Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Getting Ready to Read In your journals: What does Romance mean to you? What is an example of a noble gesture? What are some of the virtues that our culture upholds/respects? What do you know about knights?

Conventions of the Romance The stories of Arthur, his knights, and his court are called romances The Arthur stories are a microcosm (world in miniature) of European medieval culture emerging from the chaotic days (Dark Ages) in the centuries after the fall of Rome.

Conventions of the Romance In Arthur's court we have a miniature, speeded-up story of European society reinventing itself, without Rome and with a strong Christian sensibility. Like the culture itself, Arthur is young and inexperienced. The knights are equally clueless. Since everyone is starting from scratch, the knights typically go out on adventures and face the forces of good and evil, uncertain how to balance bravery and Christianity.

Part 1 The Challenge

Paragraphs 1-10 Mark/highlight the answers to the following questions. Why does Arthur wait to eat? What does the Green Knight hold in each hand? How does Arthur greet the Knight? What Christmas challenge does the Green Knight offer to the court?

Important Symbol : Evergreen The Green Knight is holding a holly bob. Holly, an evergreen, is a pagan symbol used by Christians to celebrate Christmas. An evergreen was brought into the house on the winter solstice as a sign that greenery, i.e. spring, will come again. In this context, the holly bob is used by the Green Knight as a symbol of his peaceful intentions. (look at paragraph 8 for evidence)

Paragraphs Mark/highlight the answers to the following questions. Who is the first to respond to the Knight’s challenge? How does Gawain describe himself? What happens when Gawain cuts off the Green Knight's head? What is Arthur's response once the Green Knight has left?

Part 2 The Search This part is left out of your translation. Here are a couple of important plot details that you missed.

Gawain's armor He carries a red shield that has a pentangle painted on its front. The pentangle is a token of truth. Each of the five points are linked and locked with the next, forming what is called the endless knot. The inside of the shield is adorned with an image of the Virgin Mary, his patron of purity, to make sure that Gawain never loses heart..

Important Symbol: The Pentangle everything eventually returns to the beginning point. 1. Five senses faultless. 2. Five fingers that never failed 3. Five wounds of Christ 4. Five joys of Mary a. Annunciation b. Nativity c. Resurrection d. Ascension e. Assumption 5. Gawain's five virtues a. boundless beneficence, b. brotherly love c. pure mind d. manners e. compassion  The virtues, like the pentangle, are linked. If one fails, they all fail.

Plot Details You Missed He proved his worth by defeating numerous "monstrous foes"-snakes, bulls, bears, (oh no!) boars, giants, etc. He prays the "Our Father" and "Hail Mary" prayers that are a part to Catholic devotion. Prayer = his supernatural aid. "Signs himself thrice." Makes the sign of the cross 3 times.

Plot Details You Missed (continued) He finds a "wondrous dwelling" surrounded by green plants. This indicates that he is approaching the Green Giant, even though he does not know it. Prays to St. Julian, the patron saint of hospitality. As in Beowulf, the guest-host relationship is sacred. With no hotels available, a person had to rely on the kindness of strangers. "A castle cut of paper." The place looks life some kind of doll's house. Like the gingerbread house, it is an indication of its magic qualities.

Plot Details You Missed (continued) His host is of middle age, not a kid like those in Camelot. He reveals that he is the famous Gawain, and they react the way many would react to a rock star (Elvis, perhaps), a movie star, or a great athlete. He tells his host about his quest. The host assures him that he is very close to the Green Chapel and invites him to stay until the day he meets the Green Knight.

Part 2 The Temptation (in your text)

Paragraphs What bargain does the lord offer Gawain? What animal does the lord hunt the first day? What does the lord give Gawain when he returns home? What does Gawain give the lord? What happens at the end of the second day? What animal did the lord hunt?

Paragraphs What animal does the lord hunt the third day? How does the wife act towards Gawain on the third day? What does the young wife offer Gawain? Does he accept? She offers him her girdle, which is sexually suggestive. It's like giving him her underwear. Only this is magic underwear, a magic girdle. It can prevent him from being injured in a fight. How does Gawain break faith with his host?

Important Idea: Courtly Love Gawian cannot just throw the lady out, because that would ruin his reputation for COURTESY which is being skilled in courtly behavior, especially courtly love. In a class and an era where marriages were arranged, love often took place outside of marriage. Courtly love was the kind of love of a knight for his lady, and this lady wants to avail herself of his services. She accuses him of not being very courteous to her.

Important Symbol: The Hunt The lord of the house goes hunting every morning for three days. What he is hunting outside symbolizes the temptations Gawain faces inside. Hind-hunt; temptation of lust Boar-hunt; temptation of pride Fox-hunt; temptation of avarice: Gawain's failure in truth.

Part 3 The Green Chapel

Paragraphs Gawain puts on the girdle. Does the combination of colors remind you of anything? What does the guide say about the Green Knight? What does he tell Gawain to do? What is Gawain's response? Is the Green Chapel what Gawain expected it to be?

Important Symbols: Colors If the knight's color is green, Gawain's is red. The blood that comes from his neck thus matches his general color.

Paragraphs What happens the first time the Green Knight raises the ax? What does he tell Gawain? Have we heard that before? What happens the second time the Green Knight raises the ax? What is Gawain's response? What happens the third time the Green Knight raises the ax? What is Gawain's response? What surprises do we and Gawain get in the Green Knight's explanation of the three tries ?

Important Idea: January 1 Note the significance of this day in Sir Gawain's year. It is the Feast of the Circumcision, the day when Jesus would have been circumcised. The knight's strike does something similar to Gawain. It also symbolized the Resurrection. Gawain in a sense receives his life back now that he will not die today.

Paragraphs What does Gawain say about his virtue? What does he ask of the Green Knight? How does the Green Knight respond? What does Gawain agree to do with the girdle? Who sent the Green Knight to Camelot? Why?

Paragraphs How does Gawain tell his story when he returns to court? What happens to Gawain’s face? (paragraph 85) What is the court's attitude? What happens to the girdle? What does the court do about it?

Important Symbol: The Girdle The Green Knight gives Gawain the green girdle as a token of his weakness. He has achieved the maturity of recognizing his own failure and his need for forgiveness. He has gotten beyond the overconfident self-righteousness of youth. This gain is had by all when the knights agrees to wear their own green sash

THE END