Erec and Enide

References to Christianity and the Christian religion can be found throughout Erec and Enide and serve to structure the general outline of the poem. The poem’s most important ceremonial events each coincide with an important Christian holiday. On Easter, King Arthur calls for the customary hunt of the white stag—the event that sends Erec to ultimately meet Enide. When Erec and Enide return to King Arthur’s court, their marriage is held on Pentecost—a Christian holiday held 50 days after Easter that commemorates the appearance of the Holy Spirit to Christ’s apostles. Lastly, the lavish coronation of Erec that ends the poem is held on Christmas Day.

Beyond these larger festival days, Erec and Enide are also presented at different times throughout the poem as devoted Christians, making prayers and offerings to the church and following its teachings. For instance, when Erec and Enide travel to Erec’s father’s castle following their wedding, one of the first things they do upon their arrival is visit a monastery to pray at an altar. There, Erec makes an offering of a “fine gold cross” that “contained / [the] true cross whereon Lord God was pained / and crucified for our sake […]” (68).