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Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (1375-1400)

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (1375-1400). More than a Sword in a Stone Humility, Piety, Integrity, Loyalty, Honesty. Who is Gawain?. Gawain is Arthur’s nephew Exemplar of courtesy and chivalry Never portrayed as Christian – unlike the other knights of his time

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Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (1375-1400)

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  1. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight(1375-1400) More than a Sword in a Stone Humility, Piety, Integrity, Loyalty, Honesty

  2. Who is Gawain? • Gawain is Arthur’s nephew • Exemplar of courtesy and chivalry • Never portrayed as Christian – unlike the other knights of his time • Alienated from the other knights

  3. The Green Knight – Hero of Ecology • Eastern origins • Green is the color of Islam • Connection to the Pagan god, Odin • Has regenerative qualities – like a plant • Influenced Robin Hood • The Green Man appears in gardens and other vegetation

  4. Sir Gawain and the Green Knightand the Ideals of Knighthood • Physical ideals:StrengthSkill at armsHorsemanship • Non-physical ideals:CourageHumilityCourtesyLoyalty • Gawain tries to be loyal to Arthur, to Bertilak, and to his own word. His failure is in loyalty to his word.

  5. Sir Gawain and Courtly Love • Elevated women • Object of love was to be worshipped from afar as an ideal • Only noble people were worthy of love • Poem seems to condemn courtly love Lady visits Gawain in his bedroom

  6. The Poem • Alliterative Poem • ARTHURian Romance • Written by clerk or town official • 14th Century (same time but not same place as Chaucer - Canterbury Tales) • Middle English • Four sections called “fitts” – 2500 lines

  7. Sir Gawain and the Green KnightNOT EPIC • Hero fighting for spiritual ideals • Not fighting for people against a monster or other threat. • Chivalric/Arthurian Hero NOT an Epic Hero like Beowulf

  8. Gawain as flawed hero • Gawain is flawed • Green Knight says Gawain lacks loyalty

  9. Synopsis – 2500 lines on 2 slides • Starts on Christmas Eve at the court of King Arthur • Gawain accepts a challenge from The Green Knight • Chop off his head, then seek the GK out in one year, then the GK will behead him • Gawain does it • The next year, Gawain sets off to find the GK. After surviving many perils, he comes to stay with Bertilak and his wife – hospitable • Lady Bertilak tries to seduce Gawain but he refuses • She offers him a sash that will make the wearer invulnerable to weapons • Gawain accepts hoping to protect himself from the GK

  10. Synopsis • The next day he sets off to find the GK and he appears • 1st blow of the ax – Gawain flinches and the GK complains • 2nd blow of the ax – The GK praises Gawain for not flinching – Gawain complains and wants him to finish • 3rd blow of the ax – Nicks Gawain’s neck, but does not decapitate • The GK explains that he is Bertilak • The first two checked blows were for the honorable behavior shown by Gawain in refusing to be seduced by Lady Bertilak • The nick was for dishonorably taking the sash • Gawain wishes to return the sash, but Bertilak insists that he keep it. • Gawain says that he will wear it as a token of his shame. • When he returns home everyone is delighted by the story • They follow his example and wear green baldrics in honor of Gawain

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