The Knight and the Cart Essay -- essays research papers

The Knight of the CartBy the end of el plainth century, Western Europe had experienced a powerful cultural revival. The flourish of New towns provided a place for exchange of commerce and flow of knowledge and ideas. Universities, which replaced monasteries as centers of learning, poured urbanized knowledge into society. New technological advances and economics transformations provided the means for building magnificent architectures. These developments were representative of the mental and behavioral transformations that the medieval world underwent and the new relationships that were brought about between men, women and society in the twelfth century. As in technology, science, and scholasticism, Literature was also reborn with a new theme.3Very different from traditional writings of the past was the new flourish of jongleur poetry. Troubadour poetry, derived of courtly romances, focused on the idea of unrequited retire. A young man of the knightly class loved a lady, virtual ly often, the lady was married to the young mans lord. The courtly lover would compose highly lyrical and erotic poems in honor of his lady, and the jongleur was filled with rapture even at the slightest kindness that the lady might offer him.3 This new literary artifice provides us clues to the cultural changes that took place in medieval Europe during this time.Of the many writers of courtly romance, the most distinguished literature can be found in the work of Chretien de Troyes. Troyes was a native of east Champagne and most of his career was spent the court of Marie de Champagne. He was the inventor of Arthurian literature and the first to speak of Camelot, and write adventures of the Grail. He may even have been the first to sing the tragic love of Tristan and Isolde. One of Chretein de Troyes works, Chevalier de la Charette (The Knight of the Cart) expresses the doctrines of courtly love in its most developed form. The dapple of this story is believed to have been given to him by Marie of Champagne and has been called the perfect romance for its portrayal of Queen Guineveres affair with Lancelot of the Lake.1The elements of courtly love operate at several levels simultaneously in The Knight of the Cart they are expressed by the behaviors of Lancelot, Queen Guinevere, Meleagant and other characters in the story. Two vividly deployed elements are the concepts of loyalt... ...es heavenly elevation. In addition, Lancelot literally sacrifices himself for her, when he finds out mistakenly that she has died, he tries to kill him self. Guinevere is portrayed as a divinely creature. Only she had the power to rescue Lancelot and soothe his agony and pain. Lancelot reaffirming her alleviating power, begs Guinevere to allow him to go to her If you grant me permission, my way is clear. But if my scheme does not suit you, then the way is so difficult for me that my door is impossible." Once she permits him to enter "Lancelot had every wish .as he held G uinevere in his arms greatest joy and pleasure, confirming that his salvation was in her hands.2When all the courtly love elements that flow through The Knight of the Cart are composed, in addition to a tale of love affair between Queen Guinevere and Lancelot of the Lake, a catalogue revealing the enchanting history of the Twelfth Century Renaissance is created. Troyes, our powerful storyteller, was able to do this by taking us on a move around with Lancelot, not only though his exciting battles to Guinevere but, through his passionate and enamored thoughts and behaviors that yearns for his beloved.