Last Yvain

1) His new identity symbolizes a rebirth of sorts for Yvain. Before his encounter with a lion he was somewhat soft on his Morales. Although he meant well he did things like avenge his cousin's honor without permission and was easily influenced when deciding whether to stay with his wife or proceed with his brotherhood like personality. The lion acts as somewhat of a guardian angel or in the case of his rebirth the holy spirit guiding him throughout the rest of his quests. The new name is vital to the change in his demeanor and the lion plays such an important role that it is necessary to add him as well.
3) Their meeting at the end brings the novel full circle. As the quest has been for the majority of the text all Yvain wanted to do is get back to his wife. He did not see the significance early on in the story but once he gained his lion he seemed to have an epiphany. All of his other journeys were merely side notes of him doing good deeds to prove his obedience. The fact that he ends up with Luadine again also protects the spring, a major symbol in the text and another support of Yvain's true identity as the greatest Knight.

part two the lion

1) Gawain's speech is one of manhood. He tells Yvain that he must travel with the other Knights and continue on adventures with the round table. The problems for Yvain is that he has just married the woman of his dreams and he does not wish to leave her. Gawain says that Yvain can not be a man who is burdened by his wife. He therefore asks permission to leave and she gives him one years distance that he may venture out. This is extremely problematic as we find out because he does not return in the time allotted.
5) Lunnette's problem with the barons is one that we have seen multiple times in texts like this. She was wrongfully accused of lying to her lady with regards to a love making. They plan to stone her without a fair trial and she has no one on her side except Yvain who just barely makes it in time to rescue her. I believe that when she is on deaths bed praying for forgiveness that she was right, she had on her side a very noble Knight and she did indeed survive.

day one of Yvain

1) The absence of a prologue allows readers to form their own parallels as to the character's relationships, troubles and triumphs. The author's lack of prologue forces readers to dive into the story with no background information and in doing so makes us quickly form opinions on the characters, while giving us an open board on which to create opinions about how the author wants us to feel. I believe Yvain's text is different, the heroic Knight does not come upon his damsel naturally, rather he kills a Knight and steals her right under his dead body. The prologue would have covered a basic reaction to the beginning of the text had their been one.
2) The story was written much like the other few we have read to entertain great nobles of the time. However this story is different in that the teller is also present in the text which automatically makes it more sincere and possibly more embellished than the others. Major themes that stand out right away are loyalty, love, devotion, and betrayal. Yvain first avenged his cousin's loss in battle to prove loyalty to the family. The love and devotion come simply from Yvain's direct viewing of the Lady, his love immediately rendered him captive. Finally the betrayal of the Lady, who in one short week grieved her husband and remarried the man who had killed him

last of Erec

1) I feel that the relationship between Erec and Enide does change dramatically. Although the test was unfair his wife never strays from Erec's wishes, she truly loves him and denounces the count several times. She also mourns his supposed death appropriately and we find that everything in her previous monologues was true, she did everything in her power for Erec. I feel that Erec tested Enide because he could not decide if her love was as obedient as he preferred, she constantly defied his wishes, something that he saw to be a lack of love. Everything is in perfect harmony after his test is completed and the count was killed.
3) The Joy was simply the final excursion Erec was upon before settling down for two to three years. The actual fight was made to be a major battle between one of the best Knights in the land, and the secrecy added to the suspense of the match. However as a reader it was evident that the major build up was put in place to solidify Erec as the best Knight ever. The theme has been the same throughout the story, one of a truly great Knight helping others, even if at first he set out merely to gain the Joy of the Court for himself. He ends up freeing an extremely grateful Knight and life is again harmonious.

Second section Erec and Enide

1) The second part of the text most certainly does belong to Enide, however she is still heavily burdened by the matriarchal society. We first learn her name by way of the wedding, we also learn that this was her name given to her at her christening, though she was never called by this in the first section. Her role changes in that she does as she pleases in regards to Erec. She is "not afraid of him" and she decides to tell him of the reputation he has acquired since their marriage. Although Erec says many times on their journey to not speak at all she very rarely holds her tongue when it is necessary, and as a gentleman Erec always forgives her. She becomes a stronger woman through out this section.
4) Enide's inner monologues portray a very wise and torn woman. She understands the complexity of her situation and does not feel that her opinion is ever wasted. She is however always torn with the idea of what will be the correct thing to say and when she is allowed to. From the beginning she tried to lie to Eric, saying to herself that she is a wretch for even revealing to Erec how all the people viewed him. She also shows some form of restraint when she hesitates to tell Erec of the oncoming dangers. Multiple times her monologues include a decision that she ultimately makes for the good of her husband.

Erec first blog

4) The hawksparrow fight was a very understandable battle for the time period. The fight meant a lot for Erec for multiple reasons. He felt it necessary to save face after the dwarf had ruined his good name in the forest. He also wanted to win Enide and needed that victory to do so. After all, Enide is the most beautiful girl in the land, and we can start to draw parallels to Yseut, a major battle must be fought to win over what seems to be property symbolized by a female. The gender role and masculinity are seen easily, may the stronger man win and receive the prize, Erec won the battle after a renewed sense of strength after gazing upon Enide.
5) I think the dress is symbolic of a power that Guenevere will try to hold over Enide through out the story. The dressing itself shows a hierarchy, one that Guenevere belongs to and one that Enide is simply joining now later in life. Enide's character is one of quiet and proper so far in the text. Erec simply sees her as a prize he won, and knowing of her background regardless of the beauty she has, he follows protocol and has her receive a dress from the queen. Enide on the other hand doesn't even hesitate to accept the dress, she is extremely happy with her new found life.

Final Section

1) Yseut's oath spoken with a forked tongue is an understatement. She applies reasoning that is an extreme stretch of the truth to appease the lord and his followers. Although she is not lying by saying the only two men that have been between my thighs are King Mark and the "leper" she decides to leave out the major fact that the leper is actually Tristan disguised in order to be present at her oath. I feel that the oath only solidifies Yseut's actually personality as a conniving woman willing to do whatever it takes to keep herself safe, and to save face. It also gives another example of the author's unreasonable need to provide a scapegoat for the two lovers.
2) The murders of the barons may have been well approved by the readers and characters alike, however they are not justified. The barons never lied in their accusations and furthermore they were unarmed and not ready for deaths that were bestowed upon them. I feel that these murders do give some respectability to the love potion, or in reality the overwhelming love that they have because both characters will do whatever they can to stay together, now through two broken marriages and false characters like beggars and lepers. Their final deaths seemed to fit in their story with falsehood and trickery finally ending Tristan's life.

section 7-13

1) The stay in the woods for these two characters leads the reader to believe of hardships caused by the lack of luxurious living the two are extremely familiar with. Although Tristan is a hunter, he would not normally shoot deer solely for eating and no sport at all. On multiple occasions it describes Tristan running for the entire day just to catch a wounded deer. However it is Tristan's responsibility, he must provide for himself and Yseut or they will both parish.
It is told that Yseut has lost numerous pounds in the meeting with the king. He has very little trouble removing the ring from her finger, though it used to fit tightly. The idea of this one line in the text provides details on the hardships of living in the forest.

3) The author provides detailed information on how Tristan and Yseut are sleeping when the king finally finds them in the borrows. The most obvious detail is the fact that both parties were wearing clothes. This symbolizes the love being more of a friendship than a sexual one. The fact that the sword was between them and their lips were no where near each other's also implies friendship, they are seen not even being comfortable enough to lay in each other's arms. The sunlight may act as a symbol of a new day, a turned over leaf of sorts for everyone involved. The king sees them not as lovers but as criminals and warns them, they in return are not together and the spell is lifted shortly there after.

First blog, parts 1-6

1) I would first characterize Tristan as a person with morale responsibilities that chooses to follow his heart above all else. The idea being that he will do whatever it may take to keep Yseut by his side and in doing so disobeys the king, as well as all that he has pledged to be as a noble Knight in the king's service. His love and deceit such as the faithful meeting in which the King set aloft the tree to spy proves that he will take matters to an extreme to protect his own self. I find him to be a one dimensional character thus far, completely acting on will over logic throughout the first six chapters.
Yseut is also very deceiving and should not be trusted as a fair queen. She too feels that her heart guides her actions solely, instead believing that her true allegiance belongs to love over responsibility as the Queen. Once found and condemned to punishment she begs for forgiveness and even death before the lepers, a punishment well deserved of the time, instead of owning up to major mistakes and finally being loyal.

4) I fully agree with the King to punish both Tristan and Yseut. Adultery is one of the highest sins and the loyalty to the kingdom and it's leader was brutally dismissed for a love affair. The punishment was not condoned by the people for lack of a trial, this part does not put the king in any better position than the two criminals. Truth, loyalty, and respect for the law should be held at the highest of moral rule to provide an environment that the King's followers can feel safe and protected within. Without justice crimes would happen rapidly, however without the correct form of punishment few would feel the adequate protection of a country running smoothly. Again, the death by fire as punishment for Tristan, and the final stay with the leper's for Yseut seems to be a reasonable punishment for such betrayal, however the conniving approach lacks morality.