Sir Gawain and The Green Knight
the name of sir Gawain's horse?
Gingolet
How would you characterize Arthur's court?
His court and knights, a system of chivalry relatively un-plagued by the corruption that haunted real-life medieval kings and courts. It is happy, exciting, buzzing, civilized, and a refuge for knights.
Literal significance of Christmas/ New Years setting?
In a medieval court, the Christmas season was a time of celebration, extending from Christmas Day through the New Year and ending with the Feast of Epiphany, January 6 — hence the "Twelve Days of Christmas"
allegorical significance of Christmas/ New Years setting?
New Year's Day, rather than Christmas, was the day for gift-giving. Christmas commemorates the birth of Christ, who redeemed humanity from sin, and the New Year is a time of rebirth and new beginnings.
day that the Green Knight shows up in Arthur's castle
New Years
why are the seasons important?
The appearance of various holidays and seasons throughout the poem is an important theme; they help to mark the passage of time, but they also provide symbolic meaning such as new years symbolizing new beginnings
how do the girdle and pentangle relate?
The green belt he receives from the lady of the castle replaces the pentangle as his protection.
symbolism for the pentangle?
1) a symbol of faithfulness ("endless knot"), endless circle, infininte 2) representation of five areas of virtue that characterize gawain
what where the three animals?
1) dear 2) boar 3) fox
significance of the deer in parallel to the scenes in the bedroom?
1) deer had to be hunted at the time according to established rules. The hunt for the deer is univalent or physical, just like the first night with Gawain and the lady. nothing to physical happened, and he never had trouble or danger of temptation.
significance of the boar in parallel to the scenes in the bedroom?
2) the boar hunt is laden with detail unlike the deer hunt. the boar was much harder to kill. in the seduction scene with Gawain and the lady, she is more forward this time in efforts to trick him.
Define a frame story?
A story set within a story... leads the reader from one story to another
who was the Lord of the castle?
Bertilak
what is significant about the wilderness?
During his journey through the Wilderness gawain battles animals or mystical beasts; wolves, bulls, and bears....... giants and dragons. Warrior that he is, he defeats them all, but is almost defeated himself by nature and the bitter cold that accompanies the winter.(again his imperfections)
who is king Arthur's nephew?
Gawain
symbolism of the color gold?
cheer, hope, enlightenment, optimism (sir Gawain wears some gold when he sets off for his journey, done with good spirits) (wealth and purity when on the green knight)
symbolism of the axe?
conflict in the story
symbolism of the color red?
danger, passion, love, anger, vitality (Sir Gawain sets off on his journey with vitality and with enthusiasm) ALSO Bertilaks wife wears red when she tries to seduce Gawain, symbolizing love and passion
what does the pentangle say about the character of Gawain?
dexterity of his five fingers, the perfection of his five senses, his devotion to the five wounds of Christ, his reflection on the five joys of Mary in Christ and, finally, five virtues: generosity, fellowship, chastity, courtesy, and charity
significance of the fox in parallel to the scenes in the bedroom?
fox are tricky, and extremely hard to catch because they're quick and stealthy. Gawain accepts the girdle because he fears for his life from the green knight just like a fox. he resorts to trickery to save himself.
why must Gawain receive the nick on the neck?
he wasn't fully honest with Bertilak about the girdle in his game , so for that he receives a tiny punishment, but not the full removal of his head
symbolism of all the green?
nature, regrowth
symbolism of the green girdle?
represents mortality in the story, but to Gawain it represents shame and guilt from his lie he told to keep it
symbolism of the holly bob?
symbolizes nature and fertility because the holly bob is still green in the dead of winter
what is the decoration on the inside of Gawain's shield?
the Virgin Mary
How is this story a frame story?
the story begins and ends with a reference to Brutus from Troy. The poet begins with the legend that Britain had been founded by descendants of refugees from the city of Troy before the scene at the round table comes up
overall purpose for the beheading game?
to test Gawain's nature of chivalry, and to prove that even the greatest of knights are not perfect
what is a bob and wheel stanza?
unique stanza that combines alliteration and rhyme