Romanticism in A Knights Tale

In modern days, we can see examples of heroism romanticism and chivalry in our everyday lifestyle including movies such as A Knights Tale, which includes many aspects of romanticism and chivalry such as having a hero on a quest, and a woman that the hero must prove his love to.

We start out with William, the son of a thatcher, whom is low born and has had a dream of becoming a knight since childhood. He finds an opportunity to joust in an attempt to win some money so he and his friends can have food. Being a knight is one of William's greatest dreams, so he is exhilarated when he has this opportunity and trains very hard. Many knights joust as sport and for honor, not just for the money and the recognition. Many star athletes today are renowned for their outstanding athletic abilities, strength and intelligence.

One of the obstacles William has to conquer is to prove himself a champion before all of Europe.

William Burroughs family plot

[New York City Mayor William J.] Gaynor reviewing ...

Williams [and] Young Britt (LOC)

He stumbles into an acquaintance with Chaucer, and they make an agreement, so William now goes as Ulrich von Lichtenstein of Gelderland, and he now competes with the greatest jousters in Europe with Chaucer speaking for him. An important aspect of a romantic fiction is having a hero face an obstacle, such as an evil villain, on the way to accomplish a great deed. In this case, his enemies are most of the knights that he has come up against during his jousting matches. Even today, modern day heroes go against good and evil and fight for their dreams and what they believe to be right.

The object of William's desires in the movie is a woman of high stature. He tries to impress her with his outstanding abilities with jousting, and says...