Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

The Poem Author unknown Poem was written in the second half of the 14th century The poem was found in a manuscript from around 1400 with several other poems, nothing is known of the manuscript’s author. The poet was well-educated.

Element of Romance Set in a world of pure wish fulfillment Ordinary laws of nature are suspended Idealized and superhuman heroes fight Heroes almost always conquer the forces of evil A verse narrative which traced the adventures of a brave knight or other hero who had to overcome danger for love of a noble lady or high ideal.

Testing Plot Main character (Sir Gawain), although initially strong and noble is pushed towards compromising high ideals (takes green sash because he thinks it will save his life). Hero follows the higher of conflicting virtues Tester relents and allows hero to fulfill lower virtue

Settings Camelot: The Holiday celebrations take place at King Arthur’s castle in Camelot. It is here that the Green Knight challenges Gawain to exchange blows with him. Bertilak’s Home: On his quest (a perilous journey) to meet the Green Knight, Gawain stays here for three days.

Settings The Green Chapel: The supposed home of the Green Knight. Gawain is sent here to keep his end of the bargain which he made with the Green Knight at Arthur’s holiday celebration a year prior.

The Story The Code of Chivalry – a system of ideals and social codes governing the behavior of knights and gentlewomen. Laws of Courtly Love – revering and acting in the name of a lady (nonsexual). Gawain is a noble knight who is the epitome of chivalry; he is loyal, honest and above all, courteous. Throughout the story, he is subjected to a number of tests of character, some known and some unknown– the reader sees the struggles he faces internally.

Main Characters King Arthur of Camelot Sir Gawain – Knight of the Round Table Green Knight Green body-supernatural Green and gold equipment-courtly youth

Sir Gawain Nephew to King Arthur One of the most famous knights of the Round Table Characterized by the romancers as the sage and courteous Gawain.        Gawain is an example of the perfect knight Appears in nearly all of the major Arthurian stories, medieval and modern, and plays a central role in many

Sir Gawain The Five Virtues Generosity Companionableness Courtesy Pure mind Compassion

The Text Thought to have been composed in the mid- to late fourteenth century (1375). Anonymous author is today called alternately "The Pearl Poet," after the poem Pearl in the same manuscript, or “The Gawain Poet” Written in long alliterative lines with the rhyme scheme of ababa, in 101 stanzas

Major Conflict Gawain’s struggle to decide between his duties as a knight and to keep his own life.

Symbolism: Green In English folklore and literature, Green has traditionally been used to symbolize nature and its embodied attributes, namely those of fertility and rebirth. Stories of the medieval period further portray it as representing love and the base, natural desires of man. Green is also known to have signified witchcraft.

Symbolism: Green The color, when combined with gold, as is the case with both the Green Knight and the girdle, is seen as representing the fading away of youth.

Thematic Points The Nature of Chivalry Questioning the Romance Nature vs. Human Society Times and seasons The Fall of Man and Loss of Innocence Combination of romance and realism Gawain is human/sinful

The End