Sir Gawain: The Green Knight

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a medieval text written by an unknown author sometime around the fourteenth century. The story is written in Middle English often making the translation difficult and open for interpretation. The story begins for Sir Gawain, a member of King Arthur’s court, as a mysterious man appears in Arthur’s court to present a challenge. He offers a challenge for the court, a blow for a blow. Gawain takes the stranger up on his challenge and it continues from there. Gawain then has to face the consequences of the decisions he makes and it then manages to spiral from there. The story creates a vivid picture of how Gawain experiences a conflict between the word of his chivalric code as well as his bond and how he lives his everyday life. Debate has raged for many years whether or not this story emphasizes the values of the chivalric life or in fact criticizes it. The language and syntax of the text itself along with the events of the story paint a critical and perhaps unconventional portrait of the chivalric life.

 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is one of the most intriguing Middle English chivalric romances known today. The poem is a delicately written balancing act between two cultures, clashing in a time of unease between the religion of tradition, (paganism) and the new religion, (Christianity). The poem is also one of the best known Arthurian tales, with its plot combining two types of folklore patterns, the beheading game and the exchange of winnings. The Green Knight is interpreted by many as a representation of the Green Man of folklore and by others as an allusion to Christ. The story is told in stanzas of alliterative verse, ending in a bob and wheel. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is an important poem in the Middle English romance genre, because it involves all the typical plot progression of a hero who goes on a quest to prove himself. Yet what sets Sir Gawain apart from heroes of lore is his inability to finish his quest. The aspect which makes Sir Gawain and the Green Knight different is Sir Gawain’s failure. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a perfect example of the struggle between enduring Paganism and newfound Christianity.

As an avid recreational reader I enjoy reading books of all types, however, one of my favorite genres is fantasy. This love began in my reading of George MacDonald's Phantastes, and continued throughout the past year as I have been working my way through C.S. Lewis’ The Space Trilogy. What is so interesting, and simply enjoyable, for me about reading Sir Gawain is that it is a more original and classic take on the typical structure and plot of a fantasy/fairytale. In the beginning you already get a general idea of how the story is going to go, yet the story has its own quirks that keep it interesting.

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.

Throughout one’s life, a person will go through numerous changes, both physically and mentally. These continuous changes in life are a few of the steps to maturing, which also helps build a person’s identity. In the romantic poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, by Pearl Poet, the hero, Sir Gawain goes through a passage which develops his perspective on adulthood leading to his maturity. Gawain’s knight errant mentality is what drives him to mature during the adventures he takes on. While on his journey to adulthood, he passes three major tests. First, he shows courage and initiative when he volunteers to take the place of Arthur and accepts the challenge the Green Knight had demanded. Second, he shows discipline, self-control and honor

An archetypal analysis of Gawain’s quest reveals some significant changes that occur in the hero’s character. We will analyze the progress of the hero, Gawain, as he ventures out to complete his quest. By analyzing the works of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight along with The Hero With A Thousand Faces, and how it completes the Hero’s Journey.

During the fourth chapter of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the journey towards the Green Chapel commences. Sir Gawain is escorted by a member of the Red Manor, who gives the knight a heed of warning. The escort offers advice to not travel to the Green Chapel, and if he chose this path, the escort would not tell of his fleeing. Sir Gawain thanks the escort for his warning but tells him that he has to keep his word, otherwise he would become a coward.

Acknowledges as one of the greatest achievements in English literature, the poem titled “Sir Gawain and The Green Knight”, managed to so eloquently incorporate the romantic genre of the medieval times and parallel it to the image of chivalrous knights. Even though knights are often noted as imperfect leads, Sir Gaiwan is portrayed as the imperfect hero through the symbol reflected through the pentangle which is revealed throughout the entire poem. The fact that Sir Gaiwan is portrayed as the imperfect hero raises a sense of curiosity for the reader, especially when the symbolic meaning tracing the pentangle reflects such gallant value. However, what is evident throughout the poem is how there are countless literal and metaphorical contrasts that upon further examination reference the medieval period and the role of men and women. The pentangle represents several ideals and values with the sole purpose of comparing knightly ideals with the reality of Gaiwan’s quest and overall life.

The alliterative poem “Sir Gawain and The Green Knight” is a story of bravery, yet fearfulness of a young knight and his willingness to stand up out of respect for his king. This Middle Age poem, originated in the late fourteenth century by an unknown author called Gawain’s poet, follows the journey of King Arthur’s nephew, Sir Gawain. Sir Gawain is a knight for the royal court during the time and when the Green Knight questions the loyalty of King Arthur’s court, Gawain is the only person to stand up for the king. Doing this shows his loyalty to the king and is the beginning steps to reaching courtesy and chivalry.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, is a medieval English romance that tells the story of Sir Gawain, a knight of King Arthur’s round table, and his quest to fulfill a challenge presented by the mysterious Green Knight. David N. Beauregard, author of the article “Moral Theology in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: The Pentangle, the Green Knight, and the Perfection of Virtue”, and Manish Sharma, author of “Hiding the Harm: Revisionism and Marvel in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”, both discuss major controversial topics relating to this poem.

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.

Both Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and The Franklin’s Tale are set in a world where the laws of nature and order are turned upside down through the use of magic. In this Medieval world, death is escaped, men have the ability to shapeshift, and the impossible becomes entirely possible. What the Christian God set as earthly law, magic, created by the devil himself, subverts into illogical manifestations. Through their works, the authors of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and The Franklin’s Tale portray magic and the devil, whose ultimate scheme is to separate humankind from the Christian God by, as being inextricably intertwined. In both texts, magic is used to engage a faithful vassal and/or Christian in a supernatural demonstration in order to incite doubt or fear, thus subverting the power of their lord and/or the Christian God and tricking the faithful into abandoning faith and virtue.

“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” is an excellent work to reference when examining different relationships within Arthurian legends. The author of “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” is unknown, but he is sometimes referred to as the “Gawain Poet” or “Pearl Poet” because of his additional works: “Pearl,” “Purity,” and “Patience.” All four poems were part of the Alliterative Revival of the Middle Ages of Northern England, containing mostly religious content. This may be the origin of Gawain’s exaggeratedly religious portrayal in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.” “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” is organized in a stanza arrangement. Each stanza ends with one short line and four longer lines, called the bob and wheel, which “knits” the story together. It may important to note that the work was most likely written in the fourteenth century. The work is set in sixth-seventh centuries, but includes modern advances in armory, dress, and décor from the time the poem was written. “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” exhibits many different types of love and relationships in which they are demonstrated. Familial love, spiritual love, erotic love, and courtly love are demonstrated within families, friendships, marriages, and Godly relationships.

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines chivalry as the medieval knightly system with its religious, moral, and social code. Sir Gawain, a knight for King Arthur in Pearl Poet’s famous work Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, demonstrates certain standards of chivalry according to the reader. Sir Gawain first portrays these qualities when he remains loyal to King Arthur and accepts The Green Knight’s challenge. Next, Sir Gawain remains honorable to Sir Bertilak by refusing to sleep with his wife, Lady Bertilak, and turning down her request to marry her. Finally, Sir Gawain acts courageously by reporting to The Green Knight a year and a day after accepting his challenge while understanding that The Green Knight will chop off his head. In Sir Gawain and the Green Night, Sir Gawain fulfills the chivalric standards of loyalty, honor, and courage throughout the challenges he faces throughout the story.

In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the poet leaves some scenes in the poem open to the readers’ interpretation. This makes the poem difficult to understand. The poet does this by leaving out details and adding in words that can be confusing to the reader, based on the scenes or item in question. Unless the words are analyzed and thought about in detail, the reader is left in confusion. Even after analyzing the words and trying to make sense of it all, there can still be confusion and even plot holes. Confusion is provoked by the poet throughout the whole poem. The poem has been read and interpreted by many scholars for many years. They have tried to make sense of some of the scenes and of the item in question in their own ways. The areas in question that I am discussing and proving that confusion is provoked is the scene where Gawain gives his speech to take Arthurs place in the game with the Green Knight, the actual beheading scene when Gawain chops the Green Knights head off, the exchange of winnings between Gawain and Lord Bertilak, and the confession scene.