Yvain, or The Knight with the Lion
We now shift from Cliges, what you now should know as my least favorite of Chretien's Arthurian tales, to Yvain, my favorite. My reasons are admittedly weak and without any real critical merit, but they are my opinions all the same. I will, however defend my opinions below and you can judge for yourself. First, though, we should do a quick review of the material.
The tale begins in Arthur's court where a knight named Calogrenant is telling a tale of his own defeat that he has kept secret many years. He tells of a giant that directed him to a spring. When he arrived at this spring he sprinkled some water on a stone using the dipper provided. As he does this a huge storm crops up and a knight rides out and shamefully defeats him in combat. Of course when Arthur's court hears of this they all wish to ride out to find this wondrous spring. Yvain, Calegrenant's own cousin, wants to avenge him and instead sneaks out early to find it himself. Yvain eventually finds the Giant who directs him to the spring. He also uses the dipper to sprinkle water on the stone. Once again the Storm rushes in, along with the mysterious Knight, and they do battle. After a difficult battle, Yvain prevails and fatally wounds the knight (who we later learn is named Esclados) who then flees to the castle to die. Yvain pursues and is trapped inside the castle gate and his horse is cut in half in the process. A handmaiden named Lunette recognizes him and gives him her ring which provides invisibility. She cares for him until he is fully healed and contrives a plan to pair him with the Lady of the castle, Laudine, who is now widowed. She convinces her with some simple logic stating that if Esclados was the finest Knight in the land and if Yvain bested him in combat then Yvain is clearly the finest Knight in the land. This is no problem for Yvain either since it was love at first sight when he saw her. Also, of seemingly equal importance, this helps Yvain prove that he bested the Knight of the Fountain and avoid the mockery of Sir Kay. Yvain was very concerned of this when he secretly watched the burial earlier, while being healed (i.e. no trophy).
They marry and Yvain takes on the role of the Fountain Knight, attacking any that pour water on the stone. He gets to do this when Arthur finally catches up and does so. Sir Kay gets the honor of fighting the Fountain Knight (now Yvain), and Yvain tumbles him easily off his horse. Everyone has a good laugh at Kay, since he always deserves it. Yvain reveals himself and escorts the King and knights to the castle for two weeks of celebration. Gawain while there convinces his Yvain to continue questing and jousting rather than be held back by marriage. Yvain makes the request of his Lady who grants him one year and a magic ring that will save him from several types of harm.
After 1 year, and much of the next, Yvain still has not returned. A maiden arrives at Arthur's court, shames Yvain in front of his peers for his dishonest behavior, snatches the ring from his hand, declares that his Lady will never accept his presence again, and rides off. Yvain goes mad with grief, rides off and wanders the woods. He lives on the kindness of a Hermit and whatever food he can find. He is later found nude and filthy, passed out beneath a tree by some ladies-in-waiting. One of them recognizes him beneath the filth and notifies her Lady who resides in a nearby castle. She returns with a salve that restores him to his wits. Yvain, now having regained he senses offers to help with a local count who has been tormenting them. He defeats the Count and has him surrender himself to the Lady of Norison. She begs Yvain to stay and become Lord of the castle but he refuses and rides out. He next encounters a Lion battling a flame breathing serpent. He decides to aid the Lion against the serpent, and after a pitched battle the serpent is killed. The Lion then becomes Yvain's loyal pet. Soon Yvain encounters the Spring and the Stone again which causes it all to rush back, thus sending Yvain into a fit of madness. He collapses once again from grief and the Lion thinks he may be dead and so, bizarrely, tries to commit suicide on Yvain's sword. Yvain recovers just in time for the Lion to restrain himself. Yvain, begins once again to wail and moan drawing the attention of a woman imprisoned in the nearby chapel. It turns out to be Lunette, the very woman who helped him at the portcullis with her magic ring. Because of Yvain's failure to keep his promise, Lunette is being burned as a traitor unless someone comes to defend her honor. Yvain agrees to return at her trial to defend her. He leaves and encounters a castle where the lord and lady are threatened by a giant who holds their three sons prisoner. The giant wishes to exchange them for their daughter, who he wants to make into his whore. Yvain, pressed for time agrees to help them if they can force an early meeting with the giant. The giant comes and Yvain and the Lion defeats him easily. When thanked by the Lord and Lady, Yvain will not reveal his name to the lord only stating that he is the Knight with the Lion. He leaves immediately and goes to defend Lunette, He is challenged by three Knights and dispatches them easily. He sets off without announcing his name to his Lady , still going by the Knight with the Lion and refusing to remain in the castle. He travels away and is boarded in a town that holds many ladies as captive servants. Yvain is forced to battle two powerful Half-demons. He wins the battle naturally and frees the women but the Lord of the castle is incensed the Yvain will not accept his daughter's betrothal and wealth. Yvain extricates himself as politely as he can manage. He then returns to court where he must defend the rights of a maiden who has claim to property her own sister has usurped. It also turns out that Gawain has agreed to fight for the other sister. They engage in battle, Yvain still in disguise and neither recognizing the other, and they fight till both can barely move. It becomes a draw and both finally declare their identities. This causes both to rejoice because they are the best of friends. They each try to admit defeat in honor of their friendship but King Arthur will not allow it. The king decides to make the decision in favor of Yvain's claimant. Yvain, once healed, sneaks out again to return to his Lady. Lunette contrives a plan to get her to accept the Knight of the Lion involving his new persona. Once she does, Yvain reveals himself. She becomes immediately angry but her anger subsides when he makes his apology. The story ends here.
Yvain, (also read as Ywain, Uwain, Ewain, or various other spellings) is believed to borrow his name from a historical figure by the name of Owain mab Urien who is featured in bardic tradition. He makes his first appearance in the Arthurian world in Geoffrey of Monmouth's HRB as a brief mention. Although his character is barely used prior to Chretien's work, he becomes quite popular afterward, being used in many romances work including multiple versions of this same story.
One of the main reasons I like this story is the use of the lion. This, I believe, can be expected. Who does not enjoy the story of a loyal pet? I especially enjoy how the lion is given human aspects such as intelligence and sympathy. He searches finds a weakness in a door so that he may escape to help Yvain. When he thinks Yvain is dead, he props a sword on a tree so that he may jump on it and end his own life. He even seems to anticipate his master's will in every occasion. Another aspect I enjoy, as mentioned before in this blog, is the use of magic. We have a magic Spring that curses the kingdom with storms if anyone pours its water on a rock. We have giants, dragons, dwarves, and half demons. There are even two magic rings, one that provides invisibility, another that provides freedom from harm.
Aside from my enjoyment of the book, this book poses an important question. If you remember my entry on Erec and Enide, you will recall that story posed a sort of question to the reader. In Erec, the knight stayed with his beloved, forsaking knightly deeds to snuggle with his wife. His peers made fun of him and he lost the respect of his wife. Here in Yvain we are posed the opposite scenario. Yvain forsakes his wife for a life of adventure and thus also gains shame and loses the respect of his wife. Which is better? They both had to endure shame to gain their love back, and essentially had to accomplish the opposite task. Erec had to force his wife on adventures and Yvain had to promise to stay home. There is no real answer to be had, other than the ones Chretien gives the reader through action, because it is really no more than a mental exercise. How does one maintain chivalrous and courtly behavior when torn between two opposing requirements? Knights do knightly deeds for the love of a Lady, but what happens when they get the Lady? Do they fail to remain knights? Coming next, with the Knight of the Cart, is an interesting scenario. What happens if you commit your chivalric deeds for a Lady that cannot (or should not) be achieved. What happens if you achieve her anyway? We will discuss that soon we we see the actions of one of the greatest knights in the Kingdom.
The tale begins in Arthur's court where a knight named Calogrenant is telling a tale of his own defeat that he has kept secret many years. He tells of a giant that directed him to a spring. When he arrived at this spring he sprinkled some water on a stone using the dipper provided. As he does this a huge storm crops up and a knight rides out and shamefully defeats him in combat. Of course when Arthur's court hears of this they all wish to ride out to find this wondrous spring. Yvain, Calegrenant's own cousin, wants to avenge him and instead sneaks out early to find it himself. Yvain eventually finds the Giant who directs him to the spring. He also uses the dipper to sprinkle water on the stone. Once again the Storm rushes in, along with the mysterious Knight, and they do battle. After a difficult battle, Yvain prevails and fatally wounds the knight (who we later learn is named Esclados) who then flees to the castle to die. Yvain pursues and is trapped inside the castle gate and his horse is cut in half in the process. A handmaiden named Lunette recognizes him and gives him her ring which provides invisibility. She cares for him until he is fully healed and contrives a plan to pair him with the Lady of the castle, Laudine, who is now widowed. She convinces her with some simple logic stating that if Esclados was the finest Knight in the land and if Yvain bested him in combat then Yvain is clearly the finest Knight in the land. This is no problem for Yvain either since it was love at first sight when he saw her. Also, of seemingly equal importance, this helps Yvain prove that he bested the Knight of the Fountain and avoid the mockery of Sir Kay. Yvain was very concerned of this when he secretly watched the burial earlier, while being healed (i.e. no trophy).
They marry and Yvain takes on the role of the Fountain Knight, attacking any that pour water on the stone. He gets to do this when Arthur finally catches up and does so. Sir Kay gets the honor of fighting the Fountain Knight (now Yvain), and Yvain tumbles him easily off his horse. Everyone has a good laugh at Kay, since he always deserves it. Yvain reveals himself and escorts the King and knights to the castle for two weeks of celebration. Gawain while there convinces his Yvain to continue questing and jousting rather than be held back by marriage. Yvain makes the request of his Lady who grants him one year and a magic ring that will save him from several types of harm.
After 1 year, and much of the next, Yvain still has not returned. A maiden arrives at Arthur's court, shames Yvain in front of his peers for his dishonest behavior, snatches the ring from his hand, declares that his Lady will never accept his presence again, and rides off. Yvain goes mad with grief, rides off and wanders the woods. He lives on the kindness of a Hermit and whatever food he can find. He is later found nude and filthy, passed out beneath a tree by some ladies-in-waiting. One of them recognizes him beneath the filth and notifies her Lady who resides in a nearby castle. She returns with a salve that restores him to his wits. Yvain, now having regained he senses offers to help with a local count who has been tormenting them. He defeats the Count and has him surrender himself to the Lady of Norison. She begs Yvain to stay and become Lord of the castle but he refuses and rides out. He next encounters a Lion battling a flame breathing serpent. He decides to aid the Lion against the serpent, and after a pitched battle the serpent is killed. The Lion then becomes Yvain's loyal pet. Soon Yvain encounters the Spring and the Stone again which causes it all to rush back, thus sending Yvain into a fit of madness. He collapses once again from grief and the Lion thinks he may be dead and so, bizarrely, tries to commit suicide on Yvain's sword. Yvain recovers just in time for the Lion to restrain himself. Yvain, begins once again to wail and moan drawing the attention of a woman imprisoned in the nearby chapel. It turns out to be Lunette, the very woman who helped him at the portcullis with her magic ring. Because of Yvain's failure to keep his promise, Lunette is being burned as a traitor unless someone comes to defend her honor. Yvain agrees to return at her trial to defend her. He leaves and encounters a castle where the lord and lady are threatened by a giant who holds their three sons prisoner. The giant wishes to exchange them for their daughter, who he wants to make into his whore. Yvain, pressed for time agrees to help them if they can force an early meeting with the giant. The giant comes and Yvain and the Lion defeats him easily. When thanked by the Lord and Lady, Yvain will not reveal his name to the lord only stating that he is the Knight with the Lion. He leaves immediately and goes to defend Lunette, He is challenged by three Knights and dispatches them easily. He sets off without announcing his name to his Lady , still going by the Knight with the Lion and refusing to remain in the castle. He travels away and is boarded in a town that holds many ladies as captive servants. Yvain is forced to battle two powerful Half-demons. He wins the battle naturally and frees the women but the Lord of the castle is incensed the Yvain will not accept his daughter's betrothal and wealth. Yvain extricates himself as politely as he can manage. He then returns to court where he must defend the rights of a maiden who has claim to property her own sister has usurped. It also turns out that Gawain has agreed to fight for the other sister. They engage in battle, Yvain still in disguise and neither recognizing the other, and they fight till both can barely move. It becomes a draw and both finally declare their identities. This causes both to rejoice because they are the best of friends. They each try to admit defeat in honor of their friendship but King Arthur will not allow it. The king decides to make the decision in favor of Yvain's claimant. Yvain, once healed, sneaks out again to return to his Lady. Lunette contrives a plan to get her to accept the Knight of the Lion involving his new persona. Once she does, Yvain reveals himself. She becomes immediately angry but her anger subsides when he makes his apology. The story ends here.
Yvain, (also read as Ywain, Uwain, Ewain, or various other spellings) is believed to borrow his name from a historical figure by the name of Owain mab Urien who is featured in bardic tradition. He makes his first appearance in the Arthurian world in Geoffrey of Monmouth's HRB as a brief mention. Although his character is barely used prior to Chretien's work, he becomes quite popular afterward, being used in many romances work including multiple versions of this same story.
One of the main reasons I like this story is the use of the lion. This, I believe, can be expected. Who does not enjoy the story of a loyal pet? I especially enjoy how the lion is given human aspects such as intelligence and sympathy. He searches finds a weakness in a door so that he may escape to help Yvain. When he thinks Yvain is dead, he props a sword on a tree so that he may jump on it and end his own life. He even seems to anticipate his master's will in every occasion. Another aspect I enjoy, as mentioned before in this blog, is the use of magic. We have a magic Spring that curses the kingdom with storms if anyone pours its water on a rock. We have giants, dragons, dwarves, and half demons. There are even two magic rings, one that provides invisibility, another that provides freedom from harm.
Aside from my enjoyment of the book, this book poses an important question. If you remember my entry on Erec and Enide, you will recall that story posed a sort of question to the reader. In Erec, the knight stayed with his beloved, forsaking knightly deeds to snuggle with his wife. His peers made fun of him and he lost the respect of his wife. Here in Yvain we are posed the opposite scenario. Yvain forsakes his wife for a life of adventure and thus also gains shame and loses the respect of his wife. Which is better? They both had to endure shame to gain their love back, and essentially had to accomplish the opposite task. Erec had to force his wife on adventures and Yvain had to promise to stay home. There is no real answer to be had, other than the ones Chretien gives the reader through action, because it is really no more than a mental exercise. How does one maintain chivalrous and courtly behavior when torn between two opposing requirements? Knights do knightly deeds for the love of a Lady, but what happens when they get the Lady? Do they fail to remain knights? Coming next, with the Knight of the Cart, is an interesting scenario. What happens if you commit your chivalric deeds for a Lady that cannot (or should not) be achieved. What happens if you achieve her anyway? We will discuss that soon we we see the actions of one of the greatest knights in the Kingdom.
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