Gender Roles In A Knights Tale

In the movie, the knights were all noble knights and competed in jousting matches. According to Squire Roland, you had to be of noble birth to compete in these jousting matches. William poses as a noble knight in the movie to be able to compete in the matches like a noble knight. When William was knocked unconscious, his mind returned to his childhood and a conversation with his father. From this conversation, you could interpret William had always dreamed of being a noble knight.

Initially, when William fakes his identity, it was inaccurate. The major requirement of being able to participate in the jousting tournament is being a noble. William, who is a peasant, can’t partake in a jousting tournament. The people who checked his papers should have investigated more because nobles and high-class people are known. Moreover, the most unrealistic thing is the music played. During the dance where Jocelyn and William started to dance there was music that didn’t suit the dancing style. Normally, the use of a classical instrumental Middle Age song would have been perfect. To add, the unsuitable music was used in the beginning of the movie, which could have been changed. If they changed it into a Middle Age instrumental song, then it would have introduced and familiarized the watcher with what time and period the movie would be based on. To sum up, A Knight’s Tale could have improvements in order to make the movie much more realistic and based on the theme, which is the Middle

The movie First Knight fits the Medieval Romance Characteristics because it follows the marriage of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere and follows the adventures of knights, kings, and queens. Medieval Romance Characteristics also follows the conflict between King Arthur and Prince Malagant, who used to be one of King Arthur’s knights. First Knight takes place in an idealized world because it includes castles, kings, queens, and knights. When Lancelot gets into a sword fight with Prince Malagant, a supernatural event occurs. When Lancelot is just about to lose the fight from exhaustion, he notices King Arthur’s sword beside him and when he picks it up, there is a flash on the sword which fulfilled Lancelot with enough energy to win the fight.

The director of the movie wants to entertain the audience with a bit of comedy through out the movie and also a love story between William and Jocelyn. This let the audience enjoy a modern film which a Medieval setting. Many film reviews have said that “the director, Brian Helgeland, was not trying to win awards for historical accuracy” (Alverez). Helgeland took what many people call a dark period in history and made a film to entertain the audiences, as well as stick to historical aspects as he went. Although there were a few questionable sense that went on, the film does do a great job of informing the modern movie watcher what the medieval tournaments were like. Yes, modern rock music is play, therefore the audience could be expanded to everyone, not just history buffs. Many people will say that this movie is far from historical accuracy. In Vivian Sobchack’s writing she says that the “history is solidly grasped and allow us a place, a general premise, a ground from which to transcend our present and imagine the past as once having real existential presence and value” (Sobchack 1). The setting the audience is placed in during this movie gives the movie watcher new experiences and the ability to see history with their eyes, instead of through a

Even though these qualities are praised in this culture, medieval narratives commonly uphold unrealistic virtues of what a perfect woman is. After Lanval vows to keep their love a secret, the queen of the court tempts the knight with her love. She says, "Lanval, I have honored, cherished and loved you much. You may have all my love: just tell me what you desire! I grant you my love and you should be glad to have me" (pp. 1771). Shortly after Lanval rejects her advances, the queen further establishes her ill will towards the good knight by saying, "I well believe that you do not like this kind of pleasure. I have been told often enough that you have no desire for women" (pp. 1771). The importance of these accusations exemplifies the queen's power and influence over Lanval. Although he graciously declines the queen's love, he regrettably reveals his love to the queen in an attempt to prove himself to the court. He says, "And I will tell you one thing; you can be sure that one of her servants, even the very poorest girl, is worth more than you, my lady the Queen, in body, face and beauty, wisdom and goodness" (pp. 1771). The manner which the queen entices Lanval reveals that both power and evil can be easily compared to this woman's actions, showing readers the other side of the coin. The division between these two women illustrates how often this society feeds off of a virgin/ whore dichotomy, branding such women

Back in the Medieval Era, a knight was known to be loyal to the King. They learned to have chivalry and do what the King said. Being loyal and chivalry were not only the only thing that they were know for, but they were know to go on adventures during their time as a knight. In these two stories, "Sir Gawain and a The Green Knight" and "Le Morte d'Arthur", there is Medieval Romance, the main characters are loyal, and they have chivalry.

A Knight’s Tale is a movie that is loosely based on Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. William Thatcher is a better example of chivalry and courtly love. Chivalry is the code of honor for the ideal knight. Courtly love is the love a knight has for his wife. William Thatcher respects other knights, shows prowess in battle, and shows courtly love towards Jocelyn.

The Knights Tale A Knight is historically known as a noble person who holds themselves in high regards of self-respect, honor, loyalty, bravery, strength, and skills for combat. The chivalric code is made up of all of these qualities and a Knight is sworn to uphold this code. In Chaucer’s The Knight’s Tale satire is used to show the knights desire for self-gain and the loss of chivalry, even though Knights are known for their honor, loyalty, and triumphant battles.

The methods of training and standards of behavior for knights in the Middle Ages, known as the chivalric code, played a major role in Medieval literature. A knight was not only expected to have the strength and skills to be able to fight in the violent and cruel Medieval times, but were also expected to modulate their temper with their chivalrous side and follow these moral codes. The chivalric code consisted of qualities glorified by knights such as bravery, courtesy, faith, loyalty, honor, and modesty. Throughout Medieval literature, the qualities of the chivalric code are shown and repeated throughout each story. “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” have many scenes where these chivalric ideals are displayed. Unlike this story, the movie Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail mocked and satirized the chivalric code used in medieval literature. By the mocking and satirization of chivalric ideals in the Middle Ages, the use of bravery, courtesy, faith, loyalty, honor, and modesty in medieval literature are easier to notice and understand.

The Knight as described by Chaucer, is a man of great stature. Like other knights of this time, he was usually accompanied by royalty and “had embarked with many a noble host” (Canterbury 62). The Knight was a far cry from the corrupt characters in this tale because unlike them, he did not abuse his power. The attire of the Knight proved that he not only worked hard but also lived modestly. Although he was wealthy, his cloaks did not readily support that fact, for “He wore a fustian tunic stained and dark” (Canterbury 77). He was so admired for his chivalrous nature that many referred to him as “a true, perfect gentle-knight” (Canterbury

Though nobility and knighthood are widely seen as a matter of nature, this training shows that there is a great deal of nurture necessary to create the best knights possible. In medieval times, warfare was not merely an occupation or duty; it was a way of life. Men drew their personal worth and civil

To begin with, Medieval Europe had a pyramidal social structure with the king at the top, delegating land and power to knights and other important people. Brave knights received lands and estates for their bravery in battle. The knight was the central figure or elite secular society for the rest of the middle ages. The knight was a clearly significant denominator of medieval civilization and a man with a double

Beginning with his psychological personification, the Knight’s state of mind is simply that in the act of accordance with religious, social, and chivalry code of behavior. Described in the Knight’s Prologue, Chaucer writes, “Truth, honour, freedom, and all courtesy” (Knight’s Prologue, 3). Consequently, this high notion of the Knight continued in the his Prologue, “Though so strong and brave, he was very wise/ And of temper as meekly as a maid” (Knight’s Prologue, 68-69).The Knight’s personality are of honesty, loyalty, generosity, benevolence, and humbleness, in which insinuates the idea of his highly respected psychological and intellectual state. Corresponding, with the Knight’s Tale and encounters with other characters in the Canterbury Tales, it implies his intelligence, courtly manner, and gentlemanliness. However, the Knight’s physical appearance is strong and primed on guard; he wears only a low grade tunic, still stained from a previous battle, and sleeveless coat of mail. Therefore, his physical appearance corresponds with his psychological and intellectual state of righteousness and protection to the people. Thus, the Knight’s physical, intellectual, and psychological qualities encompasses the idea of the Code of Chivalry and religious

Throughout the eras, literature has mirrored the social changes taking place in English society specifically in regards to gender roles of female characters. The Elizabethan era, which lasted from 1558 to 1603, is often referred to as the golden age by historians where many transitions in English society regarding marriage and gender took place (Ivic 110). It was a time in which wives were viewed as the property of their husbands (Ivic 110). However, every woman was expected to marry and be dependent on her husband or male relatives throughout her life (Ivic 98). Conversely, the Victorian era, which lasted from 1837 to 1901 was an era with similar social customs regarding marriage and family relations; however, there were slight ideological shifts in society which allowed for more independent women (Ledbetter 25). The Victorian society placed a greater emphasis on proper attire and etiquette of a woman. The ideal marriage still remained one in which the woman stayed at home, took care of the household and made preparations until her husband came home from work. The difference between the two eras lied in the fact that the Victorian era was an era in which it was more acceptable to value a woman’s opinion (Ledbetter 30). Both the Elizabethan and Victorian era held similar beliefs about marriage and family customs, however slight differences regarding social etiquette and increased autonomy for women played an important role in the literature written in both eras. Examples of

2) The main characteristics of the European Chivalry consist of having courage in battle, having loyalty to a lord, showing generosity to the feeble, defending the church, and having to champion a lady. A knight was directed to defend his woman at all costs. This relationship between a knight and his lady sparked the imagination of many writers, who transformed it through