Violence in 15th Century Scottish Romance

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the representation of violence in three late fifteenth century alliterative Scottish romances: "Lancelot of the Laik," "Gologras" and Gawane" and "Rauf Coilyear." The paper looks at the role of violence within each work, the historical context in which they were written and how this portrayal of violence may allude to contemporary politics.

Table of Contents:
Violence in Medieval Scottish Society and Romance
Lancelot of the Laik
Gologras and Gawane
Rauf Coilyear
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"In medieval romance, "bloody, hands-on violence is an essential and highly valued component of chivalry." Violence is used to reflect and affect status and social order, and to upholding the aristocratic values defined and advanced by the .genre. "Yet amidst appreciative descriptions of the splitting of heads and lopping off of limbs, some passages suggest a genuine undercurrent of doubt and fear of knightly violence." The poems reveal skepticism concerning the exclusivity of knighthood, raise concerns about kings and knights abusing their power, or they may even question the aristocratic monopoly on legitimate violence. In addition, they may allude to contemporary politics, using romantic combat to express opinions about the English-Scottish relations or the capabilities of the current monarch. As Lancelot of the Laik, Gologras and Gawane, and Rauf Coilyear show, the literary violence of late 15th century Scottish romance could hold within it a critique of the social or political order."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bawcutt, Priscilla, and Felicity Riddy, eds. Longer Scottish Poems, v.1. Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press, 1987.
• Blind Harry. The Wallace, ed. Anne McKim. Edinburgh: Canongate Books, Ltd., 2003.
• Byles, Alfred T., ed. The Book of the Ordre of Chyvalry trans. William Caxton. London: Oxford Univeristy Press, 1926.
• Glenn, Jonathan, ed. The Prose Works of Sir Gilbert Hay, v.2. Edinburgh: The Scottosh Text Society, 2005.
• Glenn, Jonathan, ed. The Prose Works of Sir Gilbert Hay, v.3. Edinburgh: The Scottish Text Society, 1993.

More papers on Violence in 15th Century Scottish Romance:

• Essay # 7507 : "Responses to Juvenile Violence in the USA"
• Essay # 88884 : "Government Violence in the United States"
• Essay # 10394 : "Art in 15th Century Florence, Italy"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: