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Chivalry In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

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Chivalry is more than just a few rules; it is a way of life followed by knights (Grendler 154). Deriving from the French word "chevaliar," which means knight, chivalry was the social structure of Medieval Europe (154). During medieval England, values of honor, valor, courtesy, purity, and loyalty to his lord was expected (154). In Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, the code of chivalry and influence is demonstrated through the Green Knights test of Gawain's honor and valor and Bertilak's test of Gawain's courtesy and purity. In Medieval England, knights were the foundation of the chivalric system (155). They were soldiers with respected training. armor, and weapons (155). Knights were also known for their main focus on virtue, honor, and courtesy (155). According to the Song of Roland, there are seventeen entries in the Knights Code of Chivalry, one of which being to live by honor and for glory (156). When the Green Knight barged into the court wanting to play a game, everyone was shocked and scared (Gawain 235). The Green Knight's reason for coming was to test King Author's reputation: courtesy, valor, and honor (Gawain 257-265). However, it is Sir Gawain that stands up to take on the game, showing a great sign of courteousness to King Author (Gawain 345). The chivalric system …show more content…
When Gawain describes his shield, he talks about the five pointed gold pentangle drawn on the outside and an image of the virgin Mary on the inside (Gawain 620-625). Two of the five points represent Gawain's code of chivalry (Gawain 642-645). One of the points represent the faith Gawain has placed in the five wounds of Christ (Gawain 642). It exemplifies his devotion to and meditation on Christ's passion. The other point is Gawain's constant thought of the five joys, the annunciation, nativity, adoration, resurrection, and assumption, Mary had in Jesus (Gawain

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