Core essay #2:
The Legacy of Medieval Chivalry: Dead or alive?
Honors English 4
E. Peters
“I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards to avenge even a look that threatened her with insult.
But the age of chivalry is gone.”
Edmund Burke, Irish orator, philosopher, and politician (1729 - 1797)
“The motto of chivalry is also the motto of wisdom: to serve all, but love only one.”
Honore DeBalzac, French realist novelist (1799 - 1850)
“People today realize that the 21st century needs a Code of Chivalry ... Every one of us can be a knight in shining armor - and every
one of us should be.”
Firmly embedded in the tradition of medieval romance is the code of chivalry that was prescribed for all
knights. Along with the traits of bravery, courtesy, and personal honor, this code of conduct required that
knights behave gallantly toward women; consequently, it is this treatment of women that, even today, is most
often associated with mention of the chivalric code. However, ideals of chivalry also encompassed the
following traits: loyalty, modesty, faith, honor, valor, piety and courtesy.
Many people today believe that chivalry represents a concept that is largely ignored by contemporary society.
Chivalry may convey something known to literary scholars and history professors, but it does not seem to
have any place in the world of business, sports, politics or relationships in the modern world. Women have
been taught that displays of chivalry are demeaning and condescending, and men have come to believe that
courtesy and respectful attitudes are not “manly.”
Recently for others, however, those ideas have changed. Current events and front-page headlines have made
us all aware of how crucial ethical conduct and personal integrity are in creating a fair and functional society.
New understandings of issues such as military ethics, political integrity, athletic scandals, gang violence,
cheating in school and the within workplace, road rage and corporate accountability — not to mention the
simple desire to restore a sense of tolerance, discipline and fair play to the world at large — have brought the
ideals of chivalry and honor to the level of a national debate like never before.
Assignment and procedures (on back):
For this assignment, you will compose an essay that
persuades your reader that chivalry is or is not an outmoded
virtue in the 21st century.
Procedures:
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In order to write an effective persuasive essay, you need to conjure some passion and solid
reasoning skills to evince your arguments. You also need support and explanation for your
premises, so take a position and delineate at least three detailed examples to
emphatically support your position. These examples may stem from your daily
observations, personal experiences, and/or accounts taken from current events. Be
sure to explain the relevance of each example and how it applies to your larger argument.
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Use an idea, comment, statistic, fact, anecdote, or other gripping detail from an
article or research to launch your discussion. You should also offer some brief
historical and/or thematic context; you may want to include some details from
Chaucer’s description of the knight or from Sir Gawain’s quest.
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Maintain appropriate transitions in between paragraphs.
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As for the closing of your essay, you should conclude by negating your position, which
means that you will initially concede to the argument of your opponent, but
ultimately you will conclude your viewpoint with profound and thoughtful emphasis.
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Take time to read your essay for inclusion of elevated style---especially in both verb
choice and precise phrasing. You are encouraged to use your list of signal words.

Proofread your essay for mechanical and spelling errors, as well as mistakes in
usage/syntax. Omit all trite phrases.
Due dates:
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Introductory paragraph and rough outline:
First support paragraph (with cited support included):
Final draft (hardcopy)
Turnitin.com submission:
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