Erec and Enide

What role does chivalry play in Erec and Enide? Is the poem a celebration or a critique of chivalry?

What values does Erec and Enide assert to be most important for romantic love?

In what ways does Christianity appear throughout Erec and Enide? How is the story influenced by Christian themes and imagery?

Briefly research the medieval genre of Arthurian romances. How does Erec and Enide compare to other classic Arthurian romances of its time? In what ways does it follow the standard conventions of the genre, and in what ways does it differ?

How does chivalry influence the behavior of the minor characters in the book, such as King Arthur, Guivret the Small, or Mabonagrain? Compare and contrast their stances toward the chivalric code.

Does Erec and Enide portray Enide in a critical light throughout the story, or does it celebrate her outspokenness? Use specific examples to support your claims.

In the final chapter, Chrétien compares King Arthur to historical kings such as Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar, asserting that King Arthur was even more generous. Throughout Erec and Enide, Chrétien elevates his characters, asserting that they were among the most powerful, wisest, or beautiful beings to have ever lived. What strategies does Chrétien use to do so? What effect do these depictions have on the narrative?

In what ways is romantic love or passion presented as dangerous in Erec and Enide? How does it lead characters astray?