Men of Iron

Consider the antagonists of Men of Iron (such as Walter Blunt and the Earl of Alban). What traits do they share? What similar actions do they take, and how does Howard Pyle identify them as the antithesis of chivalric?

What tenants do you think Myles and Francis Gascoyne included in their code of conduct for the Knights of the Rose? Support your answers with evidence from the text.

Craft arguments for and against the Earl of Mackworth as a chivalric figure. In what ways does he demonstrate chivalry? In what ways does he act contrary to chivalry?

Myles never forgets his promise to be Lady Alice’s true knight, even though he is forbidden from interacting with her for several years. As soon as he is able, Myles rekindles contact with her, and asks for her hand in marriage. What does Myles’s relationship with Lady Alice reveal about him as a romantic figure? Consider the aspects of chivalry he extends toward his family and fellow knights, and how these traits become evident in his relationship with her.

Explore the ways in which Gascoyne is a chivalric figure. How does he help Myles become the person he is meant to be? How is he rewarded for his unwavering commitment to his friend?

Consider the aspects of what constitutes a “fair fight” in Men of Iron. Why is a fair fight important to the concept of chivalry? Myles engages in four separate conflicts, two with Walter Blunt, one with the Sieur, and one with the Earl of Alban, all of which undermine the idea of a fair fight. What do these antagonists do to cheat, and what do the protagonists do to try to combat this behavior?

Over the course of the novel, Myles changes his approach to acting on his values. Compare Myles as a squire to Myles as a knight in terms of his temperament. In what ways does he change, and in what ways does he stay the same? How do these changes help or hinder him in pursuing his goal?

Explore the steps involved in Myles’s induction as a Knight of the Bath. Why is this ceremony appropriate for Myles as a character? Which characters play a part in the ceremony, and what does this say about their roles in Myles’s life?