Rings Symbol
The rings that Laudine gives Yvain to take with him on his adventure are a symbol of his promise to return within a year. As long as a knight is thinking of his sweetheart the rings will keep him safe and so they also symbolize the bond between husband and wife.
Lion Symbol
Yvan saves a lion from death by battling the fierce dragon attacking him. The lion then becomes his constant and faithful companion, and thus symbolizes the variance and courage of the knight who has saved him. Indeed, the lion companion symbolizes the heart and bravery of the knight.
Impugning Someone's Honor Motif
Impugning someone's honor is a motif throughout the writing It is extremely important and is punishable in the most serious way. The key example of this is Lunete, who has to pay the price for introducing Yvain to Laudine in the first place. Yvain's continued absence is a slight on Laudine's honor and since he is not there to punish, Lunete, as the person who initially spoke up for him, is the one to be punished. This motif refers constantly to the larger theme of honor and why it is so important at this time.
Giant Motif
Folklore is one of the main themes of the text and the character of the Giant is is one of the motifs that relates to this. The Giant is a constant in the story as he is encountered on several occasions, and always in connection with a seemingly magical incident that occurs, that of the storm that is caused by dripping spring water onto a nearby stone. This cause and effect is clearly a folkloric tale and the presence of the Giant on every occasion that it happens - often seeming to be the instigator or the controller of the event - pertains to the greater theme of folklore.
Magical Women Motif
The power of strong women is one of the themes of the writing and the particular role of women as magic bearers is a motif throughout, crossing between social status and roles. For example, Lunete saves Yvan from lynching by Laudine's men by making him invisible using magic rings. The noblewoman uses a magic lotion to restore his mind when he is living as a hermit in the forest. Finally Laudine uses magic rings to bond them and protect him whilst he is adventuring with King Arthur. The women in the text are not only strong and powerful but also the bearers of most of the magic that is used.
