The Character of Gauvain in the Romances of Chrétien de Troyes

TLDR: Gauvain this paper was the favorite nephew of King Arthur, who gave him the title of mes sire or mon seignor, but none of his works bears his name.

Abstract: Devant toz les buens chevaliers Dolt estre Gauvains li premiers; and, accordingly, as the favorite nephew of Arthur, he gives him the title of mes sire or mon seignor. It is natural, then, that Gauvain is held up as a model of what other knights should be. Yet none of Chr6tien's works bears his name. He plays a prominent role in Erec, Cligis, Lancelot, Yvain, and especially Perceval, but always as a contrasting figure with whom the title-hero is compared or associated. It is interesting, therefore, to learn how he acquired this position and what particular traits of knighthood he illustrates. The date of the Eree is approximately 1170, but antecedent to it the name and qualities of Gauvain occur in various places, quite apart from the general Celtic background to which Gauvain may belong.1' Let us see what these previous references