Reading Assignments

Wednesday: Salimbene, Chronicle bks. 3-61-This is in your reader.

Blog Assignment

There is no blog this week because you are writing papers. However, if you would like to make up one of your blogs-go back to one of the prompts that you neglected and go for it!!!

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.