Sir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay

Sir Gawain And The Green Knight Analysis Essay
He finally makes it to the Green Knight's lair and awaits his faith. The Green Knight tests Gawain's
chivalry by testing him when he swings at him with his axe. After three swings Gawain tells him to
stop, because he has given a single stroke and stood still for it as part of the challenge.The Green
Knight then tells him, "For I planned it all, to test you....." (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
201–204). Sir Gawain is ashamed and disappointed in himself for his failure to follow by the rules
and keep his complete word as a knight. Sir Gawain's believes, he is a failure and a knight who has
sinned. Also Gawain failed to tell the Green Knight about the green belt given to him by the Green
Knight's wife. The Green Knight forgives him by saying,
Get more content on HelpWriting.net

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Essay
Women, Courtly Love and the Creation Myth in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a great epic written in fourteenth century Europe by the Pearl poet,
emphasizes the opposition of Christian love to Courtly love in the 13th century through the dilemma
of Sir Gawain, one of the great knights of the Arthurian round table. By examining the women in
the poem, Gawain's dilemma becomes a metaphor for the contrast of these two distinct types of
love. The poem looks upon the Virgin Mary as the representative of spiritual love, obedience,
chastity, and life (Warner 9). In contrast, Morgan le Fay and Bertilak's wife appear to be representing
courtly love, disobedience, lust and death. This...show more content...
This is referring to both the pentangle on the inside of his shield which represents the Five Virtues
of Gawain and the carving of Mary on the inside of his shield which gave him faith and courage.
Gawain's shift in faith from Mary to the Green Girdle at the end of the story dictates his downfall.
Gawain's temptation begins upon entering Bertilak's court, which is a totally different world to
him. Although he is initially in a serious mood, he drops his guard at the sight of Lady Bertilak.
All he wants to do is to escort her down the aisle and admire her loveliness. 'When Gawain had
gazed on that gay lady, with leave of her lord, he politely approached; to the elder in homage he
humbly bows; the lovelier he salutes with a light embrace. He claims a comely kiss, and
courteously he speaks; they welcome him warmly, and straightway he asks to be received as
their servant, if they so desire'; (Adams, 222). Strolling down the aisle beside Lady Bertilak is an
older woman who serves as a standard for comparison, accentuating her beauty. 'But unlike to look
upon, those ladies were, for if the one was fresh, the other was faded'; (Adams, 222). This
comparison is a reminder of the moral statement associating women with sex, sin and death. Decay
of the flesh is sometimes a perceived as spiritual decay, as

The Pentangle In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight the poet depicts an
entertaining story of adventure and intrigue. However, the poem is more than a grand adventure.
It is an attempt to explore the moral ideals of Sir Gawain. Gawain's standards are represented by
the pentangle on his shield. The depiction of the pentangle occurs when Sir Gawain is preparing
to gear up for his quest for the Green Chapel. Gawain's outfit is described in great detail, including
its color, makings, and apparel. His armor is meant to serve as a means of protecting his physical
being. This shield has great spiritual values in the five–points of the pentangle. Representing the
knight's physical being, the shield serves as a form of...show more content...
Mary's knight's prayers seem answered as a castle becomes noticeable off in the distance. Though
is seemingly a miracle Gawain remains true to his chivalric principles. Gawain then rides up to
the gate and asks for lodgings for this eve of Christ's birth. This simple scene shows how the
pentangle can have true balance. As Hollis says, "Gawain prays for a solution to his current
predicament, and upon finding a solution he procures his lodgings through courtly requests.
Finally, he properly thanks Jesus for his 'good' fortune." As a result of Gawain's virtue he gains
entrance into the castle. However, his entrance into the castle is for reasons that he is unaware of
at the time. From the instant Gawain sets foot inside the castle his downfall is inevitable. It is in
this castle that Gawain's competing values are put to the test. Up until now Gawain has been
fitted in his armor and shield, but at the castle he finds that there is no longer a need for his
armor. Sir Gawain is now stripped of his symbolic identity by the removal of both shield and gear.
In its place he wears mundane clothing. This is the first step toward the disruption of the balance
of values that the pentangle represents. It is these clothes he wears when the lady of the castle
tempts him during the three mornings. Sir Gawain sees the lady as extremely sensuous. This is not
characteristic of "the way one views the wife of a lord who is giving

Sir Gawain And The Green Knight
In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, by an unknown author referred to as the "Pearl Poet," we are
introduced to Sir Gawain. Gawain is a knight of the Round Table and he is also the nephew of
King Arthur. As a knight, Gawain is expected to possess and abide by many chivalrous facets.
Throughout the poem he portrays many of the qualities a knight should possess, such as bravery,
courtesy, and honor among others. Because of his ability to possess these virtues even when
tempted to stray away from them, Sir Gawain is a true knight. Gawain's first portrayal of being a
true knight comes when the Green Knight makes his appearance in Camelot. The Green Knight
first speaks to King Arthur and proposes that they play a "game." Arthur will strike the Green
Knight with his axe, and in return the Green Knight will return the strike in a year and a day. King
Arthur agrees to this game and its terms, but as he steps up to accept the challenge, Gawain comes
forward and offers to participate in the "game" in place of King Arthur. Sir Gawain says to King
Arthur, "I implore with prayer plain that this match should now be mine" (341–342). Gawain goes on
to strike the Green Knight, cutting off his head. However, the strike does not kill the Green
Knight; he picks up his head from the ground and repeats to Sir Gawain that he will return the
blow in a year and a day. In this moment, Gawain's bravery is clearly showcased. First, he takes a
challenge in place of his king, which he did not have to do.

Sir Gawain And The Green Knight's Loyalty Essay
Back in the Medieval Era, a knight was known to be loyal to the King. They learned to have
chivalry and do what the King said. Being loyal and chivalry were not only the only thing that they
were know for, but they were know to go on adventures during their time as a knight. In these two
stories, "Sir Gawain and a The Green Knight" and "Le Morte d'Arthur", there is Medieval Romance,
the main characters are loyal, and they have chivalry. Throughout both stories both of the main
characters are on an adventure to find something or someone. In "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight",
Sir Gawain is on an adventure to find the Green Knight at the Green Chapel in one year and a day
like he had promised. In "Le Morte d'Arthur", everyday for six months Sir Gawain rode into the
city and overthrew everyone who accepted his challenge. Then one day Sir Gawain challenges
Lancelot. Time after time Gawain had challenged Lancelot and Lancelot had accepted the challenge
time and time again. "'Alas, that I should have to fight Sir Gawain!' said Lancelot. 'But now I am
obliged to.'"(Malory 73–74)...show more content...
Between both stories the main Knight is loyal to the king throughout everything that was thrown at
them. In "Le Morte d'Arthur" in the background of the story we are told that Lancelot had an affair
with the king's wife Gwynevere. Lancelot then saves Gwynevere and instead of keeping her to
himself, he returns her back to the king. In "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight", Sir Gawain stepped
up for King Arthur when the green knight asked to play a Christmas game that would cost their life
in a year and a day. "'I beseech you, Sire,' he said, 'Let this game be mine.'" (Sir Gawain 118–119)
Gawain stepped up even though he knew he made hot not live after his time to find the Green Knight

Sir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a fourteenth century poem which captures heroic acts of young
knight, Sir Gawain The poem remain highly captivating to different audiences in time and thus has
become one of the most revered poems in history. The poet is unknown for this particular poem,
which adds to the mystical value of the poem. It can be classified as a romantic poem thus has
attracted both stage and film adaptations (Stein 282).
The poem follows the life of a young knight, Sir Gawain who takes up the challenge by the "green
knight." The Green Knight is a mysterious figure in the poem who belittles all warriors and knights in
King Arthur's kingdom. He challenges any knight to a duel where the knight strikes him but would
strike the same...show more content...
In medieval time, different events were held to test and prepare soldiers and knights for war. Sir
Gawain exhibits a lot of bravery where he opts to face the Green Knight after everybody else
declines. Moreover, he holds up his end of the deal by going to the Green Warrior's chapel to
have him deliver his blow as agreed. At the time when the Green Knight delivers his blow, he
teases Sir Gawain where he shows his bravery by asking the Green Knight to deliver the blow. The
blow causes a minor injury on Sir Gawain.
Other themes captured in the poem include respect for law. Sir Gawain had to honor the duel
otherwise, it would be considered contemptuous to the authority. There were stringent rules that
controlled the above duels with dire ramifications for individuals who did not honour such duels. In
most cases, these individuals were put to death.
The hunting scenes form part of the poem plot. They are highly symbolic which makes the poem
interesting to read. As aforementioned, hunting was an important act in medieval times and was
held in high regard. Moreover, different animals were viewed differently by the society with some
animals being held in higher regard than others are. The hunting scenes provide the reader with an
opportunity to understand the significance of character's actions. These characters include Lord
Bertilak and his

Sir Gawain: The Ironic Knight Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a tale of the utmost irony in
which Sir Gawain, the most loyal and courteous of all of King Arthur's knights, fails utterly to be
loyal and courteous to his king, his host, his vows, and his God. In each case, Sir Gawain not only
fails to perform well, but performs particularly poorly, especially in the case of his relationship
with God. Ultimately, Sir Gawain chooses magic over faith, and by doing so, shows his ironic
nature as a character who is praised for being most loyal of the knight of the round table. Sir Gawain
is quickly established in the poem as a man with a great sense of honor and devotion to his ideals,
which are firmly established on his shield. The shield bears a pentangle, and each of the five points
of that shape represent some aspect or ideal of Gawain. The five points represent: his five fingers,
the five joyful mysteries, the five wounds of Christ, the five knightly virtues, and the five senses
(Gawain 640–653). On the interior of his shield is simply a picture of the Blessed Mother of God.
The combination of all of these ideals and attributes which Gawain holds dearly illustrate just how
noble he perceived himself, and was perceived, to be. However, when the Green Knight approaches
the Knights of King Arthur with a challenge to the beheading game, Gawain's nobility and
courteousness are put to the test. Sir Gawain fails this test in many ways, the simplest of which is
his failure of

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight – A Test of Chivalry
Essay with Outline Loyalty, courage, honor, purity, and courtesy are all attributes of a knight that
displays chivalry. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is truly a story of the test of these attributes. In
order to have a true test of these attributes, there must first be a knight worthy of being tested,
meaning that the knight must possess chivalric attributes to begin with. Sir Gawain is self
admittedly not the best knight around. He says "I am the weakest, well I know, and of wit feeblest;
/ and the loss of my life [will] be least of any" (Sir Gawain, l. 354–355). To continue on testing a
knight that does not seem worthy certainly will not result in much of a story, or in...show more
content...
The Green Knight is big and of course he is green, which might explain some of the delay in
acceptance of the challenge, but these knights are warriors. The color green is not a frightening
enough color, even combined with the Green Knight's size, to scare a true warrior. The possible
reason for the hesitation by the knights could lie in the description of the Green Knight's eyes.
The author points them out in line 304, "and roisterously his red eyes he [rolls] all about" (Sir
Gawain). The critic Robert B. White Jr. says that "one need not look far to discover the general
symbolic significance of red when it appears in early literature; it [is] generally associated with
blood, cruelty, and violence" (224). The Green Knight's eyes display just how sinister he is and
provide the reason that the other knights are hesitant to accept the challenge. Gawain's willingness to
accept definitely sets him apart from the other knights. The author uses this symbol to reveal that
Gawain is not only loyal, but also courageous, and worthy to have his attributes put to the test.
The author goes on to reveal yet another very important attribute of the loyal knight, his moral
goodness. This is done in the description of the shield that Gawain arms himself with to undertake
his journey to the Green Chapel. The shield is adorned "with [a] pentangle portrayed in purest gold"
(Sir Gawain, l. 620). This pentangle symbolizes Gawain's "faith in the five wounds of

Sir Gawain
Part of the essence of drama is conflict. A man cannot be considered a hero unless he has overcome
some form of opposition. In many cases, this opposition comes in the form of another character.
Typically, the conflict is simplified as a malignant character with wicked intentions committing acts
which would be characterized as evil; the protagonist opposes this villain and usually overcomes that
character, winning the day and the admiration of all. Sometimes, the main character becomes a hero
by overcoming some force within his or her own self. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, this is
ultimately what Gawain must do in order to be considered a hero.
Sir Gawain is originally faced with the challenge of the Green Knight....show more content...
That heroic character is frequently placed on a pedestal. From old folk tales to modern pop–culture, a
hero is often seen as being generally respected and admired for his heroism. Throughout the course of
his quest, Gawain must face temptation and the less–than–heroic qualities within himself–and he
does not necessarily overcome them all.
As Sir Gawain presses on in his search for the Green Chapel, he faces numerous physical challenges.
Yet he overcomes them all to the point that "to tell but thetenth part would tax my wits" (1719) as
he has countless battles with serpents, wolves, and the like. The true challenges come after he
arrives at Bercilak's castle. There, he is tempted three times by Lady Bercilak's advances––yet he
does not give in to her advances, nor spurn her completely in an uncourtly manner. Further, he does
not accept her gift of the ring which she offers as a remembrance. However, when she offers her
green girdle, proclaiming its properties of protection:
Then the man began to muse, and mainly he thought
It was a pearl for his plight, the peril to come
When he gains the Green Chapel to get his reward:
Could he escape unscathed, the scheme were noble!
(1855–58)
His greatest foe ultimately turns out to be not the Green Knight, but himself, as the major conflict is
within: his own fear of death. He does triumph over that fear insofar as he seeks out the Green

Sir Gawain and The Green Knight Essay
Sir Gawain and The Green Knight In literature, insights into characters, places, and events are often
communicated to the reader through the use of imagery within the text. Thus is the case with "Sir
Gawain and the Green Knight". The Pearl Poet's use of imagery runs rampant within the work
culminating to set forth the theme of mysticism and/or the supernatural. In this Medieval romance,
the types of imagery used are that of the season or climate, the colors and textures of fabrics and
jewelry, and that of the introduction of the Green Knight himself. The seasons play a major role in
the development of the plot, allowing action to skip several months at a time by simply mentioning
the turning of the leaves. The thematic imagery...show more content...
The fog near the Green Knight's demolished chapel can also be described as a change in
atmosphere which leads to some mystical or magical emotions. The attires of the characters do not
match up to these atmospheric conditions when it comes down the supernatural. If anything they can
be said to have an unrealistic or inflated view of medieval life. The narrative opens with a holiday
feast in King Arthur's court. The richness of this setting is represented by the decorations
surrounding Queen Guenevere described in lines 76–80. "With costly silk curtains, a canopy over,
/ Of Toulouse and Turkestan tapestries rich / All broidered and bordered with the best gems
/ Ever brought into Britain, with bright pennies / to pay." These lines also symbolize the queen's
role in the poem of a stately symbol of chivalric Camelot and as a female ideal. In this setting
women are all around, but Guenevere is positioned above them and is surrounded by expensive,
beautiful things. She is clearly made superior. Gawain, Arthur's knight who takes the Green
Knight's challenge, is portrayed in different lights as the story progresses. Descriptions of fabric
and clothing are integral to this portrayal. When he is departing Camelot to find the Green Knight,
Gawain is depicted as a virtuous, chivalrous knight bravely facing his fate. His clothing, therefore,
is red, symbolizing courage, and bears a gold pentangle, a symbol of

In the poem "Sir Gawain and The Green Knight," a protagonist emerges depicting an Arthurian
knight named Sir Gawain. Sir Gawain, King Arthur's nephew, takes initiative by accepting the
challenge requested by the Green Knight in place of his uncle. He undergoes a perilous adventure,
seeking for the Green Knight to receive the final blow. Although Sir Gawain is not viewed as a hero
for his military accomplishments, he is, however, viewed as a heroic figure by the Knights at the
Round Table for his knightly characteristics. Sir Gawain's courageous initiative in accepting the
Green Knight's challenge is a characteristic any hero must possess. Sir Gawain begins his venture of
courageousness the instant he accepts the challenge that the Green...show more content...
The terms of the challenge were that "on this day next year," Sir Gawain would have to find the
Green Knight to receive the final blow "with what weapon" the Green Knight decides to use on him
(Gawain, lines 384–385). Even though Sir Gawain knows this means death, his courage allows him
to continue his journey in which he fights beast, meets Sir Bertilak's, and fulfill the promise he
made with the Green Knight. Thus, this shows that throughout the journey Sir Gawain's
courageous characteristic continues to be that of a hero. While courage is an undeniable
characteristic of a hero, Sir Gawain's ability to be courteous and chivalrous throughout the tale
makes him that much more entitled to be recognized as a hero. While at Sir Bertilak's castle, Sir
Gawain is let to stay at the castle as a noble guest. As for Sir Bertilak, he ventures out to hunt for
prizes as a challenge with Sir Gawain, in which at the end of each day they trade prizes earned.
As Sir Gawain encounters the lady peeping through the curtain, he "welcomes her politely at
once," in which at the end of the engagement he receives a kiss (Gawain, line 1477). The gentle
lady says that, "someone as young and valiant as yourself, so courteous and chivalrous as you are
known far and wide" is truly respected as a knight (Gawain, lines 1510–1511). Thus, portraying why
Sir Gawain is seen as a hero in this tale, because he is not

Women, Courtly Love and the Creation Myth in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 	Sir Gawain
and the Green Knight, a great epic written in fourteenth century Europe by the Pearl poet,
emphasizes the opposition of Christian love to Courtly love in the 13th century through the
dilemma of Sir Gawain, one of the great knights of the Arthurian round table. By examining the
women in the poem, Gawain's dilemma becomes a metaphor for the contrast of these two distinct
types of love. The poem looks upon the Virgin Mary as the representative of spiritual love,
obedience, chastity, and life (Warner 9). In contrast, Morgan le Fay and Bertilak's wife appear to be
representing courtly love, disobedience, lust and death. This conflict between...show more content...
On Christmas morning, for example, instead of finding comfort in the spiritual meaning of
Christmas, Gawain finds comfort being seated with the lady. The bedroom scenes, however, depict
the true moral battles of Gawain. During the three–day period, there is a spiraling trend. The events
keep happening in the same way on a higher and higher level until Gawain is forced to give in to
her desires. While he is able to see that his chastity is more important than his courtesy, he is still
desperately trying to balance the two (DeRoo, 314). His inability to choose between them leads
him to accept the girdle. While Mary, representing his spiritual love and faith, saves him from
losing his chastity, "great peril between them stood, unless Mary for her knight should
pray" (Adams, 241). Gawain still denies his love for her when faced with the love of the
lady. Gawain's loss of devotion is the key to his downfall, for it was his faith in Mary, which gave
him strength and courage. 	By giving up the pentangle in exchange for the girdle, which
supposedly has magical powers that will protect him, Gawain becomes torn between chivalry and
religion. At this point things start to get a bit "knotty": Gawain, religion and chivalry
become equivalent, intertwined and interdependent. The concept of knots can also be applied to the
icons in this story. The pentangle is a knot that has no beginnings or end, symbolizing

Literary Analysis Essay of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Sir Gawain's character development
In 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight', the narrator, who is also the character Morgan Le Fay,
discovers what truly makes a man throughout the course of a quest that she devises. Sir Gawain, a
seemingly perfect knight, answers her questions by showing how imperfect he actually is.
Originally a poem, 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight' was written by an unknown author dubbed the
"Pearl Poet" in the late 14th–century. The poem is set in England at the time of King Arthur, it is
considered a Middle English chivalric romance, and is one of the best known Arthurian legends out
there. In the story, Morgan Le Fay creates a test for Sir Gawain, by making him exchange blows with
her magical Green Knight, to answer the question: What makes a man? On this quest, Gawain's
honesty is tested with temptations, Morgan receives her answer when Gawain fails when it was
most important.
Sir Gawain is described as one of the most perfect knights, and this is supported when he boldly
risks himself for Arthur. "...He is the one. If he can not pass the test that I set, then no man can..."
(Storynory. Part 1 В¶ 3) A year and a day later, he is true to his word, and brave Sir Gawain, a fair
player in this game, starts on his quest to seek the blow against his own neck, according to the rules
of the game.
Gawain demonstrates how he lives his life based on what he believes to be the 5 virtues of a true
knight: Generosity, faith, purity, courtesy, and sympathy. And then couples them to the pentangle on
his shield, which symbolized his power over evil and temptation. "...By the Holy Pentangle on my
shield, I swear..."(Storynory. Part 1 В¶ 55)
So far in the story, I was impressed that this one man can be so good and pure, and with Gawain
being the one chosen for the quest, I thought that surely knightly values are the answer to the
question posed at the beginning.
In his struggles to keep his bargain, Gawain demonstrates chivalry and loyalty the whole time until
his honour is called into question, after he rides to stay at the castle of Lord Bertilak, and agrees to
play a game of exchanging at the end of the day. He first demonstrates his mortal

Sir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight:
Sir Gawain Faces Temptation
Sir Gawain was known as a noble and honest man who was willing to stare death in the face to
protect King Arthur. However, the courtly Sir Gawain is submitted to the unexpected–not to the test
he expects, but to one he does not expect (qtd. in Spearing). The underlying theme throughout the
entire poem is temptation, which, is Sir Gawain's greatest challenge because he is not aware of it.
He faltered not nor feared
But quickly went his way,
His road was rough and weird,...show more content...
The opposition between Sir Gawain and the Green Knight began when the knight entered the kings
hall on New Years Eve. He challenged anyone present to strike him with an axe, providing that he
could do the same one–year later. Gawain, not wanting the King to partake in such a game, takes up
the challenge and cuts off the Green Knight's
Berry 3
head. The knight then, picks up his head, and tells Gawain to meet him at the Green Chapel in one
year.
Gawain goes searching for the Green Chapel ten months later. He stays at a nearby castle for
Christmas and New Years, entertained by the Lord's wife. At the end of each day Gawain was to
exchange with the lord whatever he had gained.
While the Lord is off hunting, his wife, "attempts his [Gawain's] chastity" (Stone 11). However,
the wife can do no more than kiss Gawain, for he would not allow it. The wife of the Lord tries
one more time to seduce the noble knight in his bed. This time she is dressed much more
provocatively. Gawain, amazed at her appearance, says: "God love you gracious lady" (Norton
234). Further, he is happy that a very beautiful woman like the Lord's wife spends time talking with
him: "it is a pleasure surpassing... it comforts my hurt"

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Essays
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Sir Gawain proves to be a hero and role model. Perhaps if Sir Gawain were living among us today,
he would have his own line of action figures, comic books, and of course a line of chic evening
wear! In lines 712 –762 in the Norton Anthology, we see that through dangerousfoes and perilous
weather, Sir Gawain leans on the strength of God to get him through his journey. Though he meets
many dangers in the forest, he defeats them all, using skill and bravery. Traveling through horrid
weather conditions, he keeps forging ahead, remaining true to his vow. And instead of blaming God,
Sir Gawain leans on the solid foundation of his Christian beliefs.
His journey to find the Green Chapel where he expects to...show more content...
Any other knight would have run off or given up hope. However, Sir Gawain,true to his heroic
nature, faces the slings and arrows of danger head on with a courageous heart. Some may have
turned saying "I could not find the Green Chapel or the path there cannot be tread upon." Gawain
makes up no excuses and charges ahead.
Gawain does not only face threats from physical beings, but from the heavens themselves. Adding to
Gawain's perilous situation is the weather. The wailing wind, freezing temperatures and ice makes
his journey almost unbearable. The poet compares them: "and if the wars were unwelcome, the
winter was worse.." (726). If Gawain's battles with various creatures are horrible, the weather made
his journey more difficult. Even the birds who are equipped with the right amount of plumage:
"many birds unblithe upon bare twigs that peeped most piteously for pain of the cold" (743). Even
nature's creatures who are used to dwelling among the elements were freezing, so one can imagine
the effect it had on our noble knight.
Through all these perils and dire situations, Gawain never loses sight of his nobility and reverence
for God. Gawain's trials and hardships many would have begged God for relief and shelter. Many
tears would be shed, beseeching God to change the circumstances in their favor. However, Gawain
asks for nothing of the sort. He asks God and Mary merely for a place to hear and participate in
Christman

"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a very interesting and
stimulating narration, filled with mystical creatures and wonderful details, the author known as
Gawain–poet did a wonderful job in portraying the characters throughout the story. During the story,
The Green Knight challenges King Arthur to a game, which Sir Gawain accepts. Gawain
participates in the game by chopping the head off of the green knight, who picks it up and leaves,
Gawain is to meet the green knight in a year to receive his blow. The theme of the narration is
simply youth compared to age, which is implied at the beginning of the story because of the New
Year's feast. "The youthfulness of Arthur and of Arthur's folk ... introduces
...show more content...
"The other protagonist, the Sir Gawain of our poem, is correspondingly related to a traditional
Gawain who (Miss Weston tells us) did not originally belong among Arthur's Knights any more than
does the Green Knight. Gawain's traditional role (she convincingly establishes) was that of the hero,
the agent who brought back the spring, restored the frozen life–processes, revived the god––or (in
later versions) cured the king" (Speirs 4). The dynamic, antagonist is the Green Knight, who is the
mysterious, supernatural creature of the story and later we learn is actually Sir Bertilak. "With a
similar counter–romance effect, piety, elegance, and courtesy set the tone at Bercilak's halls; the
magic antagonist and his retinue offer the stranger warm hospitality and display exemplary courtly
behavior" (Bercovitch 4). There are many aspects when it comes to the plot of a narrative poem
including the exposition, which is the moment Gawain agrees to the Green Knights challenge, chops
the Green Knight's head off and is to meet with the Green Knight in one year to receive his blow.
With the agreement made between the Green Knight and Sir Gawain, in turn begins the
foreshadowing of the event between the two, which is to come. The rising action is when Gawain
accepts the challenge of the Green Knight and chops off the Green Knight's head. The falling action
is the moment of the story where the Green Knight explains all the mysteries the story had
previously and the

Sir Gawain and The Green Knight
Summary
The story begins in King Arthur's court, where he and the Knights of the Round Table are
celebrating New Year's. While they are enjoying their feast, a gigantic Green Knight rides in on a
green horse with an immense axe in his hand to offer them a challenge. His offer is: "I shall bide
the fist blow, as bare as I sit........, but in twelve month and one day he shall have of me the same." (
Norton Anthology,208)
After a moment of consideration, Sir Gawain accepts the terrifying challenge. As he tries to perform
the first part of the challenge, he stumbles into an even bigger surprise. As Gawain hits the Green
Knight with an ax, the head of the Green Knight falls on the floor. Instead of the Green...show more
content...
Ahunting I will go while you lie late at rest...., and Gawain, agree to this what ever I win in the
woods I will give you at eve, and all you have earned you must offer to me."(Norton Anthology,225)
This Gawain agrees to do for three consecutive nights.
Thus, for three days the host and Gawain exchange their winnings. On the first eve the host give's
Gawain the deer that hehas hunted, while Gawain gives the host a kiss to return what he has
received from the host's wife. The second day the same procedure takes place; a hunted boar on
the host's side is exchanged for two kisses on Gawain's part. All is well until the third day. On the
third day Gawain deceives the hos. Instead of giving the host all that he has acquired (the three
kisses and the magic girdle), he hides the magic girdle and only gives the host the three kisses that
the host's wife has given him in the morning.
Finally New Year's day comes. Gawain arms himself, puts on the magic girdle and sets out on his
journey to the Green Chapel. After the difficult and dangerous journey, Gawain finds the cave whre
the Green Knight appears. The game begins at once. At the first blow Green Knight misses Gawain.
The second time the Green Knight also misses him. But the third and the final time the Green
Knight " nicks him on the side of the neck."(Norton

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, written by an anonymous author some time during the fourteenth
century, reflects many of the religious, political and social aspects illustrated in other literary works
of the time. The author, a contemporary of Chaucer, lived during a time when gallantry, loyalty and
honor defined a true man. During this period, Christianity was prevalent, and inherent human
weakness was commonly accepted.
The author begins the poem with the mention of the siege and destruction of Troy, said to be a result
of the traitorous acts of the "knight that had knotted the nets of deceit" (Norton 3), Aeneas. The
knights who survive this destruction go on to build the great empires of that time:...show more
content...
Proving his loyalty to the king, and living up to the honor code of a knight, young Sir Gawain
accepts the challenge. After beheading the Green Knight, who astonishes everyone by remaining
alive, Sir Gawain is led on a journey assumed to end in his certain death. During his adventure, his
honor and pride are unsuspectingly put to the test, and his human vulnerabilities are pushed to
their limits. After three days of feasting, fighting off the sexual advances of a beautiful married
woman, and battling with his own weaknesses, Sir Gawain meets the Green Knight, as he has
promised, and is ready to die like a true knight. Only then is Gawain told that this game has not
been a test of his bravery as a knight, but rather a test of his moral character as a man. With his
almost impeccably honorable actions of the past three days, he has already won his life.
In this passage, lines 1 – 59, we are introduced to the court of King Arthur. Emphasis is placed on
the happiness and joy experienced by all during the fifteen–day Christmas celebration, hosted by
King Arthur. "High were their hearts in halls and chambers, / These lords and these ladies, for life
was sweet. / In peerless pleasures passed they their days" (48 – 50), says the narrator. King Arthur,
and his people, are young and carefree, enjoying feasting and dancing. The bravery of the knights is
emphasized by the many tournaments and jousts taking place, in which all "true men" participate.
The participants in the

Analysis Of Sir Gawain And The Green Knight
In his book The Discarded Image C.S. Lewis states that "the Middle Ages depended
predominantly on books...reading was one way of the total culture." To illustrate, imagine a
young heroic knight, holding his sword in one hand and his shield in another. Standing in
confidence, with a determined look upon his face before confronting his next challenge. Bravery
is found in many interesting stories throughout the medieval ages. It is defined by Oxford
Dictionaries as "courageous behavior or character" (Oxford Dictionaries). The use of bravery in
medieval times can be determined as a sort of motivation for the people during Protestant
movement in Britain. Bravery was also used as an example to people of a moral standard. Below,
quotes by C.S. Lewis and from the poems of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Beowulf, and Judith
predominantly showcase the theme of bravery in medieval concepts.
Bravery is immediately found in the beginning of the poem, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight where
Gawain accepts the challenge of the Green Knight in lines 339–342, "By Guinevere, Gawain now to
this king inclines and says, 'I stake my claim this melee must be mine'" (Greenblatt). In this scene
Gawain is trying to make a name for himself among the people, outside of King Arthur and
Guinevere. He finds the bravery in himself to take on the challenge of the Green Knight a few lines
down, stating to his fellow knights, "[knights] brave, bold men are seated on those benches... I am
the weakest of your

The poem of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight compares a super natural creature to nature. The
mystery of the poem is ironic to the anonymous author. The story dates back into the fourteenth
century, but no one knows who originally wrote the poem. This unknown author explains in the
poem of Sir Gawain not knowing of the location of the Green Chapel and or who the Green Knight
really is. This keeps the reader entertained with the suspicion of not knowing. The author then does
not give his name or take credit for his own work. "And the city was smashed, burned to ashes..."
King Arthur and his men had just fought an enormous fight and came out victorious. King Arthur
and his men were the most looked up to. They were the best, most mighty men....show more content...
As promised by Gawain to endure the challenge he was told to search for the Green Chapel in a
year and a day. As Gawain searches for the Green Chapel he begins to wear out from the long
journey of not knowing where to look. He finally is approached by a king and his men who were
out hunting. The host takes Gawain back to the kingdom giving Gawain a place to sleep and
food to eat. Then the host comes up with a game. He explains to Gawain that it's around
Christmas time again and the people in his kingdom were very kind and would give him gifts. So
every gift Gawain gets he must give to the Lord of the house and everything the Lord kills for
food he must give to Gawain. Gawain gives the Lord every gift he received except for one. It was
a magical, green belt that would keep him alive no matter what. Whenever Gawain finds the Green
Chapel, just days later, he puts on the belt and marches into the chapel. The Green Knight was in
the chapel sharpening his axe when Gawain arrives. The Green Knight was ready to return the hit
of the axe to Gawain's neck. Gawain kneeled down ready to take the blow from the axe. As the
Green Knight swings he stops just before hitting the neck of Gawain. Gawain questions the knight
asking why he didn't hit him and the response is harsh. The Green knight tells Gawain he did not
finish his swing because he flinched

Sir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay

Recommandé

Recommandé

Contenu connexe

Plus de Paper Writer Service

Plus de Paper Writer Service (20)

Dernier

Dernier (20)

Sir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay