2. In this last passage of the text we witness an interesting event, we are told of the "death" of Erec and his later "rebirth", what does this mean? Why did Chretien choose to not only include this? Is there a deeper meaning? How does this event relate to the rest of the text?

I think that the "death" and subsequent "rebirth" of Erec symbolizes a death of one element of his personality - the completely image-driven, egocentric side of it - and a birth of another aspect of it - the more appreciative, humbler side of it.

Erec, as always, is a good enough knight to defeat the terrifying giants despite being outnumbered and already weak from his earlier injuries. However, when he collapses in front of Enide in a coma-like state, it is as if his superhero identity suddenly dissolves. As Erec's consciousness fails him, out goes his constant inner monologue acknowledging his own proud presence, and so too goes his physical prowess. In turn, his ability to fend for himself and to boss Enide around leave him as well. He is returned to an entirely helpless state, as though he were a baby, and he had better be thankful now that Enide loves him well enough to watch over him.

Returned to a formative state, this fetus version of Erec loses his pure masculinity - formerly one of his only defining elements. Reborn, Erec gains some femininity - as if Enide's selfless love for him has manifested itself in his unsuspecting body - and with it, the ability to see situations from multiple perspectives, not just his own point of view. For once he experiences "deep grief and anguish when he [hears Enide's] voice ... Wrath and the love he bore his wife made him bold" (96). For once he seems to have a real reason to fight. Later, when he fights the knight in the garden, Erec says, "One can speak folly as easily as wisdom. Threaten all you like, but I shall just keep silence, for there is no wisdom in threats" (109). Could this mean that he has looked back on his own threats to Enide (telling her to be quiet or else), taking into account her point of view of his unfulfilled remarks, and that he has now resolved to take a page out of her book? This openness to another's opinions is certainly a new step for Erec.

This death and rebirth also makes me think of Christ, killed on the cross and resurrected three days later. Chretien de Troyes, by having Erec undergo this miraculous event, cannot help but inspire in his audience images of Jesus. Could it be that Erec dies as a mortal - superficial, flawed, weak, and completely self-centered - and then is raised from the dead as an even larger-than-life (if at all possible) embodiment of his former self - ferociously gallant, handsome, and noble - but with a touch more humility, sympathy, and appreciation of Enide?