In the works "Lanval", "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight", and Book One of "The Faerie Queen", the main characters are knights, which are analyzed in this paper.
Abstract The chivalrous characteristics of the knights from the above works, Lanval, Sir Gawain, and Lancelot, are compared and evaluated. Specific examples are cited to prove their adherence to chivalry, and their actions and hidden agendas are discussed.
From the Paper "In a chivalrous romance, the knights involved strive to abide to the laws of chivalry. Doing so, they must try to display certain virtues characteristic of chivalry. These include many different rules that provide both a moral and casual guide to everyday conduct. For example, a strong sense of honor, produced from loyalty and honesty, was a key component of a good knight. Thus for a knight to be considered chivalrous, he must strive to keep their word and not betray those they have pledged their loyalty. In the works Lanval, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and book one of The Faerie Queen, the main characters are knights that abide to several characteristic virtues of chivalry, including honesty, courtesy towards women, and courage. Although each knight may excel in one more than another, each embodies these virtues."
Abstract This paper positively reviews Chretien De Troyes's prose translations of the five Arthurian romances. The paper then explains how the focus of Chretian De Troyes's translation differs from the focus seen in the original romances. Finally, the paper highlights the theme that is common to all the prose and explains how this theme is reflection of the times in which Chretien De Troyes lived.
From the Paper "The book contains prose translations of all the five Arthurian romances written by Chr"tien de Troyes. These are "Erec and Enide", "Cliges", "Lancelot" (Le Chevalier de la Charrette), "Yvain? (Le Chevalier au Lion) and "Perceval". If the original poems are written in a vivid and alert style, with the stories succeeding each other at fast pace, so that the reader finds it hard not to continue the story, translation into prose makes them even easier to read and understand. A critique on this book closely relates to having a closer look at all five poems and at Chr?tien's work in general."
An analysis of the role and historical context of violence in three fifteenth century Scottish romances - "Lancelot of the Laik," "Gologras" and Gawane" and "Rauf Coilyear."
Abstract 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."
Abstract This paper explains that speakers of a language such as English in which the grammatical diminutive plays an insignificant part, the fact that other languages use the diminutive so frequently can seem rather quaint. The paper goes on to say that the diminutive is a highly useful grammatical structure, one that speakers of languages without a diminutive have to compensate for in various often less than elegant ways. This paper examines the grammatical diminutive in the Romance languages.
From the Paper "For speakers of a language such as English in which the grammatical diminutive plays an insignificant part, the fact that other languages use the diminutive so frequently can seem rather quaint. But the diminutive is, in fact, a highly useful grammatical structure, one that speakers of languages without a diminutive or with an anemic diminutive, as is the case in English, have to compensate for in various (often less than elegant) ways. This paper examines the grammatical diminutive in the Romance languages. We should begin by defining the grammatical..."
Examines the genre of romantic literature, specifically through Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Rappaccini's Daughter". Hawthorne's definitions of romance are used to evaluate the novel. Other literary criticisms of the work are also examined
2,295 words (approx. 9.2 pages), 1 source, 2000, $ 70.95
Abstract Nathaniel Hawthorne is one of the most authentic voices on the genre of romance in the history of American Literature. This paper examines his definitions of what makes a romance and evaluates "Rappaccini's Daughter" to try and decide whether or not it fulfills Hawthorne's own requirements.
From the Paper "Romance, ahhh, sweet Romance. The word conjures up visions of valiant knights battling horrifying dragons to save strikingly beautiful maidens, of wine, candlelight and roses, of heated love affairs between two people brought together by destiny yet forbidden by society to carry out this twist of Fate, of the magical experiences of love that all of us fantasize about. But is this what romance is" Perhaps all of these visions fall into the category of romance, but they certainly cannot define it fully.?
Abstract This paper answers a series of questions concerning literature. The focus of the paper is on "Hamlet", although there is a definition of romance using Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest." Both the play, "Hamlet", and Mel Gibson's film of the same name are discussed in detail. There is an essay of whether Hamlet is truly insane.
From the Paper "Romance is the concept of emotional infatuation with an individual, and attempting to act in a manner that represents the depth of these feelings to that person. To romance someone is to attempt to convey to them how you feel and why these feelings are significant to you. In Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, the characters are driven by the need to romance their prospective partners. However, the scenario in which the romance is set does not allow for these feelings to be expressed in a truthful manner. As both suitors are attempting to convince their intended partners that they are "Earnest," they have the difficult task of showing that their true feelings while also continuing to carry on a subterfuge (Wilde, 1982; 80)."
Abstract This paper addresses the following question. The 18th century English writer Henry Fielding called the Odyssey "that eating poem." Focusing on specific passages, discuss food as a site of conflict, community, or cultural transaction in the Odyssey.
Tags: LITERATURE / ENGLISH LITERATURE, writer henry fielding
Abstract This paper covers the influx of English into most countries as the language of economics and commerce. The paper discusses the general fear that English could overwhelm most native tongues. The paper includes a graph of European language preferences from the Eurobarometer.
From the Paper "Linguistics is the study of language. The world serves as a unique model for linguists due to the variety of methods of communication, whether spoken or not: sign language, isolated dialects, click languages, pidgins- they all offer a different vocabulary, system of grammar, and pronunciation. However the variety of the world's languages is being threatened, by a language that borrows from most of the Romance and Germanic languages of Europe: English."
Tags:Romance, Germanic, immigrants, European, Union
Abstract This paper discusses the differences between Samuel Taylor Coleridge's two poems: "Frost at Midnight", and "Pains of Sleep". These two poems are of different themes and forms and yet exhibit the creativeness found in Coleridge's works. The author also explains how Coleridge was also a literary critic who defined the category of conversation and imagination poems.
From the Paper ""Pains of Sleep" is another literary work from Coleridge, and it was written in 1803. Contrary to the melancholy tone yet positive outlook of the poet's behavior in "Frost at Midnight", "Pains of Sleep" shows the agony experienced by the poet in his struggle to overcome his opium addiction and its after-effect. The poem discusses Coleridge's fear of sleep, and of dreaming. It is evident in the poem's anguished tone that it Coleridge describes his agony in descriptive detail. "Pains of Sleep" is categorized as an example of an imagination poem, a poem that contains brilliant imagery and supernatural elements, and is "far-off" from the ordinary world of people. Imagery during the Romantic period is a powerful tool to express a message in creative and descriptive detail, and is often referred to as "the sensations that language creates in the mind" "
Abstract Nathaniel Hawthorne's "Blithedale Romance", is the first person narration of a man bent upon joining a world that has no need of him by imposing an arbitrary order upon his reality. Blithedale, is a novel of polarities. Just as Coverdale imposes order on reality, Zenobia, the feminine voice of creation, understands reality as a fragmented thing that cannot have order forced upon it. We see in the novel oppositions in communities, in social order, and in place. But, Hawthorne also gives us a richly crafted story about what it is that defines community and the common spirit or communal soul. The romance, of this book, is not just that of man and woman, but of the romantic ideals of society and of order. Coverdale, who is the namesake of the primary translator of the King James bible, is a man bent upon making the world be what he wants it to be. Hawthorne's, The Blithedale Romance, provides the reader with a set of beliefs, ideals, and aspirations, that become ideologies that actually mask reality thus pitting the utopian hopes of Blithedale against actual human behaviors - which makes for a difficult conflict at best.
Abstract This paper explores the way in which Nathaniel Hawthorne employs the trope of the "Veiled Lady" in his novel "The Blithedale Romance" to characterize and comment on not only Zenobia, but several other key characters as well, including Hollingsworth, Coverdale, and Priscilla, who is the 'real' Veiled Lady. The writer explains that the trope is an apt way in which to organize or approach some of the romance's major themes, including sexual politics and male-female domination. The various themes of, and struggles for, love, such as the half-sisters 'vying' for Hollingsworth's affections are a deceitful veil behind which various 'factions' attempt to assert themselves, and their respective ideologies, as heads of the community, and attempts at domineering are a mask to hide true emotions. The paper concludes that, ultimately, politics, social roles, and love are inextricably entangled, and Blithedale is a world where masks insulate individuals from one another and from themselves.
From the Paper "The fact that the social experiment is a failure, and that we have numerous references to this failure from the very outset, suggests that the veil behind which the majority of the characters conceal themselves, extends not only to hiding their true faces from the world, or those around them, but masks them from themselves as well. Coverdale's initial zeal for his new life, evident in the joyous ride through the snowstorm, is quickly transformed into joy and ardour for Zenobia, and just as rapidly, into a rejection of the utopian experiment in favour of death (yet another new form of being) during his illness. He is shown to be a character that rapidly vacillates between various positions."
Abstract This paper presents an overview of the chief elements of medieval romance. Included in the discussion are the aspects of honor, virtue, piety and love. The writer delves into the customs of the times and draws from history to detail the process.
From the Paper "Romance. It's what makes the world go "round, and the sunshine just a little brighter. Romance is what we feed off of to get through the hard times in life. Romance is the demonstration of the love felt between two people. Throughout history romance has been one of the most important elements of life. Today romance may mean flowers and candy just as it always has, but it also means allowing each person to be who they are within the relationship. Romance has changed in its conceptuality throughout history. Each time an era changes the act and requirements of what constitutes romance changes as well. While the romance changes in real life there are millions of people who are still attracted to the medieval style of the concept. Each year millions of medieval romance stories and books are sold. Each year millions of people flock to the theaters to watch the latest medieval romance story on the big screen. What is it about medieval romance that current society finds so attractive""
Abstract This paper discusses phonemes and how they apply to the English language. The author traces changes in this language beginning with Old English and moving through Middle English to present-day English, and provides examples of changes in each. The author also explains why only forty-four out of a possible three hundred phonemes are used in present-day English.
From the Paper "A phoneme, as defined by Crystal is, "The smallest contrastive unit in the system of a language"(456). There are approximately three hundred phonemes in existence that are shared by the five thousand plus languages of the world. The English language only uses forty-four of the three hundred total phonemes. Some languages require more than forty-four phonemes and some require less in order to function. The truth is that none of the world's languages use the three hundred available phonemes. Languages use only as many as they need in order to be understood. The reason that the English language uses a mere forty-four phonemes is very simple; that is all that it needs. However, the number of phonemes in our language has changed, and it will probably change in the future. It is important to examine the reasons for change and discuss why the number of English phonemes is so limited."
Abstract The debate over whether or not English-only policies are justified in the American workplace is sure to continue; however, there is no clear-cut guidelines to determine whether or not a company should have an English-only policy. The best advice to date is to limit the implementation of an English-only policy unless there is a clear business necessity that presents justification for having one. This paper presents an overview of the English-only debate in the United States, including background information and arguments made by proponents and opponents. The paper closes with a set of guidelines for organizations deciding to either maintain or implement English-only policies and recommended alternatives to English-only policies in the American workplace.
From the Paper "English-only is an extremely broad term. For the purposes of this paper English-only policies are the entire spectrum of language policies enforced in the workplace that either promote the usage of English or restrict the usage of non-English languages in some way. In the broader English-only debate there are other terms used to differentiate the specific type of policies enforced. In governmental legislation, an English-only law would be a law allowing ?"only"? English usage and no usage of other languages. On the contrary, an Official English policy or law would make English the official language of use, but not restrict the usage of languages other than English. The fact that many individuals involved in English-only debates are using the same terminology to refer to different types of policies adds to the confusion. It also helps explain why, in the court rulings, it is almost impossible to provide a clear definition of why certain policies are legal and others are illegal (Hoffman, 2001, p. 3). In the United States, neither the constitution nor the federal law codifies English as the nation?'s official language (Santoro, 1999, p. 890). So contrary to belief of many, English is not the official language of the United States. However, twenty-three states have active Official English statutes and others are pending (Crawford, 2002). But even these statutes vary enormously. Some state statutes simply declare English as the official language of the state in sort of a symbolic gesture; much the same way state birds are named (American Civil Liberties Union, 2002). Other states, such as Arizona, which has the, ?"the most restrictively worded official-English law"? (Arington, 1991), take their statutes much more seriously. Some state and local language laws have gone as far as to restrict the governments from providing emergency services such as police lines in non-English languages (American Civil Liberties Union, 2002)."
Abstract This paper presents an examination of the English language and its origins. The author traces through the three stages of Old English, Middle English, and Modern English and examines the development of language.
From the Paper "The English Language has been built on the backs of great nations and as these nations rose they brought with them a language that has evolved over many generations and is spoken all over the world. The history of the English language is an extensive and colorful one that has filled the lives of the linguistic scholars who have studied it with many hours of reading material. The English language and its origins will be traced through the three stages of Old English, Middle English, and Modern English. The stages will be studied in order to understand what influences have played a key role in the development of English. Also in this paper a look will be taken at the ways slang, jargon, and Colloquialism continue to the changes that English is even now under going."
Tags: development, english, history, midle, modern, old, language, words
