at the same time, the noble classes began to differentiate themselves, in many ways, including through reading courtly literature such as the very popular chivalric romances of the 12th century. for the noble classes the line between reality and fiction blurred, the deeds they read about were real, while their deeds in reality were often deadly, if not comical, re-enactments of those they read about. this romanticised "chivalric revival" manifested itself in a number of ways, including the pas d'armes, round table and "emprise" (or "empresa", enterprise, chivalrous adventure), and in increasingly elaborated rules of courtesy and heraldry.