For Friday we have three enigmatic episodes – scholars are still discussing / debating the significance of these three scenes. We'll save Perceval's final scene in the romance (with the hermit) for Monday.
How do you interpret two of these episodes? Use specific examples from the text to support your ideas.
1. Blancheflor – Her name means “White Flower” (what do you think is the significance of this?) What do you think her role is in the text? How does Chrétien describe her? Why? What do her actions say about her (her weeping – for instance, this is not the first time we’ve seen a woman weeping over a sleeping knight)? Bring up other topics concerning Blancheflor you find interesting if necessary.
2. The Grail Castle and Procession – How does Chrétien present this scene to the reader? Why? What do you think is problematic about this scene? Why the emphasis upon mystery? (If you are familiar with the Jewish Seder meal – how might this procession mirror the meal, especially concerning questions asked during the meal and the significance of the meal? How have Christians appropriated this meal into their own rituals and mythology?) What is the (potential) outcome of this meal? How do you explain this?
3. The blood on the snow – The blood on the snow reminds Perceval of Blancheflor. How do you read it as an image of Blancheflor? What might its purpose be as an image of her? Might you see other meanings though in this very strong image? Blood…hmmmm….where have we seen this before? In what context? Might there be a connection here? (I think so!) In other words, how might this one image fuction on two (or more) levels of meaning -- some of which is still hidden from Perceval.
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1. White flower can be described as beautiful. Her role is sort of like a distracting or a bait because they fight for her. For example when the lover battled Perceval because Perceval earlier in the story took her ring and kissed her disrespectfully.
ReplyDelete2. Chretien presents this scene to the reader because it is very important part of the story because this is what Perceval looking for. He doesn't know where to find it. The meal is presented as perfect because of all the good food and wine of any desire. It is just one part of the trail till he finds the grail.
1 Blancheflor’s name means white flower; both things represent purity and innocence. Chrétien is obvious in her descriptions- blond golden hair, be body being that of an angel. Most of all she does not commit the sin of lust with Perceval. She is one of the only characters we have read about that does not consummate her desires. Perceval on the other hand is red. This could represent his defiling or staining Blancheflor’s purity. Unlike Blancheflor, Perceval acts on desires and is not level headed at all. Color has a very big significance to these two.
ReplyDelete3. The blood in the snow is another representation of Perceval and Blancheflor’s relationship. The blood in the snow reminds him of his lady. Considering the manner in which the blood landed there- through violence and biting of necks, I think it could be a foreshadowing of how their relationship will end. Going back to the prologue, whatever one reaps, is what sows. Considering this, I think Perceval will ultimately destroy his relationship with his manner and obsession with the knighthood. Also, The other important note of the prologue- let not the left hand know what the right hand is doing- could also mirror Blancheflor. Considering all the other characters we have encountered, she just seems to pure to be true.