King Arthur Gwaine Alternate Ending

Throughout the Arthurian legends, Sir Gawain seems to be the epitome of a noble knight. He is always putting his king before himself, repeatedly sacrificing his own life in some way for King Arthur. He is an honorable knight that lives up to his word. This is evident in both Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and "The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell." In these stories, Gawain lives up to the expectations of a knight belonging to the legendary Round Table.

There are countless versions of the legend of King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table. Most English versions are based on Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, but where did these tales originate, and what different interpretations are there today? This essay seeks to examine the roots and different renditions of the various legends circulating today. The first section deals with the origins of the legend. The second section speculates on who the "real" King Arthur could have been. A comparison of several different versions, and suggestions of why they differ are given in the third section, and the conclusion presents an analysis on the ambiguity of the legend.

After beheading the Green Knight, Sir Gawain is depressed by dark thoughts of what lies ahead for him and all while everyone “danced and sang till the sun went down that day. But mind your mood, Gawain, keep blacker thoughts at bay, or loose this lethal game you’ve promised you will play” (485-490). Of course, one would have anxiety of waiting for a year to come. The time has come for Sir Gawain to go through the unknown world to find the Green Chapel. He encounters a serious of dangers in numerous

Several fictional works set in Arthurian times contain numerous similar elements, whether that be in the structure of its plot or encounters with mythical beings; however, one particular element of these tales stands out among the rest, that being the knights in the stories. Both chivalrous and virtuous, knights are the very embodiment of Arthurian mythology, and are a staple in many Arthurian legends. Their courageous acts of selflessness and loyalty to their lords only add to their reputation, inspiring many authors throughout the ages to capture their likeness in various texts; however, only one author has been able to truly capture what it means to be a knight, that author being the “Gawain Poet.” Also known as the “Pearl Poet,” the “Gawain Poet” is most known for his chivalric romance Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The story revolves around a central conflict in which the protagonist, Sir Gawain, must fulfill an agreement with a mysterious knight. Gawain’s “debt” must be repaid exactly one year after their agreement, and if Gawain should fail to do so, his honor and reputation would be tarnished. It is through his struggles that Gawain not only grows as a character, but also shows what it means to truly be a knight. Sir Gawain is the epitome of a knight because he is not only chivalrous and virtuous, but also stays true to his word in the face of danger.

At first the hero possesses no clue of the excursion set upon them, he receives a call to a journey from the herald which changes his life. In the poem, during the celebration takes place when the Green Knight challenges Camelot, “If any knight be so bold as to prove my words, let him come swiftly to me here..” (Weston 6); thus ultimately making this request the call for Gawain. Even though the Green Knight displays this challenge towards King Arthur, Gawain wholeheartedly intervenes and presents himself as the one to undergo the challenge. As Gawain agrees to the “fateful region of both treasure and danger…” (Campbell 53); he hesitates towards the refusal of the call the Green Knight presents to the knights of Camelot, but knows he must do it for the reputation of Camelot. Gawain must decapitate the Green Knight with an axe and in return the Green Knight holds a right to deal him

More proof of Sir Gawain’s chivalrous and courageous character is evident when he arrives at Bercilak’s court. The people are honored that their guest is Sir Gawain, the most honored of all the knights on earth, even though Gawain describes himself as young and untested. They whisper to each other that Gawain, whose “courage is ever-constant” and “custom-pure,” will demonstrate and teach them his “command of manners” and “love’s language”(SGGK l. 912, 924, 927). The conversation of the household serves to provide proof of his Gawain's fine character.

As the Green Knight barges in the court of the round table, no one stands up to his challenge. Initially, King Arthur is the only person brave enough to take on this challenge, until Gawain raises himself up. Gawain, who "[was] the weakest ... [and] ... in wit feeblest," urged to protect his king, Arthur (Tolkien 36). Gawain demonstrates the love and respect that he has for Arthur when he asks permission to take on the challenge. "Would you, my worthy lord...bid me abandon this bench and stand by you there, so that I without discourtesy might be excused from the table...?” (Tolkien 36). Sir Gawain also admits that Arthur is a near relative, "Only because you are my uncle is honour given me..."(36). At this moment in the story Gawain is willing to protect his King's life. Gawain is tested of his knightly vow as it says, “Knightly conduct was that of a commander … loyal even to death” (Stroud 327). Gawain was ready to risk his life for his king.

Arthur cringed. “If I wasn’t so desperate for advice, we’d be back in the castle already.” The king couldn’t meet Gwaine’s eye, but he told his story.

This approval that Green Knight expresses towards Gawain’s person only furthers the reflection of Gawain likeability, for even his potential adversary possesses a certain amount of praise for him due to his acceptance of a challenge only the king would undertake. Through his display of courage in sacrificing himself for his king, in the eyes of all, he is deemed a worthy and honorable knight. Moreover, Gawain’s charming first impression is yet again seen when the lord of the castle he finds when searching for the Green Chapel welcomes and greets him saying, “For I know well, my knight, that your name is Sir Gawain, / Whom all the world worships, wherever he ride…” (Fit III, 68). In this declaration, the lord emphasizes Gawain’s overall popularity amongst the people of the land who have heard of his greatness and highlights the charismatic qualities Gawain possesses when he responds in kind replying, “In good truth… that is a gain indeed / Though I am hardly the hero of whom you speak / To be held in such honour… I am altogether unworthy (Fit III, 68). This response, in which Gawain humbly accepts the praise given to him, his likeability is brought to a forefront, emphasizing the charm of a self-deprecating response instead of one that basks in praise—overall a true lesson in knightly morality

Gawain however will not coward out and will remain loyal to the agreement and shrugs off the warning. He eventually runs into the Green Chapel and calls out for the Green Knight. The Green Knight takes three swings at Gawain purposefully missing the first two, and then nipping the neck of Gawain on the third blow. Gawain, not harmed, arose and requested to fight the Green Knight drawing his sword. The Green Knight says he didn’t want to fight only because Gawain has fulfilled the agreement already. He explains that he spared Gawain the first two times for receiving the kisses back from him but the third blow was for not returning the Green Girdle he received. Gawain was thankful and explained that women were the reason for men’s downfall giving examples. The Green Knight introduces himself as Lord Bertilak and explained the Old lady whose face was covered was his Aunt Morgan Le Fay, Merlin’s apprentice, and that he had a spell cast on him. He says the main reason he came to King Arthur’s court was Morgan Le Fay’s plan to scare Queen Guinevere to death. He asked Gawain to come and stay at his castle because he is loved there but he declines and rides back to Camelot with The Girdle under his left arm to show that he committed fault to enemies back along the way as well as the

approaches, and Gawain gets ready to leave Camelot to find Green Knight. Gawain goes days

In Arthurian romances, the knight Gawain fulfills a central role as a member of the legendary Round Table. Alone or accompanied by other chivalrous knights, Gawain traverses the land of Logres, searching for adventures and achieving great feats of heroism. To those he encounters on his quests, Gawain often represents the epitome of chivalry and knightly valor. However, Gawain’s actual characterization is not constant in every tale where he is present. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Chretien de Troye’s Perceval, and Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, Gawain’s character vacillates from being the paragon of chivalry to the antithesis of heroism, and these characterizations serve as a foil to the figures of

Perhaps Arthur’s biggest error in in judgement had been when he chose to ignore his suspicions of the affair, for “Sir Lancelot had done so much for him and for the Queen so many times that…[he] loved him passingly well” (Malory 441). This showed the great amount of loyalty that was shared between the king and his best knight. Had Arthur acknowledged the affair before Agravain and Mordred informed him, he could have put a stop to it, or found a better solution, and not jumped into the war that would pave the path to Arthur’s untimely demise. This war is foreshadowed when Gawain warns Agravain, “for and there arise

This work contains all of the most famous Arthurian elements such as the Sword in the Stone, the magical Merlin, and the love affair between Lancelot and Guinevere. But it was Wace, who using Geoffrey's work was first to mention Arthur's Round Table and amplify the belief in Arthur's return from Avilon, or the Isle of Avalon.

The events of the poem begin with a feast in the court of King Arthur at New Year which the Green Knight interrupts to offer his challenge. King Arthur’s custom is to not sit down to eat until either someone has told a story about “sum aduenturus þyng”(l. 93) or if such an event actually occurs, which follows the Gawain-poet’s source of the First Continuation of Chrétien de Troyes’ Perceval . King Arthur thus symbolically invites the Green Knight into the court as providing the adventure he was waiting for, so that the Green Knight “does not disrupt the courtly ceremonial so much as complete it.” However, the Gawain-poet deviates from his source by having King Arthur accept the Green Knight’s challenge, and then Gawain interrupt the King just before he is able to do so, as opposed to the rash Caradoc who leaps forth to take up the challenge immediately. As Benson writes, by making this change from the source, Gawain “is thus no longer a free agent.” As demonstrated even by the seating in the hall , it is inevitable that Gawain should take the place of King Arthur, since for King Arthur to take the challenge is “not semly”(l. 348), and since Gawain is the second after his uncle. Gawain, introduced in the poem as “gode Gawan”(l. 109), and it is precisely on the reputation of Arthur’s knights that the