Arthurian Legend Essay Research Paper Arthurian Legend — страница 4

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they each challenged him and all the knights lost the challenge. Later they figured out what had happened and retold the story when they were all back in Camelot.Still another area where they can be compared is in how they lived up to the code of chivalry. Under the code of chivalry there were ten rules. Under these rules knights were to follow the teachings of the church. They were also honor bound to defend the church and the weak. Furthermore, they were sworn to love their native country and to never run from an enemy. The code also states that they were to make war against heathens without mercy while preforming their duties within the laws of God. Knights were not supposed to lie but be generous and fight injustice wherever they went. Those were the rules for the code of

knightly conduct (Rules, n.p.).Arthur lived up to the code of chivalry in many ways, but not all ways. He deeply loved his country and fought for it as its king. Also during his final battle Arthur killed his own son who had rebelled against the throne. A way in which he did not uphold the code is he left the battle with the rouge Lancelot. This could be covered by the fact that Mordrid was making his attack making him the greater enemy at the time.Lancelot did not always follow the code of chivalry in all things either. This is another thing that makes him and Arthur similar. Lancelot?s illicit romance with Guenevere is against the laws of God and the teachings of the church. Furthermore he did not always seem to love his country of birth as evidenced from his helping King

Bageagas. On many occasions he defended the weak. One such time was when Guenevere was abducted. He charged to her rescue and even lowered himself to riding in a cart. On another occasion he fought the heathen Sir Turquine, who had been holding several knights captive, to the death to free the knights. There are many similarities and differences between the characters of Arthur and Lancelot in Arthurian Legend. These are most well shown in the areas of there backgrounds, through there children, there relationship with Guenevere, how they are both regarded as greatest, and sometimes chivalrous Things such as the fact that they were raised in fosterage, and they both had illegitimate children are strong examples of how their life was similar. Also their mutual love for Guenevere

and how both felt she was the love of their life is another big similarity between the two. Another similarity between Arthur and Lancelot and one of the things that drive Arthurian Legend is that they were both renowned throughout time for being the best king and knight respectively. There desire for chivalry in some portion of life and the backbone they placed on it are another example of their noted similarities. Even with all of these similarities they were still individuals and did have differences.In addition to there similarities Arthur and Lancelot also have many diffrences. As far as their backgrounds go Arthur?s fosterage was with a man who did not know what he was to become while Lancelot?s helped him reach his full potential. Their children turned out to be almost

exact opposites. Lancelot?s relationship with Guenevere is truer than her marriage of state to Arthur. As for how Arthur and Lancelot lived up to the code of chivalry Lancelot?s adulterous relationship with Guenevere was a major violation of the knight?s code.There are many other areas that could be compared between the two. However, some of the information can be confusing because of all the deferring versions of the legends. However the similarities and differences between King Arthur and Sir Lancelot is one aspect that keeps Arthurian legend fascinating many centuries later.Works Cited Bullfinch, Thomas ?The Age of Chivalry or Legends of King Arthur? Gopher://gopher.vt.edu:1001-/02/53/2 (8 February 1998) Corless Peter ?Queen Guenever, Prencess of Cameliard, Queen of Brition?

http://www.employees.org/~pcorless/pendragon/guenever.txt (8 Febuary 1998) Corless, Peter ?The de Ganis Clan? http://www.employees.org/~pcorless/pendragon/deganis-clan.txt (8 Febuary 1998) Malory, Thomas Appreciating Literature Columbus: McGraw-Hill, 1991. 575-604 ? The Ten Rules of Chivalry? http://www.mamajama.com/Chivalry.html (10 Febuary 1998) 326