The definition of a knight is nearly impossible to clearly define, as there are so many definitions by many different people; each with their own definition on what a knight should be, based on their own experience and research. But through the years there has been an unofficial generic template of who and what a knight is, through the Chivalric Code. When one looks at the knight, one must take into account the historical mythology that underlies such legends as that of Arthur, and The Song of Roland. According to Maurice Keen’s Chivalry, “The question of which particular Celtic myths underlie which Arthurian stories is one of tremendous complication” (Keen 115). This is an interesting statement because The Song of Roland is an historical epic, and yet it has attained a mythological status because of not only its ponderings, but also its introduction of the Chivalric Code.…show more content… Another thing that must be spoken of is the fact that the Chivalric Code was personified in the knights of old, and continues to be personified in everyone who takes to heart, whether they have read it or not, what it teaches and commands. And it is also interesting to say that the Chivalric Code as described in The Song of Roland, has an updated version through the 14th Century Duke of Burgundy. The doctrines are very close to the original Code, with tenets like “To Fear God and maintain His Church” (Sayers 1099), and “To never back down from a challenge of an enemy” (Sayers 1099) being replaced with more succinct remarks such as faith and
