Summary Of Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

 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.

“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” is the classic tale of a knight of the round table who takes up the challenge of the mysterious Green Knight. The poem begins with the Green Knight’s sudden arrival and his declaration of his proposition: a knight may strike him, and then a year and one day from then he will return the blow. This tale is most well-known for dealing with the themes of a knight’s code of chivalry, loyalty, resisting temptation, and keeping one’s word. While the whole poem is full of great lines that beautifully deliver the message, one of the best passages come at the end of the poem after Sir Gawain has managed to survive his second encounter with the Green Knight. This passage perfectly encompasses the various themes of the poem, as it deals with all of the trials Gawain has faced up until that point and also explains how he deals with the shame he feels for surviving the game in the way he did.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a very wonderful story that has many symbols that have an important meaning and lesson to it. Sir Gawain and The Green Knight is written anonymously. This story is very unique in every way because some of the circumstances and games are very different compared to how some people see them today. There are many symbols that are embedded into this story. Items that seem simple and irrelevant in real life are important in the story and embrace special lessons. The green belt, nature and the color green are important symbols in the story.

    Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a tale that takes place in the medieval period. During this time period, knights were considered very common and were expected to follow one main code of law, chivalry. This code mainly stated that a knight must be loyal to his king, honest, modest, and brave. Chivalry is practiced in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in the form of tests that are given to Gawain to reveal his true character, and what is valued most to him. Throughout these tests, Sir Gawain proves that he values his honor over his life and will not fall to temptations displayed to him.

Medieval romances are dramatic theatrical narratives that usually include heroes, adventures, and of course the excitement of love. These stories have been around since the 12th century, first appearing in France and then later seen in England. They were some of the most popular texts of the era. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is one of these stories introduced in the 13th century. In fact, it’s so old that nobody knows who even wrote the poem. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is an exciting tale where Sir Gawain is tested as a knight by facing challenges and adventures. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight shows us the all the main traits and characteristics of a medieval romance, such as supernatural elements, mistaken identity, larger than life characters, and lastly a hero facing and passing tests of loyalty.

Gawain and the Green Knight is a poem about of honor, courage, and knightliness. Gawain had to go on an adventure to face the Green Knight after cutting off his head. He faced many challenges to his honor and his faith. The section that showed his faith and honor the most was the hunting scene and the courtly scene. Gawain and the Lord’s scene were very similar because they both had main ideas connected to them, such as fate, courage, and deceit. The hunting scene and the courting scene portrayed Gawain and Reynard escaping their fate for a while. Reynard escaped the hunt for a while by hiding before dawn. Gawain rejected the ring the lady gave him but could not reject the girdle. Reynard’s fate was to die as Gawain’s fate was to accept the

Sir Gawain and The Green Knight is about Arthur and his knights having a New Years Eve party. Suddenly, a stranger walks in on his horse with his green skin and a challenge. He challenged king arthur to play a game but his nephew stepped in his place. Gawain was to hit the Green Knight as hard as he could with the axe and he would return the favor. He struck a blow, the knight’s head rolled to the floor, the Green Knight got off his horse and picked it up and rode off so fast they thought sparks had flew off the horses hooves. The challenge of the green knight challenged Gawain's honesty and bravery. Later on in the story, Gawain finds out that the Green Knight was really Lord Berkilac and he was testing him. The tests of Lord Berkilac will question both his and Sir Gawain’s character, nobility, and bravery.

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.

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.

The poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight begins in the hall of King Author where a man known as the Green Knight brings a challenge to any knight in the kingdom. However, when no man takes the challenge the Green Knight directs the challenge to the King himself. That is when a young man named Gawain, who considers himself to be the “slightest and dullest” of all the knights in the King’s court volunteers to take on the challenge. Gawain believes his only virtues come through that of the King. And that this task that is considered to be “foolish” , fits his rightful situation (51). Gawain believes he is the rightful match to play the green man’s game. With accepting this challenge, Gawain “heart and hand must be steady and strong/” (58). The challenge begins with Gawain having to swiftly lay an axe through the Green Knights neck. As quickly as the Green Knight’s head falls to the floor, the Green Knight picks up his head and states that Gawain will now have to make his way to his castle. At once the Green Knight mounts his horse, the game has

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 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, most readers believe Gawain is a pristine knight because he accepts the challenge, makes the journey, and meets the green knight at the chapel as they agreed. However, readers fail to realize Gawain's cowardliness throughout the entire story. Although he has many brave moments, he falls short because of the poor decisions he makes shortly after. As shown many times in the story, Gawain struggles with the fear of making the wrong decision. He attempts to portray himself as an indestructible man, but in reality he is a knight that has cowardly tendencies. Gawain can be classified as a coward because of his hesitation in timely situations, desire to protect his own life, and his dishonesty with the host.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is at first glance a riveting yet simple story. It is a classic yet familiar story of a knight on a quest. However, Green Knight is actually a complex medieval romance that explores the intricacies of human nature. In the beginning of the story, Gawain is feasting with his fellow knights at the round table.

If your head was knocked off, would you be able to pick? Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was written upon chivalry and romance. King Arthur and his “heroic” knights sit at the round table and the Green Knight approaches them to offer a challenge. At first, King Arthur thinks that the Green Knight is looking for trouble. Once the Green Knight makes it clear that he was only looking for a challenge, King Arthur asks him to stay, of course, he declines. King Arthur accepts the challenge to get it all over with but then, Sir Gawain steps up. Sir Gawain is generous, but he doesn’t care about himself, women can trick men into some things, but not everything and Sir Gawain is bold for going to the chapel.