The Second Battle Of Camlann: A Fictional Narrative

Medieval scholars continually inspect the particularities of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (SGGK) within the context of the preexisting Gawain literary tradition, and the issue of Gawain’s sudden antifeminist diatribe repeatedly comes to the forefront of these textual investigations. Often, literary critics claim that Gawain’s antifeminist outburst is common for the fourteenth century and that his acceptance to wear the girdle as a sign of shame still epitomizes him as a model of knighthood. Other scholars hesitate to dismiss Gawain’s misogyny as commonplace, they note that this moment is inconsistent with his reputation as an ideal knight. Gawain’s hasty compulsion to blame women suggests ruptures within the essentiality of his chivalric identity and a closer examination of the text reveals that this moment is not isolated. Despite scholars repeated attempts to identify the essential knight within Gawain, there are several examples of Gawain’s unstable identity throughout the text. I will argue Sir Gawain’s knightly identity is performative rather than essential, and his diatribe is the culmination of his failure to perform his own expected social identity.

The Knight’s striking military career is considered prestigious and esteemed. The Knight has fought in “fifteen mortal battles” (Chaucer 4) all over the world. He fought in Prussia, Lithuania, Granada, North Africa, Anatolia, and Russia. His devotion to his career brings attention to the significance of fighting for the Knight, “it is during his violent interactions with others, that his loyalty to the knightly code should be most apparent” (n.a. par. 2). The Knight’s devotion to his work in the military can be assumed by how Chaucer describes his appearance when he begins his pilgrimage. In contrast to his son, the Squire, who wears fine clothing “embroidered like a meadow bright and full of freshest flowers, red and white” (Chaucer 5), the Knight, Chaucer reveals, is not “gaily dressed” (Chaucer 5) which divulges that

Within literature, there are many figures that readers can choose to remember. These figures can possess many attributes that give reasons for them to be remembered by. For literature based upon the Arthurian time written in the 14th century, there are many examples of people that should be remembered. In particular, a figure that is important to remember is Sir Gawain, from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. This paper will be arguing that Gawain is remembered as the best knight in Sir Gawain and The Green Knight because while he is not a perfect knight he still shows many aspects of what it is like to be courtly and heroic therefore a great example to look up to.

​Sir Gawain, nephew to the well-known King Arthur of the Round Table, is regarded as the most elite and noble of all the knights in the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Yet, like anyone else in the world, Sir Gawain is far from perfect. Gawain, a courteous knight living a life dedicated to honor, courage, and self-preservation, is tested on his chivalrous code throughout his journey; a search for the Green Knight. Throughout the tests, Gawain’s actions reveal that even the best of men can be selfish and are subject to guilt and sin.

In the Medieval Period, knights dedicated their lives to following the code of chivalry. In Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur, a number of characters performed chivalrous acts to achieve the status of an ideal knight. Their characteristics of respect for women and courtesy for all, helpfulness to the weak, honor, and skill in battle made the characters King Arthur, King Pellinore, and Sir Gryfflette examples of a what knights strove to be like in Medieval society. Because of the examples ofchivalry, Le Morte d’Arthur showed what a knight desired to be, so he could improve theworld in which he lived.

The last level of social class presented in “Sir Gawain and the Green knight” is represented by the noble knights of King Arthur’s round table. In the European feudal system knight service was held due to the king only (knight service (feudal law) 1). Stories of brave and courageous knights are extremely common in fourteenth century literature. Knights in medieval times were those who fought to protect the king and were often considered valiant and honorable heroes. These noble men were known for their bravery and ability to fight. Gerald Morgan points out that “beautiful ladies are drawn to the presence of great knights and by the same token such knights must learn to accustom themselves to the company of beautiful ladies”(1). At King Arthur’s banquet, Sir Gawain honorably represents the knights when he “turned to the king” stating, “‘I beseech now with all courtesy that this

Brian Helgeland’s medieval comedy A Knight’s Tale follows the adventure of William Thatcher and his fellow peasants as they attempt to win tournaments by posing as a knight.

o illustrate most periods in history, the era of knights evolved gradually. These guys have been knighted by the monarchy, but not as a part of an order of chivalry in particular the order of the chivalry the order of the British Empire. They can call himself “Sir”. In this case Gawain is the protagonist within the narrative poem “Sir Gawain and The Green Knight” a pinnacle of humility, piety, integrity, loyalty and honesty. He defends more than his own reputation, he was one of the bravest. In continuation we are going to see more of this amazing character that in my opinion shows to us the importance of family and overcoming one's fears.

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.

Honor is a trait that is hard to come by; it is a trait that is earned not given out as a prize. During the fourteenth century, the knightly virtues were built upon a singular trait; honor. This factor makes up a knight’s worthiness, honor comes through respect. In the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the protagonist has to come to terms with his character and virtues as a knight, and weather or not he deserves what his title.

Sir Gawain is noble, brave, smart, and soon loyal. At this time, he is focused on having more attention from others that are higher up like King Arthur. Sir Gawain’s way of building his reputation is by going after the green knight. He sees himself as modest for doing this, but modesty is what he lacks. Sir Gawain hides some of the more basic features of himself, and that is his sensual desires. It is this enthusiasm that gets him in trouble and knocks him down a peg, leaving him to feel mortified. Although it is troublesome to find fault with Sir Gawain, his story is perceived as a kind of cautionary tale to the reader, who appears to be advised to avoid arrogance, even in the smallest of measures. While there are never any real physical threats in Sir Gawain, the author alludes that the risks to one’s noble character are as tricky as any physical threat and that as such, one must attempt his or her constant fight upon those capabilities that would want to lead one to

With any story, characters have always been an essential part of understanding the growth and development of a hero while also allowing the reader to better understand the overall message of a piece of literature. That being said, the poem entitled Sir Gawain and the Green Knight acts no different as the knight, Sir Gawain, serves as its hero while other characters help fulfill the various archetypes within “the idea of the monomyth that Campbell defines” (Campbell lviii). Throughout the poem, Gawain finds himself interacting with the aforementioned archetypal characters and becoming a more honorable knight in the process. Two characters in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight play key archetypal roles in the perfecting of the hero’s moral development.

To what extent was William Marshall’s life as a knight different from other knights of the time? Invariably it was not that much different than those of his peers until his later life. The one thing that set him apart from other knights was his fierce dedication to loyalty.

And yet the continual reminder that he should be recognized as the greatest of all knights—even greater than Arthur—is what causes friction within the reading. It begins accordingly, with Launcelot as an honourable and gentle knight treating Gareth with dignity while in his unnamed phase, not because he had to, as family relation required Gawayne to do, but from the goodness of his character (179). Already, we are asked to see Launcelot in a worthier light. This is further emphasized when he is the first to recognize Gareth’s nobleness and knights the lad, who goes on to become a great knight of the Round Table. His hand in the creation of a great legend simply adds to Launcelot’s greatness as a knight.

This is showing that those men could not have even gotten a fraction of the training other knights had gotten in that short of a period of time—from being knighted to the start of the fighting at the