1. Medieval Romance

2. The term “romance” comes from “Romance languages,” meaning those languages derived from Latin (French, Italian, Spanish) • Many of the first romances were written in those languages • Examples: • Le Morte d’Arthur (The Death of King Arthur) • Le Roman du Rose (The Romance of the Rose) • Tristan and Isolde • Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

3. CHARACTERISTICS • A highly artificial and stylized genre • Characters are lords and ladies • Love and chivalry– somewhat contradictory themes • Magic and enchantment, religious mysticism • Lots of fighting, gore, pageantry • Quests • The Knight as a central character

4. The Knight • A WARRIOR, CHRISTIAN and LOVER • Possesses good manners, delicacy, protocol • Has deference and passion (both!) for ladies • Has skills as a poet, musician, writer, speaker and dancer

5. The beginning of "The Knight's Tale" illuminated manuscript, Huntington Library, California

7. 13th century illuminated manuscript: Lancelot du lac fait porter un échiquier magique à la Reine Guenièvre

8. "The Rescue of Guinevere" by William Hatherell (1855-1920)

9. The Romance and Love • The Romance tells of ideal, not realistic love • Love is so passionate as to cause fever and illness • Love is usually outside of marriage • Adultery is almost always inevitable, but has tragic consequences

10. The Knight and Lady • The Knight dedicates himself to the glorification of his Lady, either in secret or openly • He wears her colors to tournaments, devotes his trophies to her • All of his acts of heroism and valor are in her honor • The Lady is generally demanding, sometimes cruel, but always beautiful, intelligent and spirited.

11. “Lancelot and Guinevere‘s First Kiss,” Manuscript illustration, c 1400. Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris

12. Works Cited and Consulted • Hatherell, William. “The Rescue of Guinevere.” Oil on canvas, 1910. Rpt. “Arthurian Legends Illustrated.” Kathleen Nichols. Pittsburg State U., 2003. 21 Sept. 2008. <http://www2.pittstate.edu/engl/nichols/arthur2.html>. • “The Knight’s Tale.” Ellesmere Manuscript, ca. 1400. Illuminated manuscript. San Marino, CA.: The Huntington Library. Rpt. “The Knight’s Tale in Images.” Luminarium.1997-2006. 21 Sept. 2008. <http://www.luminarium.org/medlit/knightimg.htm>. • “Lancelot and Guinevere’s First Kiss.” Unknown artist. Manuscript illustration, c. 1400. Paris: Bibliotheque Nationale. Rpt. “Lancelot du Lac.” Timeless Myths. 1999. 21 Sept. 2008. <http://www.timelessmyths.com/arthurian/lancelot.html#Kiss>. • “Lancelot du lac fait porter un échiquier magique à la Reine Guenièvre.” Unknown artist. Late 13th C. Rpt. “Tableaux ayant pour sujet les échecs.” 21 Sept. 2008. <http://www.jmrw.com/Chess/Tableau_echecs/pages/112.htm>. • Leighton, Edmund Blair. “The Accolade.” 1901. Rpt. CGFA. 21 Sept. 2008. <http://cgfa.sunsite.dk/l/l-5.htm#eleighton>. • Love, D. “‘Al this Peynted Process': Chaucer and the Psychology of Courtly Love.” English Studies. 83.5 (Nov. 2002), 391-398.