The Knight With The Lion: Final

1) This new name is very important. He is no longer Yvain. He is now the Knight with the Lion. He is now the Knight with the courage. The Knight with the Pride, Passion, Honor, and Compassion. This is a very good thing. He is no longer the Knight who went off to foreign lands to fight and go to tournaments and live the good life. He is now the Knight that cares about his wife, and the one who is very chivalrous and manly. He has grown up and is now less immature and less childish. He not only literally has a lion, but actually has a lion inside his heart that makes him a better person.
3) This is a reconcilliation of trickery, but it matters all the same. Laudine is tricked in to loving him again, and although this doesn't necessarily make sense to most people, Laudine can't possibly break this oath because she has to prove that she is a better person than her husband; if she goes back on this she is in fact hypocritical and no better than him. She promises to love the knight who can stop the crazy storms and horrible weather that is going on in her kingdom. Turns out that this knight is her former husband. However forced or unnatural this seems, it is indeed real. They are together. Happily ever after, or something

Knight with the Lion II

1)Gawain. Gawain is a man's man, and has similar characteristics to a frat brother. He is honorable and trustworthy and a good friend to Yvain. However, he pressures his buddy in to leaving, and coming off on an adventur'softe with him. He tells him, basically, not to be soft just because he has a wife. He is using the "soft" comment that friends forever have used on their buddies. He tells him that if he does not come out and have a good time with the boys, than he is not really a man. Basically, he tells his buddy to get the leash off from around his neck, because now that he has a wife, he must be tied down. He must not let the fact that he has a wife keep him from going out with the boys. This, as we read, turns out to be a very bad thing. He goes off, and strays away from his wife for to long, and ends up losing her for good. This is a classic stupid mistake made by men in movies and sitcoms. Their pride gets in the way of their perfect marriage, and they end up losing it all.
4)The lion. This is where we get the Knight with the Lion title that is given, or actually self-proclaimed by Yvain. This is his best friend, his companion, his bright spot in life, and the thing he cares most deeply for that travels with him. The Lion, obviously, symbolizes pride and courage. With this he is able to fight, he is able to think, he is able to do battle with anything that comes his way. He is no longer scared, but is a honorable, determined knight, and takes the necessary steps to get his wife back, or at least try to. With his lion, he can fight giants, and three knights at a time and accomplish his nobel goals. This is, in physical form, his pride, honor, and courage. It is a living form of his heart.

King and The Lion Part I

1) The lack of a formal prologue is quite important in this case. It means that either Chrietien is playing games, and pretending he does not actually know the out come of the story, meaning that as the author he does not want to forshadow or given even the slightest clues about what may or may not happen in the text; or that our King might not have a fully passionate love. Normally the prologue would tell the reader about the tragedy that is about to unfold, about the love between two people nad how great it is. With out one, the reader could guess at the fact that maybe our King will have many loves, none of them being as spectacular or long lasting as Erec and Enide's. Maybe he will just contiune through the book, searching yet never finding his true love. Maybe he will never fully be inprisoned, as the text so admiringly refers to love as.
2) Calogrenants story is indeed an odd one. It was placed in this book so that the knights would have a worthy quest to go on. It is actually a very odd story because parts of it make no sense. By accidentally following this little path, he is able to see a hideous bird. I wonder what is the significance of this horrifyingly ugly creature. Also, by pouring water from a spring on to a rock, he is able to produe a very horrible storm, and surviving it makes him valiant. I do not quite understand this, although the fact that he can beat out nature, surviving the storm, may be a good reason to make him a nobel knight. But what does he really win? other than being heroic?

90-122

1) We finally hear the Enide has passed Erec's test that he has set out for her. This is both good, and somewhat expected. This journey, aside from proving to himself that he is still the best, was about testing Enide's love for him. He wanted to make sure that the woman he married, the woman that he loves more than anything else in the world, feels the same way a about him. He wants to make sure that no matter what, on pain of death, she will never stop loving him. She passes this test in man ways. First, she attempts a suicide when she thinks her lover is dead. Next, she refuses to marry the man who demands that of her. She proves her love because even after she thinks he is dead, she still loves him. She even follows him, or his apparent ghost as she thinks, because she is so in love.
4) These descriptions are very important to the text and the way the author writes. They are basically used to show what a talented writer Chrieten is, but also he uses his skill and power as a tool. He wants to show everyone just how lavishing and important these people are. They have to biggest and best things in the whole country, and while that doesn't necessarily make them good or right people, it does make them very rich, and that is very important to the characters in this text. Also, it is the fact that while the love of our two main characters progresses, so does the nice material goods; so does the rejoicing, loving, kissing. All of this extravagent language is used to enhance not only the writing itself, but the lives of our characters. They are important people, and Chretien honors them with great writing ability.

60-90

1) Enide's character clearly emerges in this part of the text. She is becoming a main character, not just a role player. She has thoughts, ideas, etc. that the reader is treated to. She finally gets her name because she is to be wed, so many people will have to speak her name. We find her to be a great love of Erec, but much more than that. She is a woman who is clearly wise, and one who recognizes the social dilemma that she has put her lord in. She realizes that he does not go to fight, or to tournaments any more because of her and this upsets her. She wants him to fight because he used to be the best of the best, and now he does not even compete. By catching a glimpse into these feelings, we see that she is a smart woman. She is also bold enough to speak about it, whether or not it is actually her fault is debatable. We also see how grateful she is about becoming a queen. Later in the text, we also see her love for him. In disrespecting him, and calling out to him even after she has been warned not to many times, we see that she loves him. She can not stand to see him hurt, and would much rather take the punishment than not warn him about the on coming knights that he must fight.

3) Erec wants to show Enide who he really is. She is distraught, and upset and Erec wants to show her there is no need to be this way. That is his first concern. By going out, never stopping, killing, and defeating all of those other knights, he proves that he is still the best knight in all the land. No one can defeat him. He does not pick his path, rather lets her lead, as bait, and defeats all that come his way. His second task is to test her love. As long as she is to scared to see him get hurt, he knows she truly loves him. Also, he allows the count to speak with her, testing to see, if necessary, that she will stand by him. She does. He knows that she loves him and that he can truly love her.

37-60

2) The first scene in King Arthur's court can be viewed as basically an elaborate festival. Many rich, powerful, brave, strong men are hanging out, probably drinking and eating there full because they are rich and noble. They are probably all flexing their manly man muscles because they all think they are tough knights. The author tells us that there was never a court so beautiful. Also, he describes all of the women as fair, and beautiful, but it is evident that they are mostly show pieces. Judging by the limited amounts of reading that I have done in this book, woman are nothing more than trophies or pocessions to any of these men. They are there simply to look beautiful. The winner of the big hunt, (which again is showing the men as manly, strong, men who hunt and kill) gets a kiss from the most beautiful woman in court. None of the women are allowed to object and the thought that one of them would have there own opinion about the matter is absurd. They are trophies, and when the big strong men come back, they will all be waiting, pretty and perfect to be stared at. This court is high society and this is simply how people act; they obey the king, and follow his rules to the best of their abilities.

5)When the Queen dresses Enide, this is a symbolic part of the book. This, while she sheds her peasant white dress, and puts on the beautiful, colored, royal clothes, is her acceptance in to this new world. She is now one of them. One of the elite, in elaborate dresses, soon to be attending balls and living the life of a queen. She now must be prim, proper, and always at her best. This is an investment. Erec is now infatuated with this woman. He has taken a pretty beautiful woman, and dressed her up, successfully turning her into a trophy wife that he can stare at, show off, and be prouf of. Although I am sure she is an intelligent woman, that no longer matters. Erec sees her as a possesion, one that he has won and has every right to dress up. She is his newest trophy, and he could not be more pleased about it.

Final

1) Yesult is smarter than anyone else in this case. She has an unreal ability to manipulate people and situations with her smart mouth. Her forked-tounge, again, got her out of a very tricky situation. She claims that she has only had two men between her thighs, which is one hundred percent true. However, by riding the leper (Tristan) into the trial proceedings, she makes it clear to everyone that this is who she is referring to, and it is almost a joke; she says that no other man has been between her thighs, when in reality, both men have been between her thighs in a sexual manner. She is able to trick everyone. She is not actually lying though, but is tricking as bad as lying? By manipulating the situation, by implying something other than the truth, does that make her as bad as a lier? In her words she is not lying, technically, but she is knowingly misinforming everyone. This is both dangerous, and dishonest, and I feel that it is as bad as lying. Her oath means nothing. She mine as well have lied.
2)I am very troubled by the vengence that Tristan. Murder is never justified, not even in the name of love. These barons, although decietful, nosy, and annoying, did not unjustly accuse Tristan and Yesult. They did not deserve to die. They could have been harmed, they could have been banished, but death is not necessary. Is love worth it? If you have to kill to keep it alive? It is one matter for no one to understand, appreciate, or condone your love; that does not matter on any level, as long as you and your lover have each other. However, i don't believe any love is strong enough to commit double homocide. Maybe I haven't been in a love strong enough, but to kill innocent men for no reason other than the fact that they have disrupted your relationship, seems not only harsh, but serial.

7-13

Tristin and Yseut's stay in the woods was very taxing on both of them. Without a supply of bread, they are forced to eat game: dear, rabbit, or any other type of animal that they can find. They eat and sleep in the woods, obviously, and live in a home made from branches and leaves. They sleep together, on a bed of leaves, and throughout all of this, they are still in love. They cannot show their faces in public, and are restricted to speaking only with each other and Governal. They are as good as lepers, because they are on the run for their lives; however they still love. This is an amazing fact. Although the love potion is apparently to blame, this is what pure love really should be. No matter where, or when, love is love is love. They love each other so deeply that this rough realm does not even lead to frustration or anger on either of their parts. Even though the queen should live in a beautiful castle with silk dresses etc. she is loving her life because she is so madly in love with Tristin. The author is trying to portray what true love, to the fullest extent is. There is no money or wealth or materialistic goods to distract or make them happy. Tristin and Yesult are simply in love, and couldn't be happier.

The love potion does indeed wear off after three years, and the initial reaction of Tristin and Yesult is at first, very appropriate. They both feel terrible and repent for their ways. They want to make good with King Mark and feel almost silly about how they have acted. They also both feel pity for the other one. Tristin is upset that he has taken Yesult out of her beautiful home where she is wealthy and loved. Yesult feels awful that this honorable knight is no longer at court. However, as the dialogue moves on, the love that they still have for one another is still quite clear. They both give each other gifts of great importance to themselves, and both make promises to each other that they would not make, if they did not love. Tristin promises to stick around to make sure that the queen is treated as she should be, and is willing to come rescue her if life in the castle is some how different, or at all more hostile than she anticipates. Yesult promises to go to Tristin if he ever calls or asks for her help, no matter what or where it is. They clearly still love each other, even if they are claiming to be just friends. They are in love, and have fallen in love over three years, regardless of the potion. The potion was more like a catalyst than a cupid. However, over the three years, they have fallen in love and although in their heads they know the right thing to do, their hearts are probably telling them deep, deep down that they should not be seperating. Whether or not they claim to be friends for now, I predict that they will soon come to be together again.

1-6

These characters are unique relative to eachother, and are very steady in there personalities.  Tristan is always ready to be the amazing, saving knight. He is always the person who is ready to fight in the name of his love, in the name of his family, or in the name of chivalry.  He loves Yseut more than anything and would do anything for her.  Yseut is also in love with Tristan, but this may be just because of the love potion.  Although she is married to Mark, she does not love him.  This tells us that she cannot be trusted to uphold her promises and her morales are slightly slanted.  On the other hand, King Mark is someone who is easily persuaded.  At first, his men tell him that he should be curious of his nephew and wife.  He listens, based on zero evidence, yet follows through and spies on them.  He is then tricked, by them, and is persuaded to believe they are innocent, although they are not.  Finally he is persuaded into believing that they are unfaithful again.  He is too easily persuaded, a characteristic that is not good for a king.

Love. Love is the eternal question that cannot be answered.  So far in this novel, love is conjured only through magical spells/ potions.  The true love was made from a potion, and clearly love is not an important aspect of marriage, since yseut marries Mark, full well knowing that she doesn't love him.  Marriage is supposed to be based on love, yet it is not in this book.  However, true love, whether real or magically induced, still proves to be the most powerful aspect in their lives.  They cheat, kill, run away, and escape danger just to be with the love of their lives.  Love is apparently very powerful, and it seems, through the novel, that love will outlast and survive any problem, and will win out no matter what the rules are.