The devil prays to Christ?

I loved this story! By far, one of the best stories we've read so far. When I first heard this story was about the son of the devil, I was like woah? I was really shocked as to how the story turned out. Their definitely is a constant theme in the recent stories we have been reading. Forgiveness is key. But why not? Forgiveness isn't a bad thing, is it?

Who doesn't love a little peace?

I really loved how Sir Gowther redeemed himself to becoming a “good” person. The beginning of the story was definitely clear that he was the son of the devil. I understand he did things that were gory and disgusting, but he made a turnaround for the best. I also really liked how Sir Gowther didn't just get handed forgiveness. He worked his ass off and became a person he wasn't. I mean, they made him eat food from a dog’s mouth! Come on, give the man some credit. But who doesn't like bad boys?

This story was probably one of my favorite stories, aside from Emare. To me, reading this story brings me back to the old saying, “there is light at the end of the tunnel.”  I feel like we should always give people a chance, no matter the damage they have done. As for Sir Gowther, he really made a turn around to becoming someone new. It happens in our everyday lives. I understand that forgiveness may be a hard factor for some people. Just because we forgive someone, does that make EVERYTHING “okay?” Damage was done, but that doesn't necessarily mean everything is alright. But there are always second chances and forgiveness that we can turn to.

The challenge that the Pope gave Sir Gowther is out of his league. Giving up his falchion and refusing him to speak?? That’s kind of harsh. The falchion is what brought him to where he ended up in the ending. By letting Sir Gowther use his falchion while fighting off the other knights made him noticeable. It was his skill and hardship that he displayed that allowed God to forgive him of all his sins. Ultimately, since this a romance course, he led him to a dumb, but beautiful maiden!  It led to a happen ending, with marriage. Even though the emperor’s daughter was dumb and mute, it worked out well in the end. She didn't suffer as much like the other women in other stories we have read. This was a little cute happy ending that Sir Gowther ultimately deserved.

Why the happily ever after?

To start off, I found this story quite boring. There wasn't any excitement or major twist and turns. It was just a disappointment for me. Growing up, Greek mythology was one of my favorite subjects to learn. I reread the story of Orpheus and Eurydice before I read this poem, and it’s just exactly how I remembered it. Then I read the poem and was pretty much saying what the hell is this…

The way this poem started, I could have recited it myself once I got to the part where Herodis went missing. She literally disappeared in the air, and was just gone. Once that happened, I knew exactly what was going to come next. This story was like a repeat for many of the other stories we have read. Queen goes missing, King goes into disguise and follows.

What also confused me was the description about the other girls in the castle. Some stood without heads, some without arms, some had wounds, giving birth?! Like what, its like zombie land or something. Everyone is just crazy looking.

 BUT! The one thing that surprised me in this poem was the fact that there was no violence or gory what so ever, which should have been included because in the real story, Orpheus gets ripped apart. Secondly, the ending. THE ENDING! A happy ending? No way. The whole part where Orfeo “pretended” to just be a minstrel to see if his steward was still loyal made it seem like a whole new story was about to begin. I didn't like that at all. The author really took a stab at the ending by making it different.

Next, why the emphasis on the “impe-tree?” I really didn't understand how the importance of this tree made it resemble the true story they are trying to convey. Herodis was identified under this “impe-tree” twice in the story. Why exactly was this important? In the real story, Eurydice died because of a snakebite, nowhere in the story does she actually come back to life and live. In Sir Orfeo, Herodis doesn't die at all! It was a complete mess. I mean, I really enjoyed how Orfeo sacrificed his royalty and honor to go save his wife from who knows what. Isn't that cute??

The one thing that I really liked about this poem was the emphasis on how much going away for ten years really changed a man. Orfeo literally went from riches to rags. Weird huh? The author described Orfeo only having a “pilgrim’s cloak, neither a tunic or a hat or shirt or anything like that” (228-230). Also, at the end of the story, he is described with having, “How long the hair is on his head! Look how his beard hangs down to his knee! He is as wrinkled as a tree!” (508-510). You can just imagine the way he looks by this description. It really shows how long Orfeo has been gone that not even his own people can recognize him.

How do you say “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” in Middle English?

First off, why the Middle English? I mean come on! It was such a pain; I literally had to go back and forth between the two books just to make sure I understood everything…I know I know. I’m going to have to get used to it anyways. Interestingly enough, I tried to make the accent and sound like Dr. MB when she reading this…it didn't work out.

Now all that’s aside, onto the story. I actually enjoyed this story. I thought I could have referenced what I was reading to myself. Not the rape part! But about how much power the women held. First things first, why the rape? Knights are suppose to be honorable and loyal, not rapist. Out of all the acts he could have done, he rapes a random maiden that just so happen to be walking past him? This part of the story is what helps trigger the power of women.

So now, about his savor. Did you ever wonder why King Arthur willingly gave the queen the power to decide on what to do with this knight? This was pretty confusing and a turning point for me. The queen was nice enough to give the knight a second chance. All the women in the court, the queen included, wanted to give him another chance before he killed…but why? It was confusing to me why the queen would even want to spare his life in the first place. But! This is where the knight started to lose his power. He knew that he committed a crime, and in order to gain his position back, he must follow orders from a WOMEN. I loved this. She gave him a time limit that he must fulfill, and boy did he make sure he got back in time to give a proper answer.

This whole thing about him learning a lesson, I believe that he did. As a knight, he did keep his word with the old women. Even though he was stunned by her request, he had no choice but to marry her. He really looked down upon her because she was old and ugly, but was that really the case? The old woman goes on and on about the choices she offers her husband. I wish she had turned pretty and treated him differently just for him to get a taste of his own medicine! In the end, he was the one willingly giving up his power to his wife to make the decision for the marriage. He knew that by doing so, it is her that help saved his life. Isn't it ironic that he told the queen that what women desire the most is sovereignty and control over their husbands? Well! In this case, he fell right into it.

Ugly ducklings need love too!

The "adventure" of the Double EE

This was such a great read! The story began quite slowly but eventually caught on quickly. I was actually interested in the characters as I read along, which usually doesn't happen.

First things first, this whole journey of finding his wife all started by Erec getting struck in the face, whipped actually, by a dwarf? What a creative opening. Erec just so happen to come across the most beautiful maiden that nature has ever created. Chretien just so happen to describe her beauty with such emphasis and exaggeration. I didn’t really like how they made a seriously long description about how beautiful she is, but didn’t speak at all about her intelligence or well being. We only knew that she was poor, but beautiful.

http://amandarego.com/2013/12/11/running-in-a-winter-wonderland/
This picture tells the whole story. The reflection and indication about god was spoken throughout. Enide’s beauty is made from nature, which is made from god?

Erec fought greatly to win over the sparrowhawk for his maiden. I thought it was clever that Yder, the knight, and Erec took a break in between the fight. I mean, come on! When does that ever happen? Once Erec defeated him, Yder surrendered to Erec’s words and apologized to the queen. By doing so, he earned himself a spot in the court, how great is that?

Family is significantly important in this story. Enide parent’s cherished her with all their heart. They were a poor family and lost everything they had during the continuous war. Enide’s father expressed her as, “Lovely she is, yet her wisdom far surpasses her beauty. God never made any creature so wise or so noble hearted. When I have my daughter beside me, the whole world is not worth on bread.” (pg.8) I thought this was so cute! Her father’s praise was so genuine and real, we can see how much her parents loved her when she departed with Erec to his country. As well as Erec’s father, King Lac, cried immensely once he decided to departure, for some odd reason.

…Speaking of his unknown sudden departure, why?! Towards the end of the reading, things moved really quickly. So many things were going through my head. Erec and Enide were both equally important in this story. The story started off with Erec’s “adventure” and how he is the most noble and loyal knight in the kingdom. Towards the end of the read, we hear Enide’s story and how is happiness turned into sorrow…quickly. A little conversation won beautiful morning turned into hell. Erec was quick to respond to Enide’s feelings about how he lost his masculinity. His response and action confused me. He was such a noble and loving husband that turned into a jerk, real fast. As I was reading, in the back of my mind I kept thinking if he’s acting this way towards Enide to test her? I feel like this whole disrespecting her thing is a joke, and he wants to see more of Enide, or show her what a real man he is.

Can’t wait to read the rest of the story! It left off at a pretty good interesting note.

Amus on, “The Art of Courtly Love”

As I began to contemplate this reading, I skimmed through it and thought, “Nine pages? I can do it”. For the record, I’m not so much into reading for pleasure or just reading period. As I started reading the first chapter, I began to jot down some interesting findings.

A major shock that stood out to me was the first sentence of this reading. “Beauty of the opposite sex,” (Capellanus, 28). Love isn't all about beauty or sex, nor is it only based on the opposite sex. Also, that the same sex is “not fitted for giving each other the exchange of love” (Capellanus, 30). Totally disagree, it can ultimately happen! In our society today, there’s a major debate on same sex-marriage, which I find nothing wrong. Love is held within ourselves and our special someone.

http://merchantsmarketer.com/irs-recognizes-same-sex-marriages-for-tax-returns/

As stated throughout this first chapter, “love is suffering.” People, myself included (no shame!), are scared of what love may hold. What is “single love?” As described in this reading, I immediately thought of cheating and insecurities. I thought to myself, and really agreed that it is a reflection of the mind. The woman has all the power in this court of love; therefore, the men are the ones who are in fear. This is a plus for us females because in the past we didn't have much power as do men.

Now, is money really the answer to love? Or is it what we call, Lust? Yes, love has its ups and down, and can solely be based on wealth. Apparently love increases with wealth, and love decreases with poverty. “Poverty has nothing with which to feed its love” (Capellanus, 30). I totally disagree; we don’t need money to fall in love!

http://www.thefix.com/content/drinking-him?page=all
Amor or Amus? As do fishermen’s, we allure one another into our hook of love! So cheesy, yet so clever.

RULES. RULES. RULES! Does love really have to come with rules? Rules can definitely be strict and precise, but yet awkward. One rule that stood out to me was number 33, which states, “A true lover is constantly and without intermission possessed by the thought of his beloved” (Capellanus, 186). I mean, I understand you’re in love, but the constant thought? That’s a little excessive. Rules are rules, and some may come in handy. Capellanus mentions that men are compared to shameless dogs; they lust for every woman they see. In some cases, he can be right, but not exactly.

Work Cited:

Capellanus, Andrew. "The Art of Courtly Love." New York: Columbia University Press. 1960.

            Print.

Schwartz, Debra. "Backgrounds to Romance: 'Courtly Love.'"California Polytechnic University.

            1998-2002. Web

Thompson, Diane. "Courtly Love Study Guide." Northern Virginia Community College.

 January 26, 2011. Web.