Obstacles In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

8. What bargain does the Green Knight strike with Gawain? That Gawain will have to report to him in a years’ time to be murdered.

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

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.

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

Ultimately, the Green Knight tempts Sir Gawain through two different games, the first being when he shields his supernatural powers from Gawain and gives him the opportunity to “decapitate” him on special terms, and in doing so, testing Gawain’s self control, and his ability to keep his word. On New Year’s Day, the Green Knight shows up in Camelot and proposes his game. He demands, “if a person here present, within these premises / is big or bold

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

Sir Gawain finally moves on from the castle and goes to the Green chapel, which happens to be a mound. He gets there, and is admittedly scared, but ready to die. The Green knight goes to strike Sir Gawain with his axe, but does not. The Green knight notices Sir Gawain flinches and begins to mock him. Sir Gawain proceeds to tell the Green knight that he will not be able to pick up his head like the Green knight did. The Green Knight goes to strike Sir Gawain a second time and Sir Gawain does not flinch this time. Sir Gawain is ready to die now after the first flinch. The Green knight then went to strike Sir Gawain a third time and he began to get frustrated, the Green knight began to talk with Sir

By staying loyal to King Arthur, Sir Gawain fulfills his vows. The green knight proposes a challenge to Arthur’s court and because no one responds, King Arthur feels that it is his duty to protect his honor by accepting the green knight’s challenge. Sir Gawain realizes this means that the king will most likely die so he willingly takes the king’s place “quote”(Tolkien pg 50).

Arthur is stunned by the challenge, and hesitates to respond. When the Green Knight mocks Arthur’s silence, the king steps forward to take the challenge. But when Arthur grips the Green Knight’s axe, Sir Gawain steps in and volunteers to take the challenge himself. In one great blow, Gawain cuts off the knight’s head. The court stands shocked to discover that the now-headless Green Knight picks up his severed head. He rides away with his head in his hand, repeating the terms of the challenge, reminding the young Gawain to seek him in a year and a day at the Green Chapel. The court returns to its festivities, but Gawain is nervous. (He did not expect the Green Knight to live, of course!)

Here is where the two split off onto separate paths. Gawain is given, essentially, a death warrant by the Green Knight. He chooses to honor

She wants him to make love to her instead he didn’t. Sir Gawain is very bold and Brave after what he has

Sir Gawain and The Green Knight was one of the best poems written in the mid to late Fourteenth Century. There are many different themes and symbols in this story but one major theme has to do with Sir Gawain maturing throughout his adventure to meet up and face the Green Knight. Gawain is constantly put to the test throughout this story. He is confronted with three important tests along this adventure. Being confronted with a test always shows someone’s true character. His first test is whenever he shows bravery and volunteers to take the place of King Arthur in accepting the Green Knight’s challenge. In his second test, he declines Lady Bertilak when she tries to pressure him into being with her. This shows obedience and a lot of self-control when

Gawain gained his maturity in the most unique way, but it all began with him as a young, weak individual. On one particular day, as a big, monstrous man wearing all green approached the knights of the Round Table, intimidation was felt in every knights under the rule of King Arthur. Soon after arriving, the massive man taunted the Round Table knight’s in order to convince them compete against him in a challenge. In the challenge, any brave person could exchange the Green Knight a swing of an axe for the swing of an axe. No one wanted to stand up to the man in green, for he shot fear into anyone who dared to look at him. During the time of this visit, Gawain could have been considered weak. He was only in the beginning of his journey on becoming mature, and that would not be the only journey he would be taking. After some tension between the knights of the Round Table and the Green Knight, King Arthur accepted the challenge. Knowing of the danger King Arthur was in, Gawain pleaded to take the place of his uncle. He gave his claim, telling the others of his weak status and unimportance in the world. Once the claim was given, the immature Gawain took hold of the green and gold axe, and gave a swing that beheaded the Green Knight. The headless man, to the surprise of all, picked his head off the ground, gave a speech, and left on his horse. Although Gawain exhibited some strength in his actions, he did not become completely mature from the single situation.

At the beginning of the tale, when the Green Knight arrives demanding a challenge, Gawain volunteers to take the challenge. Stating he will be missed the least, Gawain swings his sword and manages to severe the massive man’s neck, who then tells Gawain to seek him out so he can do the same. This particular scene shows that Gawain can very be courageous when he wants to be. But he feels that he isn’t really worth much compared to the other knights. So after, he goes on a journey to find the Green Knight’s home. When he comes across a castle owned by a king, ho made a pact with Gawain similar to the one the pact the Green Knight made. So Gawain participates in the pact, which results in Gawain obtaining a girdle from the King’s wife. When the

Gawain stood with his neck bare and prepared to meet the face of death, when the Knight lifted the blade of his axe Gawain faltered, letting fear overcome him. The Knight tried once again, and feignedly thrust the weapon down. A third time, making sure that Gawain would stand without cowardice at this act, the axe met with his skin leaving a deep cut that oozed blood down Gawain’s shoulders. Gawain surprised, stood and faced the Knight and the green garbed man explained to him that he was the one who let his wife come onto Gawain and tempt him, and that because of his refusal to give into temptation he was not killed, his accepting of the girdle was why he received the cut upon his neck. Gawain felt like a coward for not rightfully fulfilling the consequences of the game, but the Green Knight assured him that he was truly a hero, he valiantly agreed to meet his doom and take the place of his King, although his downfall was the love and protection of his own life (504), he was able to fully admit to his flaws and overcome them with