Chapter 17 'Courtly Love': Summary, Themes, and Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
In English class, Reha is paired with Pete to read The Sword in the Stone. Their assignment is to discuss courtly love in medieval times to understand the society King Arthur would rule. The chapter explains that ladies were held in the highest honor, and knights could love noble women from a distance without any hope of marrying them. Ladies gave small tokens—such as an embroidered handkerchief or a ribbon—to knights as marks of favor before tournaments and battles.
Reha reflects that she has attended school with Pete since first grade. When they were nine, Pete fell from the monkey bars and crashed to the ground. His glasses broke and cut his cheek under his eye. He stood with blood running down his face and calmly walked to the teacher. He did not cry or make a sound. Reha looked away, frightened by his silence. She wondered how anyone could bleed without making a sound.
This year, Pete has switched to contact lenses, and a tiny scar remains high on his cheek. Reha notices that Pete's eyes change colors with the day, his shirt, and his mood. On cloudy days they match the sky; when he wears green, she sees bits of yellow swirling; when he argues a point in class, his eyes look purple. Reha must remind herself not to stare at him, which is hard because Pete is her partner in English.
Key Events
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Reha is paired with Pete in English class to read The Sword in the Stone.
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They discuss courtly love and the tokens knights receive from ladies.
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Reha recalls Pete's childhood accident on the monkey bars when they were nine.
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Pete's stoic reaction to his injury frightens Reha, causing her to look away.
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Reha observes Pete's current appearance: contact lenses, a small scar, and eyes that change color.
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Reha struggles to stop herself from staring at Pete during class.
Character Development
Reha's internal world is revealed through her observation of Pete. Her childhood fear of his silence shows her sensitivity to emotional expression and her discomfort with the unknown. Now, she is drawn to him, noticing intimate details like his scar and the shifting colors of his eyes. She must actively remind herself not to stare, indicating a growing fascination or attraction that she is not yet ready to acknowledge.
Pete is portrayed as stoic and composed, even in the face of pain. His calm walk to the teacher while bleeding contrasts sharply with Reha's emotional reaction. His transformation from glasses to contact lenses and the visible scar mark his passage from childhood to adolescence. The chapter also hints at his inner complexity through the changing colors of his eyes, which Reha interprets as reflecting his mood.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Courtly Love as Metaphor: The medieval concept of courtly love—loving from afar without hope of marriage—parallels Reha's own unspoken feelings for Pete. She observes him from a distance, does not express her emotions, and pays attention to small details that act as personal tokens of her interest.
Tokens of Favor: The handkerchiefs and ribbons given to knights symbolize the small, meaningful gestures of attention. Reha's noticing of Pete's scar and eye color serves as her own private tokens, marking her silent devotion.
Observation: The chapter is centered on Reha's act of looking. She watches Pete, recalls his past, and studies his present appearance. This motif emphasizes her role as an observer rather than a participant in her own feelings.
Transformation: Pete's change from glasses to contacts, and the visible scar, represent physical and emotional growth. Reha's perception of him also transforms from fear to fascination.
Stoicism and Fear of the Unknown: Pete's silence during his injury frightens Reha because it defies her expectations. This fear of the unknown is a recurring theme in her relationship with him.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter establishes the romantic tension between Reha and Pete. It introduces the concept of courtly love, which will likely parallel Reha's own feelings as the story progresses. It also deepens Reha's character by showing her past fear and present fascination, setting up future developments in their relationship. The chapter's focus on observation and unspoken emotion lays the groundwork for the novel's exploration of identity, love, and belonging.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does the medieval concept of courtly love mirror Reha's feelings for Pete?
Courtly love involves loving from a distance without hope of marriage, and giving tokens of favor. Reha observes Pete from afar, does not express her feelings, and notices small details like his scar and eye color, which act as tokens of her attention. This mirrors the knights' unrequited love for noble ladies.
2. Why does Reha look away when Pete is bleeding?
Reha is afraid because Pete does not cry or make a sound. His silence seems unnatural to her, and she cannot understand how someone can endure pain without expressing it. This fear of the unknown causes her to look away.
3. What does Pete's changing eye color suggest about Reha's perception?
Pete's changing eye color shows that Reha is paying close attention to him and interpreting his mood through his appearance. The shifting colors reflect her growing awareness and perhaps her romantic interest, as she reads meaning into his physical traits.