(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

Medieval Romance in British Literature

            Medieval romances seem to usually idealize chivalry, the hero and his love. The setting of medieval romance also tends to be imaginary and derives from mystery and suspense. There also is a concealed or disguised identity in many of the tales written of this time period. Whether written in a story form or a poem form, there is still this adventurous fiction and it is generally centered on a quest or a trial. There is also separation and a reunion. What I found interesting is that generally while the male is the protagonist in the tales, the females were seen as an obstacle to overcome. The homo-sociality bonds were extremely important. Fidelity to ones' king and ones' fellow knights came first above all else. This type of thinking led to the rise of patriarchy, literally meaning "the rule of the father"; a male dominated society. It is for this reason that most of the texts that we have already looked at have painted women in a bad light.
             "Bisclavret," by Marie de France was one such tale. Throughout this tale there is trial of the werewolf, Bisclavret trying to get back to his love. There is this integration when Bisclavret was a knight for the king and there were implications throughout the tale that they were very close. Then there is the disintegration when Bisclavret was stuck in his beast form when his wife stole his clothing and he couldn't transform. No one knew what he was and they were unable to find him. Finally, there is the reintegration stage when he is reintroduced to the king as the beast and they become close once more as man and beast. Then again at the end when Bisclavret gets his clothing back and can transform back to man. Again there is also this idea of the woman being an obstacle because Bisclavret's wife was the cause for the separation and in the end, as the beast, Bisclavret bit off her nose, which the psychologist Freud suggests is the connection to a woman's power.


Essays Related to Medieval Romance in British Literature

1. The Rise and Development of Arthurian Romances

King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. ... There is clear evidence for a knowledge of Arthur and Arthurian tales on the Continent before Geoffrey's work became widely known (see for example, the Modena Archivolt),[72] as well as for the use of "Celtic" names and stories not found in Geoffrey's Historia in the Arthurian romances.[73] From the perspective of Arthur, perhaps the most significant effect of t...

  • Word Count: 1246
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

2. Sir Gawain

The idea of a medieval romance is a concept which is based around stories including chivalrous knights, living by the codes of behavior which is the backbone of medieval legend. ... In Morte d" Arthur King Arthur shows a great deal of courage when he returns to the Britains to battle his traitorous nephew Sir Mordred. ... This high respect for honor was a common trait in the medieval romance archetype. Honor and courage are very prevalent characteristics in medieval romances such as Morte d" Arthur and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. ... The ideals of courage and honor are two themes ...

  • Word Count: 399
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Arthurian Legends

The main characters in romance literature are larger than life. Romance literature is concerned with the feats of kings, queens, and knights, not with common, ordinary people. ... A main character in romance literature is braver, nobler, and more honorable than an ordinary human. Oftentimes, the medieval period in general, and King Arthur in particular, have an air of mystery, romance, fantasy, and adventure that are popular themes in all times and cultures. ... Main characters in romance literature are god-like characters that have no fear, retain their youthful qualities as they age, and nev...

  • Word Count: 845
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Arthurian Legends and Their Place in Modern Society

The Arthurian legends take place in Britain during the medieval times. The medieval times was a period of time intervening between the decline of the Roman Empire and the revival of letters. ... If a reader can relate or sympathize with a piece of literature and derive a theme, the story is successful. ... In another work of literature set in the medieval times titled, "La Belle Dame sans Merci," by John Keats, a knight falls in love with a woman who in is dubbed "La Belle Dame sans Merci" which is French for the beautiful woman without pity. ... People of modern society spend a great deal of ...

  • Word Count: 635
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Romantic/Realism Essay

Many romance writers glorified the past, especially the Middle Ages for it's castles, ladies, and chivalries knights. ... Beethoven brought to music some of the same aims that the British poets of his time brought to literature. ... Turner of Great Britain reflected the romantic interest in nature. ... In Great Britain, Mary Anne Evans wrote realistic novels under the name George Elliot. ... These writers were all people who sought to revive the medieval times and methods in opposition to the so-called classical style. ...

  • Word Count: 449
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Camelot! It's Only a Model

Various Arthurian texts, such as Geoffrey Chaucer's Tale of Sir Thopas, Mark Twain's A Medieval Romance, and The Defeat of Lucius and Arthur and the Devil Cat from the Prose Merlin, all contain various forms of humor, both intentionally and accidentally, that Monty Python and the Holy Grail chose to ridicule throughout the film. ... "Most of the episodes that were taken really came from medieval stories and lore" (Neufeld). ... One such example is that of Tristan by Gottfried Von Strassburg, who died before the Arthurian Romance's completion and Thomas of Britain wrote...

  • Word Count: 2359
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

7. Loyalty in Literature

In the medieval legends Beowulf, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and Morte d'Arthur, heroic figures prove their loyalty through memorable deeds, quests, and contests. ... In, Beowulf, an eighth-century British epic and medieval romances, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Morte d'Arthur can be easily seen. ...

  • Word Count: 527
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

8. ramen

But for writers of medieval literature, it was hardly something to be taken for granted. ... The works Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight come from a time when British civilization was still quite vulnerable. ... It is difficult for modern Americans and British, used to taking their safety for granted, to understand the unstable culture which produced Beowulf. ... This is the space filled by the British with Beowulf and later with Arthur, the once and future king, and his knights of the round table. They are the representation of civilization itself, and the protective heroes of Celti...

  • Word Count: 3189
  • Approx Pages: 13
  • Grade Level: High School

Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question