![]() ![]() ![]() But we have courageous firefighters, brave policemen, and many other men who take part in chivalry and usually do not even expect appreciation for what they’ve done. Today, we do not have knights with formidable weapons and chivalric tournaments, where they present their strength, skills, and courage. People’s self-interest and materialism eliminated the knightly code of honor and the spiritual capability of chivalry of old times has been replaced by conventional social etiquette, which includes the act of showing regard for others, good manners and politeness. The medieval tradition of chivalry did not survive because of the political situation in Europe following the Renaissance. Our modern notion of knights is very much based in the ideas of chivalry, and we have to blame medieval romantic literature for presenting knights as the chivalrous ideal. Unfortunately, the well-intended and beautiful "chivalric code", rarely affected most knights, who plundered, slaughtered, and looted often when given the chance. His full awareness, “‘…as king of the people I shall pursue this fight/ for the glory of winning, if the evil one will only/ abandon his earth-fort and face me in the open.However, unlike medieval knights, who usually acted on their own, the nobles had a tendency to form knightly orders and brotherhoods supported by the ruling government. Beowulf demonstrates Hygelac as a loyal lord, true to his people in return Beowulf brings himself forward as a tribute to fight the dragon.Īs Beowulf earns the chance to hold the throne as king later on in the poem, it is evident that the responsibilities he held were much to his advantage when the time of battle arose against the dragon. He then gains wisdom as he witnesses Hygelac’s form of generosity towards him and his people, “The treasures that Hygelac lavished on me…He gave me land/ and the security land brings, so he had no call/ to go looking for some lesser champion,” (2490-2494). These two titles have very distinct roles in Anglo-Saxon society.īeowulf, as a young warrior need not much to worry about status and having the knowledge that his people are safe and satisfied. Based on the duration of this poem, Beowulf is accustomed to the warrior duties and later on the lifestyle of a king. (2532-2535) He believes that terminating the dragon is the duty only he can accomplish as well as longing for a feeling of satisfaction as he seeks the glory of winning the battle and knowing he has demolished the risk of danger his people will have to face. Poets, minstrels, and troubadours wrote and sang about the knights’ acts of valor in great detail. Knights who fought in the Holy Land became the subject of courtly love ideals. I shall win the gold by my courage, or else mortal combat, doom of battle, will bear your lord away. The Code of Chivalry emerged in the Late Middle Ages, taking on a different conceptual dimension following the crusades. Demonstrating his courage, Beowulf states: This fight is not yours, nor is it up to any man except me to measure his strength against the monster or to prove his worth. As Beowulf prepares to fight the dragon, he easily allows the warriors to stand their place and not go any further. The word chivalry is often associated with knights. Essay on Chivalry in Battle of Agincourt. The world of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is governed by these well-defined codes of behavior. These principles, which included bravery, loyalty, and honor, were designed to help knights uphold the values of chivalry, a term that refers to the virtues and values that were associated with being a good and noble warrior. If it was not for Hygelac, Beowulf would not have survived such a long, prosperous life, mentoring Hygelac’s son and soon holding the throne himself. The Code of Chivalry was the honor code of the knight and was an important part of the society and lives of people who lived during the Medieval times. The chivalric code of honor is a set of principles that knights in medieval Europe were expected to follow. Beowulf acknowledges how privileged he is to have a life of luxury and obtain such wisdom inherited by Hygelac. A sorrowful mood is brought upon this specific text, as Beowulf reminisces on the death of Hygelac, “I marched ahead of him, always there/ at the front of the line and I shall fight like that/ for as long as I live…” (Beowulf 2497-2499). In one specific passage of this poem, Beowulf is portrayed as an ideal retainer by the loyalty, courage and fealty to the king he possesses.Īt the beginning of this passage, Beowulf reflects on King Hygelac and the many sacrifices and deeds he provided to Beowulf during his youth. In the passage from Beowulf, the poet’s interest in the duties of a loyal retainer and the duties of a great king are evident in the specific language he uses to describe Beowulf’s encounter with the dragon. The Importance of the Retainer and King in the Heroic Code Members of the Anglo-Saxon warrior society subscribed to an ethos that celebrated the heroic code. ![]()
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