Chivalry In King Arthur's Life During The Dark Ages
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Chivalry is an idea that came about during the dark ages, or mid-evil times in world history. These times were called the dark ages because they occurred before the Renaissance which was known as the enlightenment. During the dark ages chivalry was very prevalent in the culture. We know this today because of the stories that emerge from this time period in history. “defines chivalry as "the system, spirit, or customs of medieval knighthood."” (Young) The mid-evil knight was known for being courageous, honorable, disciplined, wise, and full of consideration for others, especially women. The code of chivalry basically at the center of male culture during this time. Men wanted to follow these rules of behavior because they were almost like laws…show more content… The Arthurian Motif almost outline the code of chivalry because it is centered around honor, or courage, and manners, how one behaves. In the beginning of his life Arthur is a no body because he does not know of his origins. When he pulls the great sword of kings, Excalibur, out of the stone it becomes clear that he is meant to be king. He becomes king and builds Camelot, a very successful city. He then is tricked into sleeping with his sister and then she gives birth to Mordred. Mordred has no soul and is set on taking his father’s power. In the end he is the cause of the fall of Arthur and many other knights of the round table. Even through the actions of the villain, chivalry is shown through how a knight should not act. The main ideas of chivalry are shown in Morte d’Arthur by Thomas Malory and Percival by Chretien de Troyes, and the origins of chivalry are shown in The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer, The Aeneid by Virgil, The Song of Roland, and…show more content… Chivalry is centered around four cardinal virtues, some of which are shown in Percival and Morte d’Arthur. Knights are people who should always be fighting for what is right and never for evil. King Arthur is the supreme example of a knight because he exhibits all the cardinal virtues of a knight. The origin of chivalry can be seen the Greek and Roman texts The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer, and The Aeneid by Virgil. Knights follow a strict code that may have been created in order to stop violence. Knights keep up an on-going crusade against the violence in the world courageously. In this way they resemble the men in early Greek and Roman texts. The French text The Song of Roland and the story of Beowulf which comes from the Anglo-Saxons feature heroes who closely resemble the knights that would come later in literature. Just like Beowulf was after honor when e fought with Grendel, the knights are after honor. Honor is achieved by the way that one acts. This is how chivalry came about from the epic poem