This study explores how three English romances of the late fourteenth century-Geoffrey Chaucer's Franklin's Tale, Thomas Chestre's Sir Launfal, and the anonymous Sir Gawain and the Green Knight-employ economic exchange as a tool to illustrate community ideals. Although gift-giving and commerce are common motifs in medieval romance, these three romances depict acts of generosity and exchange that demonstrate fundamental principles of proper behavior by uniting characters in the poems in spite of social divisions such as gender or social class. Economic imagery in fourteenth-century romances merits particular consideration because of Richard II's prolific expenditure, which created such turbulence that the peasants revolted in 1381. The court's openhanded spending led to social unrest, but in romances a character's largesse strengthens community bonds by showing that all members of a group participate in an idealized gift economy. Positioned within the context of economic tensions, exchange in romances can lead readers to reexamine notions of group identity. Chestre's Sir Launfal unites its community under secular principles of economic exchange and evaluation. Using similar motifs of exchange, the Gawain-poet makes Christian and chivalric ideals apparent through Gawain's service and generosity to all those who follow the Christian faith. Further, Chaucer's Franklin's Tale portrays hospitality as a tool to create pleasure, the ultimate goal of service. Although they present different types of group identity, these romances specify that generosity and commerce can illustrate the ideals of a poem's community and demonstrate to the audience model forms of behavior.

This dissertation is a diplomatic transcription edition and an analysis of BL Cotton Caligula Aii with emphasis on the Middle English romances in the manuscript and how the entire manuscript was compiled to teach lessons in obedience. The first section of the manuscript contains Sir Eglamour and teaches lessons in social obedience. The second section features three romances by Thomas Chestre: Octavian Imperator, Sir Launfal, and Lybeaus Desconus and teaches courtly and chivalric obedience. Section three features Emaré and teaches lessons in obedience and free will. The final section contains Sege of Jerusalem. Chevalier Assigne, and Sir Isumbras and focuses on obedience and the direct hand of God. The romances in CCAii, which have often been dismissed as overly simplistic or convention, become complex and meaningful text when they are analyzed as part of the compilation for which they were chosen and arranged.

This dissertation is a diplomatic transcription edition and an analysis of BL Cotton Caligula Aii with emphasis on the Middle English romances in the manuscript and how the entire manuscript was compiled to teach lessons in obedience. The first section of the manuscript contains Sir Eglamour and teaches lessons in social obedience. The second section features three romances by Thomas Chestre: Octavian Imperator, Sir Launfal, and Lybeaus Desconus and teaches courtly and chivalric obedience. Section three features Emaré and teaches lessons in obedience and free will. The final section contains Sege of Jerusalem. Chevalier Assigne, and Sir Isumbras and focuses on obedience and the direct hand of God. The romances in CCAii, which have often been dismissed as overly simplistic or convention, become complex and meaningful text when they are analyzed as part of the compilation for which they were chosen and arranged.