2/1 Bisclavret and Lanval - When a Dude is a Werewolf and another is Savage

So these two stories were all sort of interesting. Starting with Bisclavret...I'm quite satisfied with the wife's fate. Seriously, who does that to their husband (they apparently had a good thing going on)?

Did she feel unsafe knowing that he turned into a "monster" several times a week (that's what I think it says)? If she did should've known better. They've been married for what I think is a while and if he never harmed her before, what makes her think the future would be any different (except that it did because you betrayed him).

Sucks to suck.
But in all seriousness, perhaps the more likely reason was that her entire view of him changed. Since he transformed into a beast, he must be one. Going along with the thought, perhaps she thought that it would basically be bestiality if they continued to be intimate.

100% Ship Bisclavret with the King. That is the type of bromance and romance that we need in this world.

This also seems to be a story about appearances. The wife was noted to have been very beautiful, but as we learn, she is nothing more than just a pretty face. She instantly judges him when he reveals his curse. She doesn't pay any sort of attention to what sort of man he is - who is the type of man who loved and respected the wishes of his wife enough tot he point of ignoring his instincts and telling his secret (even Courtly Love tells you not to reveal all your secrets and you know it's a think when it's in the rule book). Loved the part where Bisclavret bit his wife's nose off and all of her subsequent daughters were noseless.

As for Lanval...Jesus, what to say, except that Guinevere, as always is starting shit and just in general, being a bitch (calling a guy gay just because he refused to be your lover out of respect for his King? Hello?). Loved it when Lanval straight up tells her that's she's not the most beautiful woman since even the handmaidens of his beloved are more beautiful than her.

Savage, bro. However, not smart as you had promised your lady friend not to tell anyone about each others. Once again, keeping some secrets is a good thing and revealing them to the wrong person or at the most inopportune time? Well, you dug your own hole. Now go crawl in it and think about what you've done.

3/27 The Knight's Tale (Accidentally did The Knight of the Cart - whoops)

So, I accidentally posted for 3/27 The Knight of the Cart and not The Knight's Tale...this is awkward.

Being perfectly honest, I'm a bit confused with the beginning. Exactly what happened with Palamon and Arcite? It sounded like they were on Death's door, but then were imprisoned? Did I read that correctly? And am I right in thinking they lived because they were related to the previous ruler as they are both cousins, yes? So very confused.

Know what I'm not confused about?

Freaking love at first sight. Seriously. We all know how this is going to go. At least one of them is going to die - can't be having a love triangle up in here. But seriously, leave the poor woman alone. She's just minding her own business, and both Palamon and Arcite are like, "le gasp A beautiful maiden walking before me after all this time in jail? My heart's suddenly beating really fast. Must be my one true love!"

And then Arcite gets the freak outta jail and is moaning about how unlucky he is to no longer be imprisoned, but his life sucks because he can't see the pretty lady. Know what this reminds me of? Fucking Achilles.

Jesus, I have so many feelings about men acting like absolute babies when they can't have the woman they "fell in love" with/ the woman that's "theirs" because ultimately, Palamon and Arcite fight over Emelye, and the poor woman's like, "Please no. Leave me out of this. I just want to run around the forest all day and be free."

Can. We. Not.

4/10 Sir Orfeo - Orpheus with a Happy Ending

So this is my first time reading Sir Orfeo (and I keep wanting to spell it Orpheo), but it was similar enough to Orpheus that it was like I had already read it. I think it was nice to give it a happy ending, although thanks to the book Goddess of Spring, by P.C. Cast, I can no longer think of Orpheus as a good guy. This story was actually quite nice to read. I believe this was already said in class, but just how did the Queen meet the Fairy King? I know magic

but I know I'd like a short story telling how it happened...quite possibly I'd be more interested in the Fairy King's story instead. That could be interesting. I'd love to know exactly why it is that the Fairy King chose those people. In Orpheus, they would have been the dead down in Hades, with the Fairy King actually being Hades (and it follows that the Fairy Queen, who would be Persephone, is the one that is moved by Orfeo's music), but what exactly is the Fairy King doing with all those people? It's not like he has a use for them (most are in the between of dying) nor is there a point to him having them, so why?

Also, something of interest to note that was not brought up during class is that the ending of the story is incredibly similar to the ending of The Odyssey.

Both (Orfeo and Odysseus) are away from their kingdom for several years and when they return, they are disguised as beggars and test the people who serve them before revealing themselves. The only difference is that Odysseus straight up slaughters a lot of people while there is no bloodshed with Orfeo. I do think it's interesting to have the same kind of ending, with the whole disguise and revealing of oneself. Do you think that that was pulled from Odysseus or another story as apparently this is a thing in many stories (although I'm drawing a blank)? I think so, but that could be because I'm rather partial to The Odyssey.

One final note, which ties back to the Fairy King, but why bother changing Hades to the Fairy King to begin with? I understand putting your own spin on things, but was there really a point to altering the character? If the Fairy King had remained as Hades, would the story have been that drastically different? Perhaps Orfeo wouldn't have seen his Queen during the march in the woods since Hades is known to generally remain in Hades, but there are times that Hades comes out from his realm. It's not very often, but it happens. So what was the point? Was it just because fairies were a big thing or was it taking a Greek myth and making it their own with their own mythological/ fantastical creatures? Food for thought with a answer we may never know because the author's dead, but it happens.

3/27 The Knight of the Cart and Man with the Hair Fetish

So this is the second time that I've read this story, and I can honestly say every time, I have been severely disturbed by Lancelot's behavior and my image of him shattered (much like Guinevere, but it wasn't much of a fall...never particularly liked her). From this:

to smothering hair all over his face and body and getting pleasure from it, perhaps disturbing isn't as strong of a word as I would like.
https://youtu.be/YYEQqnvFwqQ?t=2m36s
^^Wouldn't let me put in the video, so link ya go (start at 2:54-3:00)

The father's reaction is completely my reaction to Lancelot this entire story. Boy needs Jesus. Also, how is it that Lancelot didn't die from all of his spacing out, besides he is a super strong knight? What would happen if someone shot arrows at him? Would he straight up dodge them or grab them midair, like a bad ass (which I guess is exactly what he did with the flaming spear...huh)?

Either way, I feel like Lancelot is so not the knight anyone should be looking up to. Yes, he's Arthur's strongest, most "loyal" knight. Yes, he's the one who saved Guinevere, but in being obsessed (yes, obsessed, because there is no other word for what Lancelot is towards Guinevere), he almost let a maiden be raped in her own home. This is the same maiden who offered him food and shelter (even if in return, he was to sleep with her, and the entire time, he was an awkward banana, like if you don't like it, freaking walk out, bro. You didn't need to stay at her place. Stop being a bitch), and yet when she's about to be raped in her own home, and I believe her own bed, he hesitates at the door, not because there are big, scary men at the door, but because he is ashamed of himself for taking food and shelter at this woman's house when his every waking moment (which in his mind, should be ever moment), should be dedicated to saving Guinevere. That is not a man any one should aspire to be like, nor is his relationship with Guinevere a healthy one. It's downright toxic and no wonder it leads to Camelot's downfall (but let's be honest, that's on Arthur too for murdering children just to be rid of Mordred...great advice, Merlin).  

For 3/20 Wife of Bath's Tale

Okay, so I only have one problem with this tale. Personally speaking, I rather enjoyed it and I think the Old Hag is an amazing character. It's always great when the Old character manages to outsmart the younger ones, and have them do exactly what they want without the younger ones realizing what just happened until it's too late (only if the old character is funny/nice/ a good person in general, otherwise they're the creepy, assholish character and that's unacceptable).

So as for my problem with this story, it's that the knight got everything in the end - a happy ending. He ending up with a beautiful, wise wife, who would stay faithful. What the fuck? He raped a maiden at the very beginning of this, his punishment was to figure out what women want, and once he finds it thanks to the old hag, he gets his happy ending by giving her sovereignty over her body, which never should have been an issue???

Yes, I get that he learned his lesson, and that he shouldn't take away someone's control of their own body and future, but still what about the maiden from the beginning? Where's her justice? Can you imagine what she must be thinking or feeling when she finds out that he was never executed, instead was sent out to find out what women want (probably smirked when she found out he was forced to marry an old hag), but then he gets a happy ending, and she's a young, defiled woman? What about her future??? This is the biggest problem I have with the story because the young maiden is literally just used as a prop to start the knight on his punishment quest and she never receives her justice.

Also, food for thought, but would the old hag have told him the answer if she knew why he was on this quest? He never states why he's on the quest, just that he has to get the answer or his life is forfeit. Or what if she finds out during their marriage? She already said she'd be his beautiful, faithful wife, but what would happen if she learned the truth? I somehow doubt they would remain happy.