис Позднее средневековье Санкт-Петербург Амфора 2014
12. Иванов С.А.Многоликое средневековье. М.,1996
13. http://www.russia-ic.com/culture_art/traditions/642/%23sthash.XoewX4Q6.dpuf%20 

Appendix 1

Appendix 2

Gautier's Ten Commandments of chivalry are:

Thou shalt believe all that the Church teaches and thou shalt observe all its directions (Believe the Church's teachings and observe all the Church's directions).

Thou shalt defend the Church (Defend the Church).

Thou shalt respect all weaknesses, and shalt constitute thyself the defender of them (Respect and defend all weaknesses).

Thou shalt love the country in which thou wast born (Love your country).

Thou shalt not recoil before thine enemy. (Don’t recoil before your enemy)

Thou shalt make war against the infidel without cessation and without mercy (Show no mercy to the infidel. Do not hesitate to make war with them).

Thou shalt perform scrupulously thy feudal duties, if they be not contrary to the laws of God (Perform all your feudal duties as long as they do not conflict with the laws of God).

Thou shalt never lie, and shalt remain faithful to thy pledged word (Never lie or go back on one's word).

Thou shalt be generous, and give largesse to everyone (Be generous to everyone).

Thou shalt be everywhere and always the champion of the Right and the Good against Injustice and Evil (Always and everywhere be right and good against evil and injustice)