1. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Authorship for SGGK is typically considered anonymous
Christian values
Wrote in Middle English
Author called “Pearl Poet”
“Pearl Poet” or the “Gawain Poet”
This poet seems to have been a follower of Chaucer. He seems to have a knowledge of Christian theology and a deep vocabulary and poetic sense. There is still no agreement, however, on the authorship of SGGK.

2. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Time Period
Medieval (Middle Ages) ca. 476 A.D. – 1453 A.D.
The Middle Ages stretches the period “between”
Millennium-long period
Spans all of Europe--includes “adventure narratives”
“High” Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a millennium-long period that spans all of Europe in terms of culture. Gawain and the Green Knight would fit into the “high” Middle Ages.

3. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Adventure Narratives of the Middle Ages
Adventure narratives came from three “matters:”
The Matter of Rome
The Matter of France
The Matter of Britain

4. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Adventure Narratives of the Middle Ages
The Matter of Rome:
stories of ancient Roman heroes
exciting adventure (physical or involving love)
“Romance”

5. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Adventure Narratives of the Middle Ages
The Matter of France:
stories of the French hero Roland
Orlando in Italian

6. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Adventure Narratives of the Middle Ages
The Matter of Britain:
stories involving chivalry
King Arthur
The Knights of the Round Table (Camelot)
Arthurian Legend

7. The Arthurian Legend – The Past and Present
Developed in the ancient world
With the Celts, who would make up Britain
First introduced into the literary world by Geoffrey of Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain (ca. 1139)

8. The Arthurian Legend – The Past and Present
Roman de Brut by Layamon
Excalibur (famous sword)
French author Chretien de Troyes
Lancelot
The English Knight Sir Thomas Malory
codified the Arthur legends
Arthurian Legend

9. The Arthurian Legend – The Past and Present
Arthurian Legend Today
The Matter of Britain in pop culture today:
(Disney’s The Sword in the Stone, Broadway’s Camelot, First Knight, and in satire, Monty Python’s Holy Grail)

10. Arthurian Legend and Chivalry
The classic definition of chivalry:
men were brave & had honor
gallantry towards women
Christian values in warfare (“the enemy is my brother”)
a good lover
courtesy to all people
a gentleman in all situations
willing to sacrifice yourself for your lord and ladies (for the weak)
Chivalric Ideal: The Knights of the Round Table were
the most famous for this behavior in the Middle Ages.

11. Arthurian Legend Courtly Love Forbidden Love Love from “afar”
Superficial
“Struck by cupid’s arrow”
Unattainable (only a kiss)
Seeks to impress maiden by:
brave deeds
chivalry
Maiden married to the King
e.g. Lancelot, Guinevere
and King Arthur

12. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Elements of the Legends and This Story
Medieval Romance
Episodic
Carefully constructed
Details matter
Gawain is repeatedly tested:
his trouthe (his real character)
his loyalty: to Arthur and to the chivalric code

13. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Elements of the Legends and This Story
Gawain’s trouthe
true character
symbolized by the star (pentangle) on his shield
Christian themes are major themes in the story
Both the poet and knights are Christian
The poet doesn’t always agree with the chivalric code
Pagan Celtic themes
dealing with nature
“magical” elements

14. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Characteristics of a Medieval Romance
Idealized or larger-than-life characters
A hero who faces a challenge or test
Exotic setting & supernatural and magical elements
Hidden or mistaken identity