Questions from Ryan and Anthony for "The Knight with the Lion (Yvain)" (Day Three / pp. 353-380)

1.Yvain gains a new identity known as the knight and the
lion, Why does he need a new identity?

2. Do you see anything problematic about the fight betweenthe sisters and their choosing of a knight? How do they goabout choosing their knight? Why do they need to?

3. Yvain and Laudine meet again at the end, What kind ofreconciliation is this then?

4. Why do you think that Chrétien can only give us hisname at the end?

Questions for “The Knight with the Lion (Yvain)” (Day Two / pp. 324-353)

Please have your responses in by at least 9:00 a.m. on Friday. (A few students have been posting past 9:00, or even after we have class – this is not acceptable.)

1. Gawain gives a speech on pp. 326-327. What is the outcome of this speech (in other words, what does this speech accomplish, for better or worse)? How do you interpret the agreement Yvain then makes with Laudine? What kind of agreement is this? Would you want to accept such an agreement? Why or why not?

2. What is the “build-up” Chrétien employs leading to Yvain’s shame? What is Yvain’s problem? How do you interpret the text here (pp. 328 – 329). Use specific quotes from the text to support your answer.

3. Why does Yvain react the way he does to Laudine’s messenger? Why do you think we have this specific reaction? What might this imply? What happens in the wilderness? Do you notice any changes within Yvain during this part of the romance? What are they? How do you interpret these changes? (And what do you make of his “cure”?)

4. At the mid-point of the romance we have Yvain’s encounter with the snake and the lion. What do these animals represent within the romance (and within popular mythology)? What is the dilemma Yvain faces here (on a deeper level)?

5. How do you interpret the dilemma Lunete encounters with the accusation of the barons? (We have seen something similar with Tristan and Yseut). Who is right and who is wrong (or can we even use these words)? Use specific examples from the text to support your answer.

Questions for "The Knight with the Lion (Yvain)" (Day One / pp. 295 – 324)

1. This is the only of Chrétien’s romances that lacks a formal prologue. Think back to the prologue for Erec and Enide, which established the parallel journey upon which both author and protagonist(s) experienced. What might the lack of a prologue then say about this romance, its writer and main character (Yvain)?

2. What do you make of Calogrenant’s story? The reasons for its genesis? What particular elements in the story strike you as interesting or bizarre? How do you interpret these elements?

3. Do a character study of Yvain, Lunete and / or Laudine. What evidence in the text can you use in order to support your description(s).

Questions from Donny and Rob for "Erec and Enide" (Day Three / pp. 90 - 122)

1.In the last passages that we read, Enide passed Erec's test what are the implications of this? How do we see Erec and Enide's relationship change? Has nothing changed from before they left their kingdom? If so why do you believe Erec put Enide through this ordeal?

2. In this last passage of the text we witness an interesting event, we are told of the "death" of Erec and his later "rebirth", what does this mean? Why did Chretien choose to not only include this? Is there a deeper meaning? How does this event relate to the rest of the text?

3.The last adventure of this tale was The Joy, how do you interpret this event? What does it have to say in relation to the rest of the text? For that matter how does it tie in with the rest of the adventures Erec has? What themes do they relate to us in whole?

4.Throughout the whole text we encounter many lavish descriptions of regal events including the wedding of Erec and Enide, KIng Arthur's festival, the Joy, and the grandest of them all the coronation of Erec and Enide. Why are these inscriptions so detailed? When examined what else do we get from them? What was Chretien's purpose in these descriptions?

Questions for “Erec and Enide” (Day Two / pp. 60-90)

1. If the first part of the romance belongs to Erec, the second part most certainly belongs to Enide. How do we see her character emerging here? In what context do we finally get her name?

2. Enide also speaks for the first time in the text in this part of the romance. What are her first words? How do you interpret her speech? How does Erec interpret her speech? How do you explain his reaction? Why?

3. What do you think are Erec’s intentions in taking Enide on this journey? What kind of journey is this (from Erec’s perspective)? One of adventure? Self-discovery? Renewal? Something else? Point to specific scenes within the text to support your argument.

4. Look at Enide’s inner monologues in this portion of the text. What do her thoughts reveal about her? Why do you think the narrator allows us access to the secret thoughts of this woman?

Questions for “Erec and Enide” (Day One / pp. 37-60)

Answer at least two questions or come up with your own topics for discussion.

1. We always need to pay special attention to the beginning of a text, for here the narrator orients the reader on the journey that is to start. What information does Chrétien provide for the reader in the opening lines of this romance? Why the proverb/s (and how do we interpret this in conjunction with the story that follows)? What is Chrétien trying to do here in this prologue?

2. How would you describe the opening scene in King Arthur’s court? What evidence in the text brings you to your ideas? We have the idea of a contest and the outcome it will bring. What might the possible ramifications of this contest imply (about gender, the court, society, etc.)?

3. How would you characterize the two main characters (Erec and Enide)? Do you see any (potential) problems here? How does the text portray them (we can assume the beautiful maiden is Enide, though the text does not inform us of this fact – think about possibly why)? (Difficult yet thought-provoking question: Why does the text describe Enide in this way: “She was truly one who was made to be looked at, for one might gaze at her just as one gazes in a mirror.”? What is it to gaze into a mirror? What does one see? Are there any figures from mythology transfixed by a mirror image?)

4. What do you make of the second contest in the text (the sparrow-hawk)? What is at stake here? What are the implications of this concerning gender, power, masculinity, etc.?

5. What does the scene in which Queen Guenevere dresses Enide imply? What does this dress represent? What does this have to say about Enide’s character and about the way Erec views this woman?

Student Presentations / Student-Led Discussions Schedule

09/21 Erec and Enide / Donny and Rob
09/28 Yvain / Anthony and Ryan
10/16 Decameron / Thomas and Wesley
10/23 Decameron / Dorthea and Emily
10/28 Celestina / Adam and Drew
11/04 Celestina / Shadia and Trina
11/16 Perceval (Story of the Grail) / Sean and Karen
12/07 Small World / Caroline and Allen

Questions for “The Romance of Tristan” (Day Three / Parts 14-19)

Answer at least two questions or come up with other topics of interest about which to write.

1. What strikes you about Yseut’s vindication and ambiguous oath? What kind of oath does she take here? It is satisfactory? Again we see her speaking with a “forked tongue.” What do you make of this manipulation of language (and in turn, manipulation of the entire situation)? Use specific examples from the text to support your response. [Related question: What larger ramifications might this have for the text as a whole (and in turn, all literature – what is a ‘story’ anyway?)]

2. Is anyone troubled by Tristan’s vengeance? Tristan and Yseut are only able to maintain a relationship through trickery, and as we see here, quite brutal violence resulting in murder. How are we to read these killings? Is murder justified here? What might this have to say about the love from which Tristan and Yseut suffer?

3. How are we to read Tristan’s madness? Is it far-fetched? More trickery? How might these symptoms manifest themselves today for instance?

4. Why do you think Tristan and Yseut must die at the end of the text? How do you interpret these deaths? How does the text present their deaths? Why do you think this is the case? How might the ending comment upon the text as a whole?

Free 'New York Times' Every Day

Just a note -- if you like to read the newspaper, you can pick up a free copy of the New York Times every day (except weekends) in the Gengras Student Union next to the bagel / coffee shop. You just need your ID to put in the newspaper box for it to open and get your copy.

Questions for "The Romance of Tristan" (Day Two / Parts 7-13)

Please read the information posted below on your in-class presentations.

As you did for Wednesday, use these questions as a guide to your reading. You may answer at least two if you want or write about other things of interest. Please have your responses posted on your blog by 9:00 a.m. Friday morning.

1. Discuss Tristan and Yseult’s stay in the woods (apart from their ‘repentance’). How are they living / surviving? What must they do? Why? What do you think is the deeper significance of this? Reference specific points in the text to support your answer.

2. What do you make of the repentance of Tristan and Yseult? Is this a genuine repentance or just a further manipulation of truth and fiction on their part? How can they claim to have never had a “wrongful love”? What specifically in the text leads you to your conclusions?

3. Do a “close reading” (meaning try to analyze) of the scene in the bower as the lovers sleep and King Mark discovers them. What is the “set up” to this encounter provided in the text? How does the narrator present the lovers? What about the description the narrator provides (the sword, the ring, the sunlight, the position of the lovers as they sleep, their mouths….)? What might these elements, or at least some of them, imply? Why does King Mark react the way he does?

4. We are told the love potion has ‘worn off’ after three years. Describe the reactions Tristan and Yseult have regarding this fact. Why is this the case?

5. What do you make of the letter sent to King Mark? How do you read / interpret the message of this letter? Are you surprised by the King’s reaction? The reactions of others? Why or why not?

In-Class Presentations and Student-Led Discussions

As I mentioned earlier in class, each of you will lead one of the class discussions during the semester. This week begin to look over the course calendar -- all the student-led discussions are listed. Decide (1) with whom you want to work (you'll work in pairs) and (2) when you'd like to present. By next Monday I'd like to know your decisions. Be flexible though, not everyone may get exactly what she or he wants. (If you notice, no student-led discussion will be the first day of a new text -- we'll be in it a few days, so you're comfortable with the story before you present).

You will be in charge of the following:

1. Writing "reading questions" for the blog before class.
2. Beginning with an overall presentation of ideas you have (this can be on Powerpoint -- be creative! I want to see your inventiveness.)
3. Leading the discussion for that day and coming up with any activities (if you want) that you think might help the discussion along (small-group activities / class activities).

Of course I am always available for help, and can meet with you before you present to go over ideas, questions, discussion formats, and to offer advice, information, etc.

College Advice, From People Who Have Been There Awhile

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/06/opinion/06collegeadvice.html

Questions for “The Romance of Tristan” (Day One / Parts 1-6)

As I stated in class, these questions are meant to be a guide to your reading. You may answer at least two of them in your own response for the blog, or you may write about your own thoughts (or come up with your own questions even). The response should be AT LEAST 200 – 250 words and should be posted by 9:00 a.m. Wednesday.

1. How would you characterize one, two, or all of the main characters of this text (Tristan, Yseut, King Mark)? What specific scenes in the text lead you to these conclusions? Why do you think the text presents these characters in this way?

2. What does the text thus far have to say about the power of language and speech (truth, lies, fiction, fact)? What messages do we get from the text about these things? What specific scenes in the text lead you to these conclusions? (Related question: What might this have to say about the power of story-telling itself?)

3. What messages do we get about love, falling in love, and desire from the text? What in the text makes you come to these conclusions?

4. On whose side are you after reading parts 1-6? Tristan and Yseut’s? King Mark’s? The barons’? Why? What does the text do you make you come to these conclusions?

Welcome!

Welcome to the blog for our course. Here I'll be posting, before every class, the assignment that is due -- usually some questions that will help you with the readings. Your responsibility will be to keep a running blog reflecting your answers to the questions and your thoughts on the readings.

I'm looking forward to a good semester and I hope you are too!

Dr. Ealy