1. Background: “Sir Gawain & the Green Knight”
Medieval Romance
People looked to religion and literature to help them live a virtuous (moral) life
Chivalric tales: stories of heroic knights & their adventures; focused on chivalry
Strict set of rules for gentlemanly behavior
Moral and behavioral code
Combination of Christian & military ideals
Chivalric values: faith, modesty, loyalty, courtesy, bravery & honor
Knights respected and defended the Church, king, country & victims of injustice

2. King Arthur’s Legends Real Medieval England
King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable
Popular because tales were set in an idealized world, nothing like real medieval England
King Arthur’s Legends
castles, heroes, magical spells
Courtly/gallant love
Modeled on feudal relationship between a knight and his lord
Knight serves lady with obedience and loyalty
Knight’s love for lady inspires him to do great deeds
Real Medieval England
Plagues, political battles, civil unrest
Women seen as men’s property and the inferior sex

3. Background: “Sir Gawain & the Green Knight”
King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable
Famous knights in King Arthur’s tales
Launcelot: greatest, most distinguished knight in later Arthurian tales
Sir Gawain: Arthur’s nephew; famous for courage and unfailing chivalry in early Arthurian tales

4. Characteristics of the Romance Genre
Imaginative adventure
Noble heroes
Courtly/gallant love
Chivalric code of honor
Daring deeds
Far Away Setting
Depicts events unlike those of ordinary life
Idealizes heroes and era in which they live
Lighthearted tone
Involves fantasy