The Chivalric code and how it Relates to Parzival

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The chivalric code is a theme in almost all medieval tales of knights, and Parzival is no exception. The big difference between Parzival’s view of the chivalric code, and that of many other tales from the time is that, Parzival wasn’t raised with the code and only learned of it in his late teens, whereas the other knights were raised believing in it since birth. This puts Parzival in an interesting light, he is unbiased when learning about chivalry, yet he is so sheltered that he doesn’t much of it.

There are references to the chivalric code in literature dating back to the 8th century. The earliest story relating to, and directly approaching the chivalric code is the Song of Roland. A French epic that follows the trials of the nephew of Charlemagne, Roland. It was written sometime during the 12th or 13th centuries, but the story is set under Charlemagne's rule in 9th century AD. To this day it is one of the most clearly written, and easy to understand accounts, outlining of the chivalric code. It is given in seventeen commandments:
To fear God and maintain His Church ...

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