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As Christianity begins uniting much of Europe in thought, the overwhelming presence of an
impersonal fate is absent from the period`s literature. We now see a new code of conduct coming into play. This high ideal for the heroes of the time, now knights, is perhaps equally brutal on the battle field as those previous, but a new refinement has come to be expected. Consider an excerpt of Chaucer`s Prologue as he gives a description of perhaps an ideal knight, `There was a Knight, a most distinguished man,
Who from the day on which he first began,
To ride abroad had followed chivalry,
Truth, honor, generousness and courtesy ...
And though so much distinguished, he was wise,
And in his bearing modest as a maid,
He never yet a boorish thing had said
In all his life to any, come what might:
He was a true, a perfect gentle-knight`
(lines 43 - 68) This ideal code of conduct would no doubt be impossible to attain, and thus truly heroic if a
character could maintain such a spotless life. The refinement required of such men is in striking
contrast to the types of battles they would have to participate in. Consider the battle between
King Arthur, perhaps the most famous character from the Medieval period, and Sir Mordrid, a truly bloody and heated battle, And never since was there never seen a more dolefuller battle in no Christian land, for there was but rushing and riding, lunging and striking; and many a grim word was there spoken of either to other, and many a deadly stroke. But ever King Arthur rode throughout the battle of Sir Mordred many times and did full nobly, as a noble king should do, and at all times he fainted never. And Sir Mordred did his devoir that day and put himself in great peril. And thus they fought all the long day, and never stinted till the noble knights were laid to the
cold earth.`(93, Malory) The chivalrous romances of King Arthur and Camelot are also laced with the supernatural, not
something we would automatically expect in a time of such a powerful Christian Church. For
instance in `Sir Gawain and the Green Knight` There is the mysterious Green Knight, and the
powerful green girdle imbued with magical powers given to Gawain by the lady. Also, intrinsic
with the Arthurian legend is the sword Excalibur, also a magical and powerful item, with the
ability to appoint a ruler. These, along with many other supernatural beings and items, give the
romances some of their mystical appeal. The ballads of the Medieval period are truly the literary heritage of the population that we
have acquired. As most could neither read or write, the ballads would have carried much of their tradition down to us. Some of them are humorous, such as `Get Up and Bar the Door`, which shows a war of will power between husband and wife, an episode which we can still relate to. Others are more dramatic and give us more insight into their lives. Although life was less fate driven than in the Anglo-Saxon period ,no doubt at least partly due to the rise of the church of the time, they had not succeeded in completely smothering the fear or distaste of death. In `Sir Patrick Spens` a sailor is called to his most probable death in the service of the king and is not pleased, `O who is this has done this deed,
This ill deed done to me,
To send me out this time of the year
To sail upon the sea!`
(lines 17-20) This period of history is truly rich in literary heritage. We have yet to exhaust our interest in the
supernatural romances. Even the ideal of chivalry has not died with knights themselves, for it
lives on in our minds and our modern literature. The power which these tales still have to mystify and delight audiences is a testament to the enduring quality of literature during the Middle Ages. Links:
http://www.northern.edu/wild/th100/chapt11.htm
Q & A: Medieval Theater
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