In reading this book I got kind of confused and a little bored with the first pages. It didnt really excite me. It started off as any typical story would with the introduction of the hero, the problem surfacing, the hero going out and facing an enemy and solving the problem, a basic happy ending. It wasn't very entertaining, the plot seemed to simple and the solution to obvious but the whole story wasn't a total bust to put it bluntly.
To follow up with the questions though, starting with question one, I did get lost a couple of times in the story, even in the prologue, I had to think about the question you proposed as I didn't quite understand what the proverb meant. For me, the beginning was an introduction to the point of the story, the reason, the lesson behind it and what to look for in the story. The proverb, "one might find onself holding in contempt something that is worth much more than one believes", I was not sure how to take it as I don't know how it related to any of the characters. I can't really answer the question yet until getting a better understanding the first paragraph of the story.
For question two, going into the openning of the story there is a description of King Arthur and the knights, and introduces the plot of the story with the idea to go out hunting the white stag. The knights are described as "brave and combative and fierce" (pg. 37) and there is a mention of the ladies of the court, rich ladies and maidens and daughters of kings. The contest proses problems as the person that kills the stag gets to kiss the most beautiful maiden in the court. The question is who is that maiden. Lord Gwain advises against this contest as he says that the lady that is chosen will have a knight or nobleman that will not stand for it and take up arms saying that his maiden is the most beautiful. This contest has set the women up as prizes which is saying that for their looks women are prizes to be won and not for anything else. Though it may be an honor to be thought the most beautiful maiden in the whole court, it makes women think superficially and be thought of only worthy enough to be thought of only as a pretty face. Men are seen as the protectors from the way Lord Gwain describes them as well as possessive when he says "there is not a one who is not the favorite of some valiant and bold knight, each of whom would want to control, rightly or wrongly, that the one who pleases him is the most beautiful and most noble." The men won't stand for the woman that they favor to be said that they are not the most beautiful.
In characterizing the two characters both are seen to be beautiful people. It says that they were "evenly matched in courtliness, in beauty, and in great nobility" (pg. 56) meaning that they were the perfect couple in the eyes of others. Erec is described on page thirthy-eight, saying that he is the handsomest knight in the court and that he is young and very accomplished in his knighthood. He is recieved great honour in the court. Enide is described on page forty-two to be the most beautiful creature on earth, that Nature put all her attention on her when creating her and marvelled at her. Isolde is nothing compared to her, everything about her, even when she is wearing worn clothes she is still lovely. They are portrayed as the perfect, ideal couple who both have beauty and class. Though they are from different spectrums, him being from noblility and she from a lower class, a peasant, they are still matched in beauty and in charm. Why the author did not out right say that the maiden was Enide, I don't have any idea, I didn't really think about it or consider that there was anything about. The way she is described as a mirror, when one looks into a mirror one sees a perfect replica of themselves and so to compare looking into a mirror at her is like looking at her is to say she is perfection. The connection I made with mythology is the story of Narcissus, the one man who fell in love with his own reflection.
The next contest is similar to the first one. It could be compared to today, like Miss. University or Miss. America, women being paraded and the prettiest, as well as intelligent and talented but mainly the most beautiful girl is chosen to recieve the crown. Women are shown to be property to men, the man who has the prettiest girl gets the bird.
When Queen Guenevere gives Enide a dress of hers that is brand new it implies that she has been accepted by the court and that she has been deemed worthy. Enide believes herself worthy enough to recieve the dress and even before she believes she deserves to be treated like royalty as she wait for the highest offer of marraige. Erec seems to put her on a pedistal and thinks highly of her. He finds no fault with her and thinks she deserves the best.
After reveiwing the questiong and thinking about the texts I find the story alittle more interesting.
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