In a country renown for revolution, a time of looming reformation, and an age of rebirth, the story of The Return of Martin Guerre finds its inception as a historical legal study of the day-to-day occurrences of the lives of peasants in sixteenth-century France. Natalie Zemon Davis crafts her account of the famous story from a historical perspective infused with her own psychological inferences, legal case studies, and factual details. Throughout her dissertation on the case of Martin Daguerre, Arnauld du Tilh, and Bertandre de Rols, Davis showcases a character analysis drawn on various primary resources found within the same time period, yielding an empirical recollection of history flavored with her own suppositions. Her writing results in a realistic rendition of the story of the Guerre family rooted in fact and speculation, appealing to both the historian and the inquisitive scholar. The inception of the Protestant Reformation, the newfound ideals of the Renaissance, and the institutions and expectations of French peasant society all aggregate into a plausible function in which historian Natalie Zemon Davis both implicitly and explicitly provides a valid characterization conducive to the understanding of the actual historical figures displayed within her text. In effect, Davis's anthropological approach in her retelling of the story of The Return of Martin Guerre is successful though not entirely accurate in giving an in-depth psychological character analysis of Martin Guerre and Bertrandre de Rols pertinent to the original texts of Judge Jean de Coras.…
Many works of literature from the same era often have similar story lines and themes. In the epic poems of Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, both of these epic poems seem to have much in common. Each story seems to emphasize truth, honor, and heroism are the most important qualities a person can demonstrate. While both stories seem to have the similar qualities there are also many differences. All the qualities emphasized are exhibited differently. It seems that although heroism is emphasized in the two epic poems, the times and places shape the way heroism is perceived.…
Women’s role in the literary scene of the Venetian High Renaissance greatly erupted in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Women eventually became the most educated citizens in the city and were referred to as, “honest courtesans.” (Pg. 624) Our textbook outlines how women, “dominated” the literary scene with their fierce ability to be, “both sexual and intellectual.” (Pg. 624) Although there were many great poets of the Venetian High Renaissance, I will limit this essay to analyzing the amazing poems of only four very influential poets of this time. I will discuss how Veronica Franco intelligently transforms courtly love into sexual metaphor. I will identify the missing elements of chivalry and courtly love in Ludovico Aristo’s “Orlando Furioso”, and I will compare Lucretia Marinellas views in “The Nobility and Excellence of Women” to those of Laura Cereta’s.…
In the legends of Beowulf, Sir Gawain, and King Arthur there are many heroes and villains who showcase amazing abilities. You have King Arthur and Sir Gawain who all showed great chivalric values, but none like Beowulf. Beowulf was a bonafide hero with some of the best chivalric values ever. In this essay I promise you, I will explain in two contentions why Beowulf has the best chivalric values.…
Gareth and Gaheris, he could not admit that it was an accident. Instead, he put…
Throughout the Lais of Marie de France there are several themes presented as central to the various stories. Some of these themes are present in all of the lais. One such example is that of courtly love and it's implications. Courtly love being one of the more prominent themes in all of medieval literature, it is fittingly manifested in all of the lais as well. Another theme present in two of the lais is isolation. The theme of isolation plays a large role in the stories of Guigemar and Lanval. In each of these lais we see isolation as a factor in determining the fates of the central figures. Within each lai isolation is represented on several different occasions, each time having a direct impact on the outcome. These instances of isolation may be seen at times to be similar in nature and consequence, and different at other times. By sifting through both works these instances may be extrapolated and analyzed.…
Since the dawn of time heroes have come and gone, some won battles and others lost wars but all have been remembered through the generations as lessons, for better or worse, of morality and timeless human themes. No period in history is more synonymous with hero worship as the Medieval ages. Throughout these times some of the most famous tales of knights, kings, and chivalry were penned, none more so than the stories of Roland, a great warrior under King Charlemagne, and Sir Lancelot, a knight of King Arthur's. Willing to suffer for their respective causes, their honor and the honor of their allies were of utmost importance to them. These two men both personified and exemplified the classic facets…
In the journey of Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer paints a vivid image of the medieval world. He brings forth three prominent concepts in the General Prologue, Pardoner's Prologue and Tale, and The Wife of Bath’s Tale. All tales satirically drenched with persuasive ideas, most would agree that his iconoclastic stories are dangerous for introducing aloud a different view on the church, gender relations and economic divisions. Creating doubt against the morals and true intentions of the church, bringing to light the inequality between genders and proposing a division between economic classes.…
Geoffrey Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales” celebrates and satires humanity, especially the “everyman”, in his story he included to characters in particular, one representing the best of humanity and the other illustrating the worst. Chaucer practically idolizes the Knight, who represents everything us humans aspire to be. “He was of sovereign value in all eyes. And though so much distinguished, he was wise and in his bearing modest as a maid. He never yet a boorish thing had said in all his life to any, come what might; he was a true, perfect gentle-knight.” (Chaucer 69-74) Chaucer says that though the knight had been through so many brave and amazing situations, from Alexandria to Prussia, fought against the Turks, and in Granada, he had never once been over confident; he remained as modest as one could be. The Knight symbolizes everything good in a human, Chaucer does not satire him at all; however, it is the complete opposite with the Pardoner. The Pardoner symbolizes the lowest a man could get, he cheats, he steals,…
Humanity has always had an ideal figure to look up to or pursue, whether it be for selfish reasons or for the good of all. During medieval times, the Code of Chivalry was followed - a moral system which went beyond rules of combat and introduced the concept of virtuous conduct. It represents qualities in knighthood such as bravery, courtesy, and honor, setting an example of the ideal character. The two texts Sir Gawain and the Green knight and Beowulf, medieval and Anglo-Saxon respectively, serve as a demonstration of what these values are. The valiant actions of two heroes boast the chivalric qualities they possess and gain on their journey’s. The medieval text describes Sir Gawain’s decisions and struggles which deeply affect his fate and his view of moral standards, while the Anglo-Saxon text delves into the heroic feats performed by Beowulf. Sir Gawain and Beowulf are chivalrous, but Beowulf is more chivalric as he fights for the welfare of others, eschews unfairness and deceit, and never fails to tell the truth.…
The storyline of Hello, Dolly!, is based on an 1835 English play titled, A Day Well Spent. Hello, Dolly! takes place in Yonkers and New York City, NY in the 1890’s and is an exciting and passionate musical. Dolly Levi is a widow who meddles in matchmaker services, dance instruction, and numerous sideline jobs, similar to a girl Friday. Dolly is a brassy, larger than life character, who has set her sights on grumpy Mr. Vandergelder, a wealthy (half-millionaire) business owner in Yonkers, NY. Mr. Vandergelder has hired Dolly to find him a wife, only because he wants someone to cook, clean and be there we he needs them, not because he wants to get married.…
Beowulf is a poem that exploits both loyalty and honor within its characters. The protagonist Beowulf is a complex character that possesses both of his traits and many more to demonstrate his heroism. The greatest honor to him was to die in a valiant battle. Therefore, he was fearless and fought with ferociousness, not caring if he lives or dies. At the end, he gets rewarded wealthily and becomes a hero in everyone’s eyes. However, the loyal people, who emerge in the situations when a brave act is needed to protect people in a great danger, get the gods protection due to their noble deeds and get eventually classified as heroes.…
Beowulf exemplifies the traits of the perfect hero. The poem explores his heroism in two separate phases and through three separate and increasingly difficult conflicts with Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. Although we can view these three encounters as expressions of the heroic code, there is perhaps a clearer division between Beowulf’s youthful heroism as an unfettered warrior and his mature heroism as a reliable king. These two phases of his life, separated by fifty years, correspond to two different models of virtue, and much of the moral reflection in the story centers on differentiating these two models and on showing how Beowulf makes the transition from one to the other.…
Level 2 Award in Employment Responsibility and Rights in Health, Social Care or Children and Young people’s settings (QCF)…
Is hunting moral? There are many different looks on hunting, some saying that it is bad and it is killing innocent animals, but others see hunting to be moral and the right thing to do in most cases. There will always be arguments on why hunting is used today but there are many reasons why hunting is ethical. Although some disagree, it is clear that hunting is ethical because it is how humans have survived for many years and by hunting, it restores and conserves natural habitat. There are some people that disagree that hunting is ethical, asking the question, is it right to kill animals for sport?…