2. Chretien portrays Perceval as childlike in the first scene with the knights in the Waste Forest. The knights approach Perceval and at first he is frightened. He was astounded by their appearances and then thought the knights were God and his angels. He was naive, and was intrigued by the knights' shields, armor, and lances. The knight was seeking information from him and was patient when Perceval replied with further curiosity of knighthood. The knight was amused by Perceval's awe, and provided answers for all of his questions. Chretien portrays knighthood as enchanting and surreal, so amazing that one can question what he has seen. He portrays Perceval as innocent and childlike because of his naivety. The portrays conflict with each other because Perceval is intrigued by the barbaric aspects of a knight's duty. He questions why the knight does not launch his lance like he does with his javelin. However, Perceval does not appreciate the virtuous qualities of knighthood clearly dipicted in the text; he has to be taught how to fight humanely.
3. I felt Perceval's mother was helpless in the episode with her son. Perceval had been sheltered from the knowing the history of his father and brothers' defeat because of his mother's fear that history would repeat itself through him. She felt intense despair because she knew she would be unable to persuade him from his desire to become a knight. Through her helplessness she offers him advice: honor a maiden if you find her in distress, do not go further than to kiss her, but if she offers you her ring or alms purse you can accept. She warns him to know the name of those who accompany him at an inn or on the road and to go inside any chapel he passes by to pray. She kissed her son and cried as she watched him leave and he was unaffected and almost apathetic. Even when she fainted on the bridge he did not retreat to make sure he was still alive. Perceval's reaction to his mother's pain was completely unemotional. He should have at least tried to comfort her, and perhaps delay his departure for her sake. However, I think he reacts this way out of stupidity and immaturity. His intellect is too low to expect him to by sympathetic or understanding of his mother's wishes.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
The Decameron Day 7: 3, 5. Day 8: 3, 7, 8
In the 5th story on day 7, what can you infer about the narrator's personal experiences based on her attitude towards trickery?
The narrator is a female, and begins by saying, "Most noble ladies, the previous story prompts me to tell a similar story about a jealous husband, for I believe that whatever their wives do to them, especially when they become jealous without cause, is well done." (508) She tells a story about a man so possessive of his wife that she is not allowed to step foot outside the house or even make herself visible in windows. Though I think her plan to give her husband a reason to be jealous was clever but too harsh, the narrator clearly thought it was just, and adimred the woman for tricking her husband. This leads me to believe she could relate to the story, and possibly had a jealous husband of her own she wished to seek revenge upon.
In the 3rd story of the 8th day, Calandrino searches for heliotropes, which he believes are stones that can make a person invisible. What does this story have in common with Cretien de Troy's the Knight with the Lion, and why was invisibilty so desired in the middle ages?
In the Knight with the Lion, Lunette saves Yvain's life by giving him a ring that makes him invisible to the people who want to kill him. However the Knight with the Lion, Yvain uses the ring's powers for a reasonable cause. In the Decameron, Calandrino is a gullible man who believes that the heliotrope has special powers but they did not truly exist. His aquaintances entertained themselves by tricking Calandrino into believing an ordinary rock has made him invisible. Though there was no effect, Calandrino still attempted to trick the men into thinking he had left so he could go to the bank with his find.
The narrator is a female, and begins by saying, "Most noble ladies, the previous story prompts me to tell a similar story about a jealous husband, for I believe that whatever their wives do to them, especially when they become jealous without cause, is well done." (508) She tells a story about a man so possessive of his wife that she is not allowed to step foot outside the house or even make herself visible in windows. Though I think her plan to give her husband a reason to be jealous was clever but too harsh, the narrator clearly thought it was just, and adimred the woman for tricking her husband. This leads me to believe she could relate to the story, and possibly had a jealous husband of her own she wished to seek revenge upon.
In the 3rd story of the 8th day, Calandrino searches for heliotropes, which he believes are stones that can make a person invisible. What does this story have in common with Cretien de Troy's the Knight with the Lion, and why was invisibilty so desired in the middle ages?
In the Knight with the Lion, Lunette saves Yvain's life by giving him a ring that makes him invisible to the people who want to kill him. However the Knight with the Lion, Yvain uses the ring's powers for a reasonable cause. In the Decameron, Calandrino is a gullible man who believes that the heliotrope has special powers but they did not truly exist. His aquaintances entertained themselves by tricking Calandrino into believing an ordinary rock has made him invisible. Though there was no effect, Calandrino still attempted to trick the men into thinking he had left so he could go to the bank with his find.
Friday, October 16, 2009
The Decameron: Day 3: 3, 6, 9. Day 4: 3, 9
2. In the sixth story of the third day, I would go as far to say I was never so disturbed by another character in any of the other stories of the Decameron. Ricciardo is a disgusting man who manipulates Catella because of her intense jealousy and love for her husband, Filippello. Catella was aware of Ricciardo's love for her, but remained faithful to her husband and sought no interest in him. He convinced her that he was in love with someone else, even though he had a wife. Catella's love was so strong for her husband, Ricciardo played her like a pawn because of that weakness. When Ricciardo convinced Catella that her husband was pursuing his wife and planned to meet her in the baths to have sex, she thought she was fooling her husband by replacing the wife with herself. Ricciardo fools Catella into sleeping with him, causing her to go into a tirade. Catella expresses her fury in a somewhat vulgar speech that inadvertantly insults her husband's true qualities. "Today you disowned dog, you were full of life doing it, and at home most of the time you're so weak and worn out that you can't keep it up. But, praise be to God, it was your own field you were plowing and not someone else's as you thought!" (234.) I had not expected Ricciardo to reveal the truth to her because he had been beyond selfish and disgusting throughtout the entire story. I despised the end of the story when Catella only remained angry for a moment and basically accepted that she was in my opinion, raped.
3. "Seeing her perseverence and her intelligence and, moreover, two such handsome sons, the Count, in order to keep his promise as well as please his men and their ladies, set aside his obstinate severity, raised the Countess to her feet ... recognized her as his legitimate bride and her children as his own sons." (276.) Beltramo's love for Giletta changes because she proved to him the extent of how she wanted him to accept her. He gave her an impossible ultimatum, saying that the only way he would return to her is if she possessed the ring he never took off and could give him a son without having slept with him. Because she is so coniving in her unethical plan, she wins over not only his approval, but in time his affection. This is an example of how women were expected to present to their husband male offspring, and were looked down upon if they were unable, meanwhile society is oblivious at the time that no female to this day has that choice, for it is the male who delivers either an X or Y chromosome to the females X chromosome.
In the third story of the fourth day it teaches the lesson that acting on emotions can be detrimental to one's future because Ninetta's envy leads to the downfall of those around her. In many of the other stories of the Decameron, the characters possess vices like lust, dishonesty, and manipulation, but end up fortunate at the end laughing at those foolish enough to fall for their trickery. This story is different because the eldest sister possesses an immobilizing jealousy and fury, so powerful that she kills her lover. However, her overwhelming emotion is what cost her sisters their lives.
3. "Seeing her perseverence and her intelligence and, moreover, two such handsome sons, the Count, in order to keep his promise as well as please his men and their ladies, set aside his obstinate severity, raised the Countess to her feet ... recognized her as his legitimate bride and her children as his own sons." (276.) Beltramo's love for Giletta changes because she proved to him the extent of how she wanted him to accept her. He gave her an impossible ultimatum, saying that the only way he would return to her is if she possessed the ring he never took off and could give him a son without having slept with him. Because she is so coniving in her unethical plan, she wins over not only his approval, but in time his affection. This is an example of how women were expected to present to their husband male offspring, and were looked down upon if they were unable, meanwhile society is oblivious at the time that no female to this day has that choice, for it is the male who delivers either an X or Y chromosome to the females X chromosome.
In the third story of the fourth day it teaches the lesson that acting on emotions can be detrimental to one's future because Ninetta's envy leads to the downfall of those around her. In many of the other stories of the Decameron, the characters possess vices like lust, dishonesty, and manipulation, but end up fortunate at the end laughing at those foolish enough to fall for their trickery. This story is different because the eldest sister possesses an immobilizing jealousy and fury, so powerful that she kills her lover. However, her overwhelming emotion is what cost her sisters their lives.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
The Knight with the Lion (324-353)
1. The outcome of Gawain's speech influences Yvain to leave Laudine almost immediately after they are wed. He convinces Yvain that if he doesn't uphold his reputation as a powerful, respectable knight then he will lose his worth and and Laudine's love. Because Yvain is lord of Laudines's land, he fears that if he does not practice his skills as a knight he will be looked upon as an easy target to future attackers. The agreement between Laudine and Yvain was surprising to me. I expected his time away to be much shorter, and she offered him a year's absence without him propsing that much time. He even mentioned that it was too long. I think she was very reasonable to make the agreement; I don't think as a newly wed I would tolerate my husband leaving me for an entire year.
2. Lunete delivers a harsh message to Yvaine, and although I thought he deserved it for breaking his promise to return within one year, I appreciated Chretien's talent as a writer because I could feel Yvain's anguish. I felt sorry for him when I read, "He hated nothing so much as himself and did not know who to turn to for comfort now that he was the cause of his own death. But he would rather lose his own mind than fail to take revenge upon himself, who had ruined his own happiness." (330).
2. Lunete delivers a harsh message to Yvaine, and although I thought he deserved it for breaking his promise to return within one year, I appreciated Chretien's talent as a writer because I could feel Yvain's anguish. I felt sorry for him when I read, "He hated nothing so much as himself and did not know who to turn to for comfort now that he was the cause of his own death. But he would rather lose his own mind than fail to take revenge upon himself, who had ruined his own happiness." (330).
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Knight with the Lion (295-324)
2.I found the beginning to be interesting because it did not foreshadow that Yvain was to become the hero. The way Calogrenant described the peasant to the most hideous creature he had wondered how nature could create something so ugly, I thought he and the wild bulls would have more significance in the story. Because Calogrenant was seeking adventure, I assumed he would be the main character, and the daughter in the lodging would fall in love with him. I also found Lunete's ring to be an interesting part of the story, because the significance of a ring reminded me of the ring King Mark had given to Yseut in The Romance of Tristan. I was curious about it because it is the sole reason Yvain was not captured and killed for killing the knight.
3. Yvain is not the "braggart" Kay made him out to be and proved all his insults false when he defeated him and gave the King of Britain his horse. He is a noble knight who fought Esclados the Red righteously. Though he mortally wounded him, I found it interesting that he said Laudine had avenged her husband without knowing it, because death would be less of a punishment than to be love stricken eternally.
3. Yvain is not the "braggart" Kay made him out to be and proved all his insults false when he defeated him and gave the King of Britain his horse. He is a noble knight who fought Esclados the Red righteously. Though he mortally wounded him, I found it interesting that he said Laudine had avenged her husband without knowing it, because death would be less of a punishment than to be love stricken eternally.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
The Romance of Tristan (14-19)
1. Yseut's vindication was my favorite part in the story. I had been curious as to why she had ridden the back of the leper, only to avoid getting muddy. At first I wondered why she would draw extra attention to the leper, making it possible that someone would recognize him to be Tristan. However, in her oath when she had said that no man had been between her thighs except the King and the leper she rode to the court, I realized how clever her initial plan was. Although Ysuet was speaking with a forked tounge, her plan gave technical truth to her oath, making the King and the people in the court believe her passionate words.
4. I think Tristan and Yseut must die at the end of the text to give it some sort of closure. It is a tragic love story, and in the greatest love stories for instance, the lovers who pursue forbidden love will inevitably die in the end. I feel that the only way Tristan and Yseut could find peace was to die, because the continuation of their lives would have been a constant struggle to be together and a cycle of pain. I feel that their love was unable to survive during their lives, but prevailed after death because of the intertwining trees that grew back even after being cut down three times.
4. I think Tristan and Yseut must die at the end of the text to give it some sort of closure. It is a tragic love story, and in the greatest love stories for instance, the lovers who pursue forbidden love will inevitably die in the end. I feel that the only way Tristan and Yseut could find peace was to die, because the continuation of their lives would have been a constant struggle to be together and a cycle of pain. I feel that their love was unable to survive during their lives, but prevailed after death because of the intertwining trees that grew back even after being cut down three times.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
The Romace of Tristan (7-13)
1. Tristan and Yseut's stay in the woods is terrifying for them both. They are constantly moving, and are unable to sleep deeply because they are always in fear of being found. Their clothes become worn and torn, and their skin turns pale because they are unable to consume proper nutrients; they eventually run out of bread and and rely soly on meat from Tristan's hunting. The significance of the lovers' struggles is obvious at this point because neither has ever lived an ordinary life. They were both used to lives of luxury and comfort, but they surrender all their material possesions to be together.
4. When the love potion wears off Tristan and Yseut have very different reactions. Tristan immediately drops to his knees and repents. He mourns the loss of his respect as a knight and nephew of King Mark, and yearns for his old life as a successful warrior. He thinks of the hardship he and Yseut endured, and recognizes the pain he has caused his uncle for commiting adultery with his wife. Yseut, however, has a rather selfish reaction and her revelation has to do with her current situation. She does not take responsibility for pursuing her husband's nephew, but blames the potion. She also complains about the way she had to live in the woods for three years when she was supposed to be living lavishly like a queen.
4. When the love potion wears off Tristan and Yseut have very different reactions. Tristan immediately drops to his knees and repents. He mourns the loss of his respect as a knight and nephew of King Mark, and yearns for his old life as a successful warrior. He thinks of the hardship he and Yseut endured, and recognizes the pain he has caused his uncle for commiting adultery with his wife. Yseut, however, has a rather selfish reaction and her revelation has to do with her current situation. She does not take responsibility for pursuing her husband's nephew, but blames the potion. She also complains about the way she had to live in the woods for three years when she was supposed to be living lavishly like a queen.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
The Romance of Tristan (1-6)
1. Tristan is the most feared and accomplished knight. He is highly respected as the king's nephew, but earns that respect by demonstrating bravery in his conquests. He is an upper class citizen with strong values. He is similar to the stereo-typical "prince charming," and and "knight in shining armor," because he and Yseut share a forbidden love. Tristan's passionate love for Yseut conflicts with his devotion to his king, and finds his internal struggles are often as difficult as his external ones.
3. The message we obtain from the text tells us that love is uncontrollable. Tristan and Yseut drink the love potion, and become overwhelmingly obsessed with one another. The text displays the idea that the desire between them is irrevocable, because they continue their adultery despite their fear, and the possibility that it could be the death of them.
3. The message we obtain from the text tells us that love is uncontrollable. Tristan and Yseut drink the love potion, and become overwhelmingly obsessed with one another. The text displays the idea that the desire between them is irrevocable, because they continue their adultery despite their fear, and the possibility that it could be the death of them.
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