Analysis of the Themes in Arthurian Literature (Course: History)

This assignment analyzes the themes of chivalry, love, and tragedy in Arthurian literature, specifically focusing on the work of the author. The paper explores the concepts of chivalry, the importance of love, and the tragic hero. It highlights the characters of Lancelot and Guinevere, examining their relationship and the impact of their actions on the narrative. The paper also looks at the historical context, and the social aspects of the time. The paper also examines the role of the characters and their relationship in the story. The paper uses the examples to establish the context. The work aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of the Arthurian literary world.

Running Head: THE THEMES OF ARTHURIAN ANTHOLOGY
THE THEMES OF ARTHURIAN ANTHOLOGY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1THE THEMES OF ARTHURIAN ANTHOLOGY
Introduction:
This paper briefly describes the approach of chivalry, the courtly love tradition and
theme of tragic hero found in Sir Thomas Malory’s ‘Book of Sir Lancelot and Queen
Guinevere’.
Discussion:
One of the most forbearing factor of the Arthurian tradition is the joint depiction of
the worldly values and emotional collapse of the human mind. The point of chivalry is well
depicted through the inconsistencies among Lancelot, Gareth and Tristram, as the lack of
manners and gentleness is found in the characters and the behavioural approach among each
other (Anderson, 2015). The courtly love in between Lancelot and Guinevere was not merely
presented as a temporary passionate affection, but the virtuous rejection at first, later the
worship of the lady, where she says, “Still, there is no upstanding lady in the world who
would not feel impelled to sacrifice something to make an upstanding knight like you happy.”
The renewed wooing of the eternal love has completed the depiction of the secret love they
were pursuing. The character of Lancelot evolves with the course of time and even wages war
against the King, in order to fulfil the notions of his love to Guinevere, he says, “My lady,
nothing you wish can be a burden to me. I am wholly subject to your will, even if it means no
less than happiness; and I'll endure whatever you like, because my fulfillment can only come
through you.” The fate of Lancelot was against him to survive and fulfil his promise as a
lover. He dies as a Tragic Hero faces the tragic fall and the fall of him makes the other
characters face challenge in course of time (Staines, 2017).
Conclusion:
This study thoroughly describes the terms of chivalry, the courtly love and the theme
of tragic hero where the story depicts the social aspects of the time of the story.

2THE THEMES OF ARTHURIAN ANTHOLOGY
References:
Anderson, B. W. (2015). Female Agency in the Age of Chivalry: Charting a Tradition of
Mutual Chivalry in Chrétien de Troyes.
Staines, D. (2017). The Fall of Kings and Princes: Structure and Destruction in Arthurian
Tragedy by M. Victoria Guerin. Studies in the Age of Chaucer, 19(1), 250-252.