Elements of The Medieval Romance in Shrek

Patricia Healion

The Medieval Romance

• The medieval romance consists of usually seven things1. The setting is usually magical2. The characters are generally magical3. The night always falls in love with the lady4. There is usually a knight or hero of some sort and that

hero does a great deed5. There is usually disguised identity6. It also idealizes Chivalry7. There is mystery and suspense

The setting is usually magical

The only setting that is established is that Shrek lives in a swamp. Also, that King Farquaad lives in Duloc. We don’t know where the tower is that Princess Fiona is trapped in. And, Fiona’s parents live in a city called Far Far Away, the only thing you can take away from this is that the land is far, far away.

Magical characters

“And in the morning….. I’m making waffles!” -Donkey

Only a true Romance and/or fairy tale have magical creatures. There are a whole lot in Shrek. First of all, Shrek is an ogre and so is Fiona. There are 3 blind mice that talk. There is a dragon and a talking donkey. There are fairies and witches. There are talking gingerbread men. There are also many fairy tale characters like Pinocchio, the big bad wolf. the Three Little Pigs, and Prince Charming. Oh yeah and a Spanish kitty cat that talks named Puss, in boots.

Usually the knight that falls in love with a lady

King Farquaad wants to marry Fiona. While on the journey back from saving her Shrek realizes that he loves her and he has many layers of feelings, like an onion. In the second movie, Prince Charming who was originally supposed to marry Fiona that is why his mother who is a fairy put the curse on her. WOW it all makes sense now! Well he tries to break Shrek and Fiona up but they were meant to be so he couldn’t… that is the power of love.

Hero does great deed

“so you want me to save her from a tower and then I can get my swamp back?” - Shrek

Disguised identity

Turns into an

Ogre at night

Fiona was put into a tower because when she was younger a witch put a spell on her. This became a curse because every night she would turn into an ogre until she had her true love’s kiss.

Mystery and suspense

Fiona and King Farquaad were about to get married but then Shrek came once the priest said “speak now or forever hold your peace” and he then married her. If King Farquaad had kissed Fiona, the curse of her turning into a ogre at night would have been broken. Because Shrek kissed her she is now a ogre forever. Also, donkey and dragon get married and have little dragon donkey babies.

THE END!

And remember, Ogres are like onions!