Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation
12-2019
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Degree Name
M.A.
Department
History
Degree Program
History, MA
Committee Chair
Beattie, Blake
Committee Co-Chair (if applicable)
Westerfeld, Jennifer
Committee Member
Westerfeld, Jennifer
Committee Member
Beattie, Pamela
Author's Keywords
medieval; Arthurian romance; joust; tournament; chivalry; courtly love
Abstract
It is a common belief among historians that the tournament was the ultimate expression of chivalry, as a place where knights could openly display their prowess, courtoisie, and largesse. A knight’s relationship with ladies was also crucial to measuring his chivalrousness. Despite the importance of both within chivalric knighthood, little has been done to explore their interrelation. With romance literature being the most tangible source for understanding both the tournament and a lady’s role in it, this thesis explores the relationship between the two. I begin with a brief introductory history of the tournament, establishing its war-centric foundations and touching on its prohibitions. In Chapter Two, I construct the literary tournament by presenting its common descriptions in popular medieval literature, often comparing them with historical reality. I conclude my analysis focusing on the female presence within these literary tournaments, giving special attention to their roles in constructing a knight’s identity.
Recommended Citation
Brangers, Hailey Michelle, "The tournament and chivalry as represented by Chrétien de Troyes, Marie de France, and Geoffrey Chaucer." (2019). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 3402.
https://doi.org/10.18297/etd/3402
