Every society has its heroes, and often those heroes are identified with a group which is revered and idolized for its bravery in defense of the noble objectives of the society. In the American West, that group has for many years been the Cowboys. Whether defending women and children against the threats from Native American “Indians” or other armed villains, or participating in one on one duels (or draws) against the “outlaws,” the Cowboys have been regarded as warriors who are the symbols of protection and heroism. In Arthurian society, that role of warrior was played by the Knights. There are many parallels between the modern Cowboy and the medieval Knight, and I agree with Felicity Riddy who observed that “[t]he medieval knight is like …show more content…
They needed such a large hat to protect their faces from the sun while riding in the western heat. The bandana around their necks was to help them breathe amid all the dust, and the chaps on their pants were to help them ride their horses and carry their guns. Anyone who sees a picture of a person attired in this way immediately identifies that person as a cowboy and associates them with characteristics of adventure and bravery.
The same can be said for the medieval Knight. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Gawain’s armor is described in great detail by the author to emphasize the importance of it. When Sir Gawain is leaving to go face the Green Knight, he is described putting on, “the great pile of gilded war-gear glittered…complete with knee pieces, polished bright and connecting at the knee with gold-knobbed hinges.” All the decoration and gold accents on his armor signify how important and wealthy he was. To indicate his status as Knight, he carries his shield with a pentangle. “The Pentangle is proper to this prince of knights…therefore it goes with Sir Gawain and his gleaming armour…Gawain was reputed good and, like gold well refined, He was devoid of all villainy, every virtue displaying in the field.” Sir Gawain’s armor not only identified him as a Knight but specifically by name and honor. These appearances of the Knight and Cowboy became so recognizable that they became symbolic. The mere mention of a Cowboy’s hat
Ideas that have been taught in many societies since the first civilizations of Mesopotamia to the world now are duty, loyalty and bravery. No period relied on these ideas more than the Middle Ages time of Europe. The European societies were based on the nature of feudalism. Feudalism worked if everyone in the society did their duty and gave loyalty to everyone above the on the social latter. The knight was the backbone of the feudal society. He was the protector of the heavenly Lord, their lady and the earthly lord. The roles and duties of the knight are quotes as, “the most noble knight under Christ, And the loveliest lades that lived on earth ever, and he the comeliest king, that the court holds.” (P. 26) Sir Gawain and the Green Knight gives a perspective to view life from the courtly aspect of the European feudal
The author utilizes colors to aid in the development of Gawain’s character: “Then they brought him his shield, which was of bright red, … gleaming gold” (Weston 12). The red that Gawain wears symbolizes the passion that he shows toward the deal he made with the Green Knight. The gold symbolizes values and nobility two things that Gawain holds to a high standard. Another character whose colors stand out are the Green Knight’s he wears green and gold. The green represents the amount of envy that King Arthur's sister
The American Frontier, or as it was also known, the Wild West was a time between the 1770s and the late 1900s. The Wild West consisted of the and west of the Mississippi river. This time period lasted for about thirty years, and during this time there were a variety of people that roamed around the towns such as outlaws, lawmen, Native Americans, townspeople, and cowboys. Out in the Wild West the towns were small but, for the size of them, they were called 'home' for many people.
In this essay I will be talking about the hero and the most important people in Oklahoma history. They are the ones who shaped the state it is today and made the state famous as it is now. I will be picking eight people from the list in this project. They were all blessed by God with their talents and they used it well. The eight people I will be talking about are the following; Jim Thorpe, Mickey Mantle, Paul Harvey, L. Gordon Cooper, Will Rogers, Shannon Lucid, Shannon Miller, and Owen K. Garriot. These are just a few people who not just made Oklahoma look great but U.S.A. look great.
Sir Gawain accurately portrays his outward pentangle identity and knightly virtues through his armor through his travels. His armor carries the symbol of the pentangle or the “endless knot” (2.630), which characterizes Gawain as “For ever faithful five-fold in five-fold fashion / [with] … good works … [and] with virtues adorned”. His armor embodies visually the expectations his chivalric virtues of courage, courtesy, and fidelity and the pentangle with its five senses, fingers, joys, virtues, and wounds. As Gawain travels through the dangerous and cold forest, he bravely continues on to find the green knight and hold true to his vows and his armor. The commitment of Gawain to complete his duty satisfies his knightly virtues of courage and faithfulness and the virtues of the pentangle. He encounters serpents,
Hats were worn by all members of the bedwetters and each hat symbolized something about them. For Cotton his choice of headgear was a military helmet that he strapped under his chin when he was about to do something dangerous or “manly”. He chose this form of headgear because he was very interested in Vietnam, which was going on at the time that this book took place. Cotton also intended on enlisting when he turned 17 with dreams of becoming a general. The Lally brothers each had matching bulky cowboy hats, showing that the parents just got them matching everything to save time. Shecker wore a golfing hat signed by Arnold Palmer, obviously showing his family has very important friends and no time for him. Teft wore and Africa korps hat probably because he had dreams of being in the military as well but maybe not for the United States. Lastly, Goodenow wore a Hopi Headband. Much like with the radios, the hats are also thrown at the buffalo by the boys. They are obviously done with the hats and no longer want to bee thought of by them. They want to be known for being themselves and for setting all of the buffalo free from the preserve.
The long perilous journey of the Oregon Trail stretched across the West and dared anyone brave enough to reach the prize of land at its end. The brutal weather conditions and the rugged terrain proved to be a daunting task for many. Native Americans defended their territories and would attack those who entered. So how did the West Coast ever become a thriving part of the United States? Through the dedication and perseverance of thousands of pioneers, the western territories of the United States would grow and prosper. In honor of the acts of these Americans, a national monument for the pioneers should be created in order to represent their struggle and the impact they made in expanding the United States.
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
This heroism is symbolized most effectively with his shield, which bears a pentangle. The points on this symbol represent the knightly virtues of franchise, fellowship, cleanliness, courtesy, and pity, and it is said that “For ever faithful five-fold in five-fold fashion/Was Gawain in good works, as gold unalloyed/Devoid of all villainy, with virtues adorned in sight” (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, 632-635). The shield reflects the chivalric qualities Gawain possesses without fail, and shows him to be a knight of the utmost honor. The shield also symbolizes piety, which Gawain shows more in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight than in the other stories. On the inner part of the shield is an image of the Virgin Mary, and looking at this image gives him strength (649-650). As much as the shield represents Gawain’s chivalry, it also represents the driving force behind his actions, which is his faith. Of Gawain, it is said that “All his fealty was fixed upon the five wounds/That Christ got on the cross, as the creed tells;/And wherever this man in melee took part,/His one thought was of this, past all things else” (642-645). Gawain uses his faith to fuel his actions, and to early Christian audiences reading this story this would be a clear indication of Gawain’s
How does Turner explain the recurring need for communication and transportation along the American frontier?
Shown to be a noble high class knight, Gawain’s behavior portrays that he is a brave and moral character. When King Arthur is about to meet the Green Knight’s challenge, Gawain steps in to take his place and asserts that he is the weakest of all knights and that he would not be missed if he had died. He conveys that he is truly humble and is willing to sacrifice himself for his uncle, expressing his courage and chivalric values of selfless loyalty. Furthermore, Gawain is depicted as “reputed good and, like gold well refined, He was devoid of all villainy, every virtue displaying”, hence the golden pentangle represents his purity and given that it is also a symbol of religion, Gawain depicts that he wants to be connected to God and maybe
Western, a genre of short stories that are set in the American west, primarily in the late of the 19th century (“Western” 598), and still being told until today by films, televisions, radio, and other art works. The major of moving to the west was because of the Homestead Act, 1862 (“U.S. Statues at Large” 392) which would give lands to people who stayed there for five years. This lead to a huge wave of immigrants moved to the West, and they had to face to many hardships and conflicts such as Indian attacks, tornadoes, blizzards, and illnesses.
“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, perhaps the most perfectly wrought of all medieval English romances, has called forth a wealth of scholarly commentary, in regard to its main symbol, the Pentangle” (Beauregard). Christianity is evident in this epic poem. “Some knights in the Medieval Era would carry a shield symbolizing bravery and battle; Sir Gawain is symbolized by the Pentangle that shows his morals” (Beauregard). The pentangle symbolizes the virtues to which Gawain aspires: to possess brotherly love, courtesy, piety, and chastity, “First he was deemed flawless in his five senses;/ secondly his five fingers that were never at fault;/ thirdly the five wounds Christ received on the cross/…The fifth set of five which I heard the knight followed / including friendship and fraternity/, purity and politeness that impressed at all times/, and pity which
In the case of the Knight it can be inferred that his physical description directly represents his demeanor. He is completely sincere and chivalrous in all his deeds; Chaucer explicitly states that the Knight “that fro the tyme that he first bigan/ To ryden out, he loved chivalrye/ Trouthe and honour, freedom, and curteisye” The tale told by the knight, reflective of his character and background, consequentially pays special attention to clothing as a means of status recognition. For example, after Theseus had conquered Thebes, his soldiers discovered the two Knights, Palamon and Arcite: After the bataille and disconfiture. And so bifel, that in the tas they founde,
Knights are one of the most mistaken figures of the medieval era due to fairytales and over exaggerated fiction novels. When medieval knights roamed the earth, it was known that they were only human and, like humans, had faults. These knights did not always live up to the standards designated by society. However, in The Canterbury Tales, the knight is revealed as a character that would now be considered a knight in shining armor, a perfect role model in how he acts and what he does. Modern day people see them as chivalrous figures instead of their actual role as mounted cavalry soldiers. As time passes, the idea of what a knight is changes from a simple cavalry soldier to a specific type of behavior.