As with all discussion boards, your initial response should be at least 300 words. Then reply to two (2) other posts. Your response should be of at least 100 words each. Feel free to exceed these minimum requirements. Try to pick students who do not have any comments yet. When commenting, please add to the conversation by making a connection to the other person. Please compose your post in academic prose that demonstrates clear purpose and logical organization. Most importantly, make sure your initial post comprises of more than one paragraph.
1)
In the poem “The Dream of the Rood” it specifically refers to the Harrowing of Hell in the following:
My foes have felled, yet fast I stood.
A rood was I upreared; I raised the mighty King,
Bewailed the King’s death; Christ was on the cross.
Suffered awhile; so glorious now
I tower to Heaven, and I may heal
The Dream of the Rood talks about biblical references throughout much of the story. The story refers to the crucifixion in the beginning. With Jesus sacrificing himself for the sins of all mankind, this story compares Jesus climbing onto the cross to make the ultimate sacrifice with Odin, the God of war, sacrificing himself on the tree of life to obtain the secret of the runes, which is a language full of mysteries and secrets. The crucifixion in this story is exactly as is found in the bible where Jesus descends into hell to free the unfortunate souls from Satan’s power. Many lines in the poem also relate to the death and resurrection of Jesus such as the line that talks about foes falling and rising again. After the death of Christ, the devil was defeated permanently.
Another line says that the mighty kings was raised. With all these lines that greatly relate the story of Jesus, it almost sounds exactly like it’s talking about the book of Matthew. The role between this biblical allusion and Christianity is that this poem is vastly positive and hopeful like the bible, with sinners being saved and having eternal life. It portrays Christ and Christianity as triumphant and hopeful. This in turn contributes to the national identity by showing the positive aspects of the bible. Although not everyone that reads this poem is a follower of Christianity, all readers should admire the fact that this poem can bring light and hope with its overall meaning.
2)
In the story of Marie de France, Sir launfal starts as a loyal night neglected by king Arthur. Marie was the first female French medieval poetry writer according to the Middle Ages to the Eighteenth Century and Neoclassicism. Marie writes in Anglo-Norman, which is a version of medieval French. In the story the knight is a neglected member in King Arthur’s court, he sees a lady who would grant him wishes just as long as their love is kept a secret. Her attitude towards chivalry does go into this story the faires maidens in the story “ because of his beauty and prowess, for he was a worthy knight, open of heart and heavy of hand”. According to A glossary of literary terms Chivalric romance is a narrative developed in the 12th century it is signified a work written in french language. It is also stated “Its standard plot is that of a quest undertaken by a single knight in order to gain a lady’s favor” This is something that goes on in the story her attitude with this knight and the maidens lets his chivalry attract the woman also including his bravery and open heart as a knight. Marie doesn’t reject chivalry but she redefines it. She doesn’t let the love come from the title or their appearance but how their behavior is. The word gentle in Medieval literature implies the nobility of spirit. Marie uses gentle to describe certain characters as gracious, honorable and respectful, these are all qualities Sir launfal has even when he lost all his wealth and title. Marie de france present knighthood as a noble role this shows an ideal knight who is brave loyal and generous, living through moral actions not just a court status.I feel Marie does present all of these characteristics because her definition of chivalry was how it was captured including knighthood and being gentle now these words may have different meaning but this being written in Medieval French the meanings to those words make sense within the story.
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