1. Romances
The Hero Wins

2. What Is a Romance—Historically?
A romance is a medieval verse narrative chronicling the adventures of a brave knight or other hero who must undertake a quest and overcome great danger for love of a noble lady or high ideal.
© Christie's Images/CORBIS
God Speed by Edmund Blair Leighton

3. Characteristics of the Romance Hero
is a near-perfect hero
is a human with unlimited moral and physical strength
is bound by a code of chivalry that emphasizes loyalty to his lord and readiness to serve those in need
should adhere to the philosophy of courtly love, an idealized view of relationships in which a knight performs brave deeds to win the approval of his lady

4. The Hero’s Quest The hero’s quest consists of three stages.
a dangerous journey
a central test or ordeal to determine if the hero has heroic qualities
a return to the place where the journey began

5. Other Elements of a Romance
Romances often have
an evil enemy
supernatural elements
a theme of good versus evil
female figures who are often
maidens in need of rescue
temptresses
mothers
crones

6. A Romance’s Functions To entertain To teach a moral lesson
Romances are tales of adventure, intrigue, and mystery.
To teach a moral lesson
Romances illustrate how heroes react to dangerous situations or moral dilemmas. They reveal what character traits are valued by society.

7. What Is a Romance—Today?
Romance has come to mean any story that presents a world that is happier, more exciting, or more heroic than the real world.
Romances are stories set in a world of pure wish fulfillment.
The ordinary laws of nature are suspended.
Idealized and superhuman heroes fight and almost always conquer the forces of evil.
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8. Traditional and Modern Romances
Traditional Romances
“The Wife of Bath’s Tale” by Geoffrey Chaucer
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Le Morte Darthur by Sir Thomas Malory
The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser

9. Traditional and Modern Romances
The Chronicles of Narnia
the Lord of the Rings trilogy
the Indiana Jones trilogy
The Wizard of Oz

10. What Have You Learned? One purpose of a romance is to __________.
a. persuade b. ridicule c. entertain
2. A romance hero’s quest has _________ stages.
a. three b. five c. seven
3. A romance hero is a perfect human with unlimited moral and physical strength.
a. true b. false

11. What have you learned? 1. One purpose of a romance is to __________.
a. persuade b. ridicule c. entertain
2. A romance hero’s quest has _________ stages.
a. three b. five c. seven
3. A romance hero is a perfect human with unlimited moral and physical strength.
a. true b. false

12. The End