Yvain the knight of the Lion, like most medieval tales is a coming of age story. The young, careless thrill seeking Yvain is transformed into a adult and a king that assumes responsibility while taking care of others. This transition can be credited on part to the Lion he encounters on his journey.
When first introduced to Yvain it is easy to tell that he is a young up and coming knight ready to make a name for himself. While hearing the story of his good friend, Calgrenant, being defeated by another knight he vows to avenge his fallen comrade. He seems more determined and eager than anyone else to go off to battle, however, his moment of pride is quickly met with ridicule by Sir Kay. "My lord Yvain! By God, Are you leaving tonight or tomorrow? Do let us know, fair sir, Just when you begin this ordeal, So we all can escort you....And if your dreams are bad tonight, Perhaps you'd better stay home." (600-610) it becomes apparent that Yvain is seen as a little brother in the eyes of his fellow knights. His feeling of inferiority leads him to do whatever he can to prove his worth, which is why he sneaks off in the knight to face the challenge alone. This is the first indication that young Yvain isn't emotionally and mentally mature. Yvain's pride and self esteem is heavily predicated on how he is viewed by others.
After killing the knight who defeated Calgrenant, Yvain marries his wife takes over the land; which are responsibilities he is not ready for. Soon after his victory the knights of King Arthur's court come to challenge The Lord of the land, unbeknown to them it is now Yvain. Yvain quickly defeats Sir Kay and then reveals himself. He has now gained the approval and recognition by his peers that he so despe...
... middle of paper ...
...eir bond growing in battles against the giant and Demon Brothers. Yvain matures greatly during this time, gradually deviating from his need of approval from others by humbling himself. He is known only as "The Knight of the Lion" and his identity is kept a secret, no longer motivated by admiration but now justice.
The Lion, a symbol of royalty, served as a mentor to Yvain, helping him grow into not only a man but a king. Only through his experiences with the Lion could he learn how to properly conduct himself like a man. Had he not encountered the Lion, Yvain wouldn't know what respect is. Yvain always had strength and courage like a lion but fought selfishly. After seeing the Lion defenseless against the snake he fights to defend those who cannot defend themselves. By assuming that responsibility of returning to his wife and land transforms from a boy to a man.
Sir Gawain is King Arthur’s nephew and one of his most faithful knights. Although Gawain modestly refutes it, he has a reputation of being an honorable knight and courtly man. He prides himself on his adherence of the five parts of chivalry and is a pinnacle display of humility, piety, integrity, loyalty, and honesty that all other knights strive for. Though Gawain sits at the high table during the New Year’s celebration at Arthur’s court, he defines himself as the least of King Arthur’s knights in terms of both physical ability and mental aptitude. Gawain continually seeks to better improve his inner self throughout the story. His only known flaw proves to be his love to preserve his own life, so much that he will sacrifice his honor in order to save himself.
The Epic poem of Beowulf is a story of heroism, loyalty, ego, and fate. To be a great leader of men; a great king of the people, you must be respected and trusted. Loyalty is given to those who earn the respect and trust of their people. Beowulf was blessed with great physical strength, the pride and fearlessness of a warrior, and an equally strong command of the spoken word, which he used skillfully to his advantage. He gained the respect and trust of nearly everyone he came in contact with, largely because he possessed the characteristics of a true hero, but in the end it was his ego that sealed his fate. Although it could be said that Beowulf’s character was flawed by an enormous ego, fueled by thoughts of immortality, it is this very trait that made him an ideal hero and king.
...or a chivalric Knight embodies the battle of the righteous self against corruption. Gawain’s strength comes from his discovery of his own flaws. Beowulf’s ideals concerning honor and nobility exist only within the context of his society. Remove him from other people, and his life would be meaningless. This is the true flaw of Beowulf, which the character of Gawain, by the end of his story, comes to realize. The notion of "winning" can be applied at all times to the personality of the chivalric Knight. The battleground becomes the mind, which is separate from the realm of reality. Beowulf does not have the capability to win, without the recognition of his fellow warriors. Within the mind, all sorts of battles are waged. The true winner is the person who can learn from that struggle, and who is able to apply that knowledge within both solitary and societal venues.
...d Beowulf can be as simple as the fact that the moral values in the late twentieth century are vastly different from the ones of Beowulf's time. While today we seek heroes who are as imperfect as the rest of us, heroes with whom we can identify ourselves with, audiences of old might have preferred a hero to whom they could aspire to. However, one thing remains the same. Both Yossarian and Beowulf shared an interest in their fellowman, and perhaps that is what ultimately defines our notions of a hero.
comprehends by writing it in a certain point of view. In Rios’ “The Secret Lion,” the first
Sir Gawain’s inner ideals and character are adequately tested and thoroughly defined throughout the poem of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. During the course of his journey, Gawain was not only expected to maintain his honor to King Author, Lord Bertilak, Lady Bertilak, and the Green Knight, but was expected to maintain it while still loyally adhering to his chivalric and religious obligations. As a knight, it is important that he is loyal first and foremost to his God and religion just as importantly to his king. However, on his journey, Sir Gawain does not entirely live up to the integrity of a good knight as he struggles with conflicting values between his faith and knighthood. Although his honor appears to be questionable at times, Gawain’s nobility and bravery are shown in his compliance to face the Green Knight while withstanding the temptations and seduction of the lady, proving that he is truly an honorable knight.
In Chrétien de Troyes' Ywain, women represent the moral virtue and arch of all mid-evil civilization. Women of this time had to be an object of love, which meant they had to have beauty, goodness, and be truthful. They had to be a representative of all chivalrous ideals. They also act as civilizing influences throughout the story. Women are put in the story to give men a reason for acting brave and noble. Men become knights in order to demonstrate to women that they are strong and capable of defending themselves against danger. This, they hope, will win the women's heart.
...wenhwyfar recover from a brutal rape. These deep and infinitely complex motives prevent the reader from making simple decisions of right and wrong. Actions which would normally be assumed inherently evil, such as when Balan strikes Viviane with an axe in King Arthur’s court at Pentecost, have twists. Viviane assisted his mother with suicide. The layers of motive that entwine this tale must be unravelled slowly by the reader, making this a philosophical piece, just as it is entertaining.
Upon his request, Yvain’s wife, Laudine, allows him a specific number of months to compete at tournament with Gawain. The year passes and Yvain completely forgets his promise to the lady that he will be punctual. When Laudine’s deadline is reached, she rescinds her love and Yvain slips “out from among the barons, because he [is] afraid of going mad in their presence” (De Troyes 330). He wanted to be “entirely alone” (De Troyes
Towards the end of the novel, the change that has come over him becomes really apparent. After a conversation with the king, he says, "For his sake I accepted the discipline of being like a lion.
The theatrical film The Lion In Winter stars Peter O’Toole as King Henry II, and Katharine Hepburn as his wife, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. Adapted from his stage play of the same title, author James Goldman provides a fictional, but plausible, account of intra-family deceit and political conniving within the large and powerful Angevin Empire, which spanned much of the land that is now Britain, and much of what is now Northeastern France, within the medieval world. Directed and edited by Anthony Harvey, the story, set in the winter of 1183, details the succession crisis faced by the aging King Henry II, as his three surviving sons vie for the crown, and Queen Eleanor plots, both with and against them, to regain her freedom, and become the power behind the throne occupied by her choice of successor. King Philip of France patiently waits, seeking political advantage within the internal fracturing, for the opportunity to destroy the Kingdom that Henry II has worked a lifetime to build.
As this mythical poem begins readers are quickly introduced to the pinnacle of this “pyramid of power”, the king and queen. King Arthur and his “full beauteous” wife Queen Guinevere were “set in the midst, placed on the rich dais adorned all about” (Neilson 3). During this time, royal monarchs often hosted large illustrious gatherings in order to display their wealth, prestige and power. This display of rank is evident when the all powerful “King Arthur and the other knights watch approvingly as Sir Gawain advances” to take the place of his cherished king and accept the Green Knights challenge (Swanson 1). Randy Schiff further clarifies the difference between kings and knights in medieval times when he states, “ Displaying his mastery of courtly deference, Gawain in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” publicly defines himself through kinship, telling Arthur that he is praiseworthy only “for as much” as Arthur is his “em” (uncle)”(1). In the fourteenth century feudal system the top ranking social class position belong to the king and the queen.
Her cubs are playing on the yellow savannah grass. Her mate, out trying to settle things with the intruder that they met just one day ago. Her beautiful fur, swaying in the wind. She is an African lion. Then you see the long pipe of a shotgun sticking out of the bushes. It flashes before your eyes. The bullet rips through the plains, breaking the nearly impenetrable silence. The impact, knocks the lion over. A large red spot is visible on her shiny, golden coat. Why? Why do people kill lions, so they can take a small portion of the lion, and leave everything else? There are so many unique features about lions! Lions are very beautiful. They show us images of grace, courage, and compassion. The lions are very strong and protective. Lions protect their cubs and mates. They help humans by
lion cub that is now to be king is forced to leave his Pride Land by
During her first visit to the gipsies (24-29), Yvette comes to understand that she has something in her that the gipsy woman responds to. She knows she is different from the other young people and senses that her difference is powerful. When she perceives the mental penetration of the gipsy woman, she is scared and initially backs away from exposing this difference to those around her and to herself. Yet, her curiosity is piqued and she agrees to hear her fortune in private. This decision seems quite unvirginal because it involves a knowledge of normalcy and difference and a decision to act upon difference. It is “wayward, perverse” (27). Not only does she seek wisdom, but she makes a decision to hide this wisdom from those around her. This is not innocence or honesty. When Yvette emerges from the caravan she is twice referred to as “witch-like.” A witch has supernatural and evil powers that she uses to manipulate people.