Some elements of Romance

1

• Some elements of Romance
• Knights ladies (a largely aristocratic cast)
• Courtly love
• Adventure knightly combat
• Setting removed from the everyday (holiday
  chanson daventure)
• Marvels, wonders, magic, supernatural elements
• Interlace structure (sometimes)
• Narrative strategies of deferral (through
  dilation, repetition, multiplication of
  adventures)
• Bookishness

2

• Some elements of Romance
• Knights ladies (a largely aristocratic cast)
• Courtly love (rules, behaviors, psychology)
• Adventure knightly combat
• Setting removed from the everyday (holiday
  chanson daventure)
• Marvels, wonders, magic, supernatural elements
• Interlace structure (sometimes)
• Narrative strategies of deferral (through
  dilation, repetition, multiplication of
  adventures)
• Bookishness

3

• Some elements of Romance
• Knights ladies (a largely aristocratic cast)
• Courtly love (rules, behaviors, psychology)
• Adventure knightly combat
• Setting removed from the everyday (holiday
  chanson daventure)
• Note how holydays become holidays Pentecost, St.
  Johns Day in Lanval, Chistmas in SGGK
• Marvels, wonders, magic, supernatural elements
• Interlace structure (sometimes)
• Narrative strategies of deferral (through
  dilation, repetition, multiplication of
  adventures)
• Bookishness

4

• Some elements of Romance
• Knights ladies (a largely aristocratic cast)
• Courtly love (rules, behaviors, psychology)
• Adventure knightly combat
• Setting removed from the everyday (holiday
  chanson daventure)
• Marvels, wonders, magic, supernatural elements
• i.e., fairy lovers and headless green knights
• Interlace structure (sometimes)
• Narrative strategies of deferral (through
  dilation, repetition, multiplication of
  adventures)
• Bookishness

5

• Some elements of Romance
• Knights ladies (a largely aristocratic cast)
• Courtly love (rules, behaviors, psychology)
• Adventure knightly combat
• Setting removed from the everyday (holiday
  chanson daventure)
• Marvels, wonders, magic, supernatural elements
• Interlace structure (sometimes)
• Narrative strategies of deferral (through
  dilation, repetition, multiplication of
  adventures)
• Compare the repeated arrival of ladies at the end
  of Lanval, and the repeated hunts/bedroom scenes
  in SGGK III
• Bookishness

6

• Some elements of Romance
• Courtly love (rules, behaviors, psychology)
• And name what knight you will, they are noblest
  esteemed
• For loyal faith in love, in life as in story
• For to tell the tribulations of these true
  hearts,
• Why, tis the very title and text of their deeds,
  
• How bold knights for beauty have braved many a
  foe,
• Suffered heavy sorrows out of secret love,
• And then valourously avenged them on villainous
  churls
• And made happy ever after the hearts of their
  ladies.
• (SGGK 1512-19)
• Lanval Her loveliness transfixed his gaze. /
  Love pierced his eyes with its bright rays, / Set
  fire to and scorched his heart
• Lanval He curses both his heart and tongue / A
  wonder tis he lives so long / Without committing
  suicide/ Alas, how can he bear the pain?
• SGGK Who shares Gawains converse, sure, /
  Shall learn loves language true

7
The opening lines of Sir Gawain and the Green
Knight (BL MS Cotton Nero A.x., f.91a)
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(No Transcript)
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(No Transcript)
10
The opening lines of Beowulf
11
Sir Robert Cotton (1571-1631)
Cotton Nero A.x (Sir Gawain, Pearl) Cotton
Vitellius A.xv (Beowulf)
12
Siþen þe sege and þe assaut watz sesed at
Troye, Þe bor3 brittened and brent to brondez
and askez, Þe tulk þat þe trammes of tresoun
þer wro3t Watz tried for his tricherie, þe
trewest on erþe, Hit watz Ennias þe athel and
his high kynde, Þat siþen depreced prouinces,
and patrounes bicome Welne3e of al þe wele in
þe west iles.
13
Siþen þe sege and þe assaut watz sesed at
Troye, After the siege and the assault was ceased
at Troy Þe bor3 brittened and brent to brondez
and askez, The walls breached and burnt down to
brands and ashes Þe tulk þat þe trammes of
tresoun þer wro3t The knight that had knotted the
nets of deceit Watz tried for his tricherie, þe
trewest on erþe, Was impeached for his perfidy,
proven most true. Hit watz Ennias þe athel and
his high kynde, It was high-born Aeneas and his
haughty race Þat siþen depreced prouinces, and
patrounes bicome That since prevailed over
provinces, and proudly reigned Welne3e of al þe
wele in þe west iles. Over well-nigh all the
wealth of the West Isles.
14
Siþen þe sege and þe assaut watz sesed at
Troye, Þe bor3 brittened and brent to brondez
and askez, Þe tulk þat þe trammes of tresoun
þer wro3t Watz tried for his tricherie, þe
trewest on erþe, Hit watz Ennias þe athel and
his high kynde, Þat siþen depreced prouinces,
and patrounes bicome Welne3e of al þe wele in
þe west iles.
15
Siþen þe sege and þe assaut watz sesed at
Troye, Þe bor3 brittened and brent to brondez
and askez, Þe tulk þat þe trammes of tresoun
þer wro3t Watz tried for his tricherie, þe
trewest on erþe, Hit watz Ennias þe athel and
his high kynde, Þat siþen depreced prouinces,
and patrounes bicome Welne3e of al þe wele in
þe west iles.
16
Siþen þe sege and þe assaut watz sesed at
Troye, Þe bor3 brittened and brent to brondez
and askez, Þe tulk þat þe trammes of tresoun
þer wro3t Watz tried for his tricherie, þe
trewest on erþe, Hit watz Ennias þe athel and
his high kynde, Þat siþen depreced prouinces,
and patrounes bicome Welne3e of al þe wele in
þe west iles.
17
Siþen þe sege and þe assaut watz sesed at
Troye, Þe bor3 brittened and brent to brondez
and askez, Þe tulk þat þe trammes of tresoun
þer wro3t Watz tried for his tricherie, þe
trewest on erþe, Hit watz Ennias þe athel and
his high kynde, Þat siþen depreced prouinces,
and patrounes bicome Welne3e of al þe wele in
þe west iles.
18
Siþen þe sege and þe assaut watz sesed at
Troye, Þe bor3 brittened and brent to brondez
and askez, Þe tulk þat þe trammes of tresoun
þer wro3t Watz tried for his tricherie, þe
trewest on erþe, Hit watz Ennias þe athel and
his high kynde, Þat siþen depreced prouinces,
and patrounes bicome Welne3e of al þe wele in
þe west iles.
19
Siþen þe sege and þe assaut watz sesed at
Troye, Þe bor3 brittened and brent to brondez
and askez, Þe tulk þat þe trammes of tresoun
þer wro3t Watz tried for his tricherie, þe
trewest on erþe, Hit watz Ennias þe athel and
his high kynde, Þat siþen depreced prouinces,
and patrounes bicome Welne3e of al þe wele in
þe west iles.
20
Siþen þe sege and þe assaut watz sesed at
Troye, Þe bor3 brittened and brent to brondez
and askez, Þe tulk þat þe trammes of tresoun
þer wro3t Watz tried for his tricherie, þe
trewest on erþe, Hit watz Ennias þe athel and
his high kynde, Þat siþen depreced prouinces,
and patrounes bicome Welne3e of al þe wele in
þe west iles.
21
Siþen þe sege and þe assaut watz sesed at
Troye, Þe bor3 brittened and brent to brondez
and askez, Þe tulk þat þe trammes of tresoun
þer wro3t Watz tried for his tricherie, þe
trewest on erþe, Hit watz Ennias þe athel and
his high kynde, Þat siþen depreced prouinces,
and patrounes bicome Welne3e of al þe wele in
þe west iles.
22
Siþen þe sege and þe assaut watz sesed at
Troye, Þe bor3 brittened and brent to brondez
and askez, Þe tulk þat þe trammes of tresoun
þer wro3t Watz tried for his tricherie, þe
trewest on erþe, Hit watz Ennias þe athel and
his high kynde, Þat siþen depreced prouinces,
and patrounes bicome Welne3e of al þe wele in
þe west iles.
23
Siþen þe sege and þe assaut watz sesed at
Troye, Þe bor3 brittened and brent to brondez
and askez, Þe tulk þat þe trammes of tresoun
þer wro3t Watz tried for his tricherie, þe
trewest on erþe, Hit watz Ennias þe athel and
his high kynde, Þat siþen depreced prouinces,
and patrounes bicome Welne3e of al þe wele in
þe west iles.
24
Siþen þe sege and þe assaut watz sesed at
Troye, aaa/ax Þe bor3 brittened and brent to
brondez and askez, aaa/ax Þe tulk þat þe
trammes of tresoun þer wro3t aa/ax Watz tried
for his tricherie, þe trewest on
erþe, aa/ax Hit watz Ennias þe athel and his
high kynde, aa/ax Þat siþen depreced
prouinces, and patrounes bicome
aa/ax Welne3e of al þe wele in þe west iles.
aa/ax
25

• Indeed, said the doughty knight, and doffed his
  high helm,
• And held it in his hands as he offered his
  thanks,
• I have lingered long enoughmay good luck be
  yours,
• And He reward you well that all worship bestows!
• And commend me to that comely one, your courteous
  wife,
• Both herself and that other, my honoured ladies,
• That have trapped their true knight in their
  trammels so quaint.
• But if a dullard should dote, deem it no wonder,
• And through the wiles of a woman be wooed into
  sorrow,
• For so was Adam by one, when the world began,
• And Solomon by many more, and Samson the mighty
• Delilah was his doom, and David thereafter
• Now these were vexed by their devicestwere a
  very joy
• Was beguiled by Bathsheba, and bore much
  distress
• Could one but learn to love, and believe them
  not.
• For these were proud princes, most prosperous of
  old,
• Past all lovers lucky, that languished under
  heaven,
• bemused.
• And one al all fell prey

26
2 Samuel 11 (New International Version)  1 In
the spring, at the time when kings go off to war,
David sent Joab out with the king's men and the
whole Israelite army. They destroyed the
Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained
in Jerusalem.  2 One evening David got up from
his bed and walked around on the roof of the
palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The
woman was very beautiful, 3 and David sent
someone to find out about her. The man said,
"Isn't this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and
the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" 4 Then David sent
messengers to get her. She came to him, and he
slept with her. (She had purified herself from
her uncleanness.) Then a she went back home. 5
The woman conceived and sent word to David,
saying, "I am pregnant."
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Emboîtement in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Troy story Troy story
28
Emboîtement in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Troy story Celebration at Camelot
Return to Camelot and
celebration Troy story
29
Emboîtement in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Troy story Celebration at Camelot Challen
ge and beheading Return
blow Return to Camelot and celebration Troy
story
30
Emboîtement in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Troy story Celebration at Camelot Challen
ge and beheading Gawain arms himself and
journeys off Gawain arms himself and
goes to Green Chapel Return blow Return to
Camelot and celebration Troy story
31
Emboîtement in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Troy story Celebration at Camelot Challen
ge and beheading Gawain arms himself and
journeys off Temptation/hunting/temptation/hunt
ing/temptation/hunting Gawain arms himself
and goes to Green Chapel Return blow Return
to Camelot and celebration Troy story
32
THE DIALECTS OF LATE MEDIEVAL ENGLAND (1) The
wery huntere, slepynge in his bed, To wode ayeyn
his mynde goth anon The juge dremeth how his
plees ben sped (Chaucer, The Parliament of
Fowls 99-105, The cartere dremeth how his cart is
gon London dialect c. 1380-82) The riche,
of gold the knyght fyght with his fon The
syke met he drynketh of the tonne The lovere met
he hath his lady wonne. Ac on a May morwenynge
on Maluerne hilles (Piers Plowman B.1.1-10 Me
bifel a ferly, of Fairye me þo3te. Northwest
Midlands dialect, I was wery forwandred and
wente me to reste near Malvern Worcester, c.
1370) Vnder a brood bank by a bourne syde, And
as I lay and lenede and loked on þe watres I
slombred into a slepyng, it sweyed so murye.
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THE DIALECTS OF LATE MEDIEVAL ENGLAND (2) Bot of
alle þat here bult of Bretaygne kynges Ay watz
Arthur þe hendest, as I haf herde telle. Forþi an
aunter in erde I attle to schawe, (Sir Gawain
and the Green Knight 25-32 Þat a selly in si3t
summe men hit holden NW Midlands nr.
Cheshire, And an outtrage awenture of Arthurez
wonderez. s. Lancashire, n. Staffordshire, c.
1400) If 3e wyl lysten þis laye bot on littel
quile, I schal telle hit astit, as I in toun
herde. Manne on molde, be meke to me, And
haue thy maker in þi mynde, And thynke howe I
haue tholid for þe, With pereles paynes for to be
pyned. The forward of my Fadir free (York Play
of the Harrowing of Hell, Haue I fulfillid, as
folke may fynde, Yorkshire dialect, c.
1475) Þer-fore a-boute nowe woll I bee Þat I
haue bought for to vnbynde. Þe feende þame wanne
with trayne Thurgh frewte of erthely foode, I
haue þame getyn agayne Thurgh bying with my
bloode.
34
THE DIALECTS OF LATE MEDIEVAL ENGLAND (3)
Ane dooly sesoun to ane cairfull dyte Suld
correspond, and be equivalent. (Robert Henryson,
The Tesatment of Cresseid 1-7, Richt sa it wes
quhen I began to wryte Late Middle Scots before
1500) This tragedy the wedder richt
fervent, Quhen Aries, in middis of the
Lent, Shouris of haill can fra the north
discend That scantly fra the cauld I micht
defend. why pryncys a'n dewolow scon egereugh
an porthow py mar ny wreugh y fyth guow yn
certan kynys tremene rak an porthow hep
dyweth (Cornish Play of the Resurrection, a vyth
ygerys yn weth Cornwall, 15th c.) sur may
thello aberueth an myghtern a lowene
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ENGLISH 2310 FALL 2009 SIR GAWAIN QUIZ (6)
1. How much time does the Green Knight give
Sir Gawain to seek him out to receive the return
blow? 2. Who is Sir Gawain's patroness?
Hint ..he fittingly had / On the inner part
of his shield her image portrayed 3. What
is depicted on the outside of Gawain's shield?
4. Name the three beasts pursued in the hunts
of Part 3.
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ENGLISH 2310 FALL 2009 SIR GAWAIN QUIZ (6)
1. How much time does the Green Knight give
Sir Gawain to seek him out to receive the return
blow? 2. Who is Sir Gawain's patroness?
Hint ..he fittingly had / On the inner part
of his shield her image portrayed 3. What
is depicted on the outside of Gawain's shield?
4. Name the three beasts pursued in the hunts
of Part 3.