the rules of chivalry
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The Rules of Chivalry. British Literature Fall 2013. The Knights Code of Chivalry was part of the culture of the Middle Ages and was understood by all. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Rules of Chivalry
British Literature
Fall 2013
Crea
tion
of
Chiva
lry
The Knights Code of Chivalry
was part of the culture of the
Middle Ages and was understood by all.
A Code of Chivalry was
documented in 'The Song of
Roland' in the Middle Ages
Knights period of William the
Conqueror who ruled England from 1066.
The 'Song of Roland' describes
the 8th century Knights of the
Dark Ages and the battles
fought by the Emperor
Charlemagne. The code has
since been described as
Charlemagne's Code of Chivalry.
Beha
vior
Wor
thy
of a
Kn
ight
It was a moral system which went beyond
rules of combat and introduced the
concept of Chivalrous conduct - qualities
idealized by knighthood, such as bravery,
courtesy, honor, and gallantry toward
women.
The Vows of
KnighthoodTo honor God and his Church
To serve the Lord in valor and
faith
To protect those that are weak
and defenseless
To aid widows and
orphans.
The
Vows
of
Knig
htho
od
To refrain from offending others
To live by honor and for gloryTo avoid monetary rewardTo fight for the welfare of allTo obey those in authority
The
Vows
of
Knig
htho
od
To guard the honor of fellow Knights.
The Vows of
KnighthoodTo keep the faith
To speak the truth at all
times
To persevere to the end in
any enterprise begun
The
Vows
of
Knig
htho
od
To respect the honor of womenNever to refuse a
challenge from an equalNever turn the back upon a foe
The Canterbury
TalesChaucer
wrote about
an unnamed
knight in
1386, when
he began
work on what
many scholars
consider to be
the first
“novel” ever
written.
The
Knig
ht’s
Tale
Chaucer lived and wrote at a
time when there were still real
knights in shining armor riding
into battle and jousting in
tournaments. Because of this,
his concept of knighthood and
chivalry is far more realistic
than later authors who were
looking back to the Middle
Ages with a romantic sense of
whimsy. How does a medieval
author characterize knighthood? Chaucer’s contemporary description of
this knight sheds light on the
true spirit of chivalry.
The
Knig
ht’s
Tale
There was a knight, a most distinguished man
Who from the day on which he first beganTo
ride abroad had followed chivalry,Truth,
honor, generousness and courtesy.He had
done nobly in his sovereign’s warAnd ridden
into battle, no man more,As well in Christian
as in heathen places,And ever honored for his
noble graces …He was of sovereign value in
all eyes.And though so much distinguished,
he was wiseAnd in his bearing modest as a
maidHe never yet a boorish thing had saidIn
all his life to any, come what might;He was a
true, a perfect gentle-knight.Speaking of his
equipment, he possessedFine horses, but he
was not gaily dressed.He wore a fustian tunic
stained and darkWith smudges where his
armour had left mark;Just home from service,
he had joined our ranksTo do his pilgrimage
and render thanks.