Ravd of Redhall

John Watkins · 13 Feb 2009, 15:55 · from 2009-February.txt.gz

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From: john.watkins04 at gmail.com (John Watkins)
Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 10:55:09 -0500
Subject: (urth) Ravd of Redhall
In-Reply-To: <347455.83098.qm at web36801.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
References: <347455.83098.qm at web36801.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Message-ID: <93d4039f0902130755g522aab8di5dd81307b340ad48 at mail.gmail.com>

I think it's a Spenser reference as well, and likely a Chesterton reference.

On Fri, Feb 13, 2009 at 10:50 AM, Scott Wowra <swowra at yahoo.com> wrote:

>   Folks,
>
> I am new to Urth.net, so my observations are original (to me) and not based
> on reading your threads (although I have perused them).
>
>
>
> I am working on some onomastics of major characters in The Knight.
>
>
>
> Below are speculations of Ravd of Redhall. Any feedback you have is
> appreciated.
>   Ravd of Redhall Background
>
> Sir Ravd of Redhall appears in Chapter 4 of *The Knight.* Ravd is a knight
> in the service of Duke Marder ("marder" is German for marten, a solitary
> carnivore related to the weasel). Able describes Ravd in his list of
> characters as, "The best knight I ever saw" (p. 13). 'Best' probably refers
> to Ravd's strict adherence to the code of chivalry.
>  Onomastics
>
> The term "ravd" appears to be a variant of "red" in Old Norse, which was
> the language spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia during the Viking Age
> [5] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Norse_language>.
>
>
>  "The word / ravd /in the context you mention is just a spelling variant
> of the colour adjective /rau?r/ m in Old Norse, meaning "red". As an
> anthroponym it refers, in all probability, to the colour of a (male) persons
> hair." (Hagland, personal communication; 2009)
>
>
> The epithet "red" appears in both Norse Mythology and Arthurian Legend.
>
>
>  1. Norse Mythology. The god Thor possessed red hair and a red beard. The
> Viking chieftains Erik the Red and Thorstein the Red conquered lands during
> the Viking Age.
> 2. Arthurian Legend. The "Red Knight" is an appellation referring to 3
> major knights, depending on the source materials, including Percival,
> Gawain, and Galahad [6] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Knight>.
>  Interpretation
>
> The interaction between Able and Ravd in Chapters 4-6 may represent early
> passages in *'Percival, the Story of the Grail* [7]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perceval,_le_Conte_du_Graal>. Percival is a naive lad of 15, ignorant in the code of chivalry. He
> encounters a group of knights, and is so impressed by them, resolves to
> become a knight himself. Percival travels to King Arthur's court, but due to
> his crude clothes, naive manner, and lack of training, is not well received
> by Arthur's knights. Outside of Arthur's castle, young Percival bests a
> knight in red armor. Claiming the armor and charger, Percival is knighted
> and earns the appellation of the Red Knight.
>
>
>
> If Able in some ways represents Percival, the Red Knight, then Ravd of
> Redhall is the exemplar on which Able models his behavior. "Ravd of Redhall"
> is therefore a clue inserted by Mr. Wolfe to look to the story of the Red
> Knight for insights into Able's motivations and development.
>
>
>
>
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