Lancelot's Embodiment of Chivalry The code of chivalry is nearly impossible to summarize; it is an extremely broad topic.

However, as definitions go, the bible did quite a job in I Peter 2:17, Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. The best way, though, is to describe a knight who embodies chivalry to its fullest, as was the case with Lancelot. Although Lancelot faced much opposition throughout The Adventures of Sir Lancelot by Sir Thomas Malory, he never acted as anything but the perfect knight. His nobility was seen in his imprisonment by evil enchantresses, his honoring of a promise to a servant girl, and his honesty with an enemy knight. The first instance of Lancelot's chivalry was witnessed during his imprisonment by the four queens. The queens said to him that because we understand your worthiness, that thou art the noblest knight living, thou must now choose one of us four. Despite his situation, Lancelot did what was honorable and refused to choose one the the queens. He knew that it might mean his death but he said he would rather die in this prison with worship, than to have one of you [the queens] for my love maugre my head. (Malory 740) Lancelot again proved his nobility when a servant girl offered to help him escape from the dungeon of the queens in return for his assistance to her father, King Bagdemagus, at the tournament that would soon take place. Lancelot agreed saying, Fair damsel, I shall not fail you. As it happened he did not fail her and in his valorous fighting he make it possible for Bagdemagus to be victorious. It is also to be noted that he would not have agreed if he hadn't known Bagdemagus as noble king and a good knight. (Malory 740-741) The third act of chivalry had to do with being honest with a foe. Sir Turquine had been battling and imprisoning knight searching for Lancelot, his brother's slayer. When Sir Turquine asked if he was Lancelot, Lancelot replied, I am Lancelot du Lake. They then fought and

Lancelot was victorious, but the honesty of Lancelot in that moment will forever be striking. (Malory 743-745) Sir Lancelot clearly demonstrated his chivalry through his reaction to his imprisonment, honoring his promise, and being honest with an enemy. He continuously defined chivalry in his actions throughout The Adventures of Sir Lancelot by Sir Thomas Malory. The next time a definition of chivalry is requested it would be wise to sight Lancelot and his acts of chivalry.

Works Cited Malory, Sir Thomas. "The Adventures of Sir Launcelot." Prentice Hall Literature Platinum.

2nd ed. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall Inc., 1991. 740-745. Print.