Third Paper

Could anyone post the topics for the third paper on the blog?  I couldn't make it to class this morning and I would really appreciate it.

Thanks,

Adam

this week's readings

Continue reading Joinville. Finish The Life of Saint Louis by Friday.

Optional paper 3 due Monday, 14 April. If you would like to create your own paper topic, you must have it approved by Wednesday. Email your topic ideas to Jason, Ericka, and Stacey for approval. You can also use the suggested paper topics, distributed today in class.

As you know, if you choose to do the third paper, the lowest of your three paper grades will be dropped.

sorry this is real late

In The knight of the cart love is something that lancelot seeks. He sees his fair maiden, who happens to be a queen, and he will go to all ends to make the destiny of his love come true. His love is idealized in this story. In the Lais, love is also given a fairty tale aspect to it, and we again see the destiny in the story being the destiny of love and not of a society or religion. However, in the Lais, there are many female characters that are focused on in a protagonistic or near protagonistic light. In the knight of the cart the female characters are either destractions or corruptors of Lancelots love, or they are the reason for a shameful love triangle. Love is celebrated weh achived in the Lais. In the knight of the cart love has consequences on all involved no matter how great it may seem.

First off, I liked Chreiten de Troyes's story on "The Knight of the Cart (Lancelot) much better than "The Lais of Marie de France." The reason being is because I was quite fond of the journey and the obstacles Lancelot had to endure to reach his Queen Guinevere (I can seriously relate to his courage to accomplish is goal). Not to mention, I found it quite interesting how Lancelot earned his name 'Knight of the Cart' in the first place (from when the dwarf made him ride in the cart that was normally used by the imprisoned). Moreover, although the majority of women were regarded as maidens in the story, I adored the amount of control women had over men during this time.

The two texts are similar in that they both are love stories based on heroism and adultery. Moreover, I also realize that in 'The Knight of the Cart,' deal-making is an expression of truth and loyalty in getting jobs done. Christianity also arises in this story when Lancelot goes to the church to pray. Also, these two texts are similar in that they both depict women having some type of emotional stronghold over the men. Both texts illustrate "the crazy things love can make one do" and proves that if one displays hatred towards another and plots against them; karma sets in reversing that hatred towards the hater. "Evil can easily rebound on him who seeks another's misfortune" (Marie de France 60).

There is not an entire significant change between the authors because they do both have the same direction and that is to create love stories. Also, it did not make any different that one of the authors happened to be a woman (although she may have been slightly more descriptive); both text for the most part aimed in the same direction.

Love in the Lais and Knight of the Cart

I found it interesting how both authors regarded love as a completely absurd notion. That's not to say that these authors did not regard love as a powerful force, however, these authors certainly seemed inable to see the 'logic' or 'sense' in love.
In 'Knight of the Cart', Lancelot is described as donig absurd things, such as trying to kill himself (twice!) when he finds out that his love with Guinevere may not be realized. When dueling the 'evil M-something' he even positions himself so that he can stare at Guinevere while fighting at the expense of his combat positioning. However, by contrast, we see Guinevere's marriage to the king as totally acceptable and reasonable. Although they may not love each other, from everything we can see, their marriage is practical.
In the Lais, Marie outright states a similar point when she says "
Long life is not the recompense
For love without measure or sense;
But love itself is the measure of
Love; reason can't be kept in love."
In other words, love leaves to a short life (death), and reason must be kept out of love. Although love is romanticized in these texts, it is most definately described as an illogical and impractical feeling that should be left out of relationships.

What I found most interesting about the two authors, was how adultry is a consistent topic. In Chretien's story, Lancelot's love seem to have conquered all and was not a social concern. while in the lais, it felt like the stories were more like anecdotes that want to tell the rest of the world that adultry is to be ashamed of, unless there's true love involved.
Another point I want to discuss about is the noble-ness of the knights. what is a knight? and what makes a good one? any one who does not do unethical things seems to be a good knight. Lancelot jumping into the kart was looked down upon, because it looked as if it was a bad thing, and the civilians became unappreciating of his action. the bravery and the 'strength' of a person also makes a good knight - that's why Meleagant fought Lancelot 3 times. He wanted to show his strength. With strength, comes glory and fame, and respect by all. Lancelot seem to have won that much easier, as have Bisclavret and the guy from the mountain of two lovers. Bought to them were long history of fame, because of the strength, and nobility they have.
One major difference I seem to have notice, but cannot support strongly yet, is that, in Chretien's writing, women have seem to have been so easy to earn their love. by Lancelot performing the task to behead a villian, Lancelot's glory battle at the coluseum, and Lancelot's encouter with the girl who wanted to sleep with him. while in Marie de France's writing, Ladies would end up liking the guy, only when the guy likes her first, as shown in bisclavet, le fresne, and equitan.

"The Knight of the Cart" and the Lais of Marie de France both dwell on the concept of love and the role it plays during that time period. Love acts as the driving force of the plot in the stories. The protagonist is compelled by passion in his actions. Thus, his heroic deeds are usually illogical. The two accounts are different in that Marie's stories focus solely on the protagonist's actions based on passion alone, while in "The Knight of the Cart" the protagonist's actions are swayed by logic and honor. Lancelot pauses a moment before jumping into the dwarf's cart because he knew he would be ridiculed by other people, yet a passion for both his mission and the queen overcame the reason inside of him. Yet, he honors the truce made by the king through the queen to not kill Meleagant, King Bademagu's son. Although he seems to do it solely because his lover tells him too, at the same token he is also honoring the king's demand. I like "The Knight of the Cart" better because it was an interesting and compelling narrative and gave more insight into that world that the fictitious story was based on.