Unit 2 Feudal society and Romanesque art

ERIC BARAZA REDONDO

Chivalry

1. Who were the medieval knights and what did they do? What level of feudal society did they
occupy?

They were less important, because they were the vassals of the men. They promised to fight for
the baron and in return the baron gave him land.

2. Look at the picture and answer the questions.

a) List and describe the weapons in the image. Classify
them as defensive or offensive.
Ofensive: the broad-bladed spear, heavy sword
.………………………………………………………………
and the pommel axe, for the cavalry; the pike
………………………………………………………….……
or javelin, for the infantry, which together
……………………………………………………….………
with ……………………………………………………
the saber, the dagger and the dagger
……………………………………………………………
Denfensive: sword and spear

b) What type of building is in the background? What

connection does it have with knights?
………………………………………………………………
Is a castle were the the baron leaves
……………………………………………………………… M
and the knighst need to protect it and
………………………………………………………………
the baron
…………………………………………………...

3. What happened at the ‘accolade’ ceremony?

The ceremony involves the ceremonial dubbing of

the knight by The King, and the presentation of
insignia. By tradition, clergy receiving a
knighthood are not dubbed, as the use of a sword
is thought inappropriate for their calling. They
are not able to use the title 'Sir'.

4. Read the text below and answer the questions.

The knights-errant, inspired by the ideals of courtly love, pledged themselves to a lady, declaring to her
their faithfulness in love and dedicating all their chivalric thoughts and worthy deeds. Thus, the knight
had to possess very specific virtues relating to his character and role. The personal virtues were:
chastity, generosity, sacrifice, charitableness [...]. The professional virtues fell into two categories: the
higher qualities, which were those that involved pledging loyalty to the monarchy, to the country and to
the lady, and the lower ones, which were their obligations as merchants, to children, the elderly, the poor,
widows, women ... . These virtues that are required in a knight are the very same as those that are
expected of a hero.

AURELIO GONZÁLEZ and Mª TERESA MIAJA: Introduction to Medieval Culture, UNAM, 2005.

a) List the virtues that a knight should possess and explain them.
The cardinal virtues are prudence, justice,
fortitude and temperance.

b) Why was a medieval knight considered heroic? How similar is he to present-day heroes in comic
strips and films?
They had great courage, capable of fighting with
great courage against superior beings that kept the
people of the towns terrified.

https://s3-packer-es.smaprendizaje.com/files/adc748ba-fb88 a784-afecee37bbb6-45/esogh-hmed_sv_in_ud02_prof1.docx 27/10/23, 14 24

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