English: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Plot summary of fitt 4

Gawain lies in bed during the early hours of New Year's morning, listening to the harsh wind wailing outside the castle. Before the sun comes up, he rises and prepares to depart, putting on his armor and ordering servants to saddle his horse. Despite Gawain's anxiety, his armor shines as brightly as it did when he left Camelot. He does not forget to tie the lady's girdle around his waist. The girdle's green color stands out against the red cloth of Gawain's surcoat. As Gawain and Gringolet prepare to ride off, Gawain silently blesses the castle, asking Christ to keep it safe from harm and wishing joy on the host and the host's wife. Accompanied by a guide, Gawain crosses the drawbridge and rides back out into the wilderness, up to the heights of the neighboring snowy hills. There, the guide turns to Gawain and proposes a solution to his impending problem: if Gawain leaves now without facing the knight, the guide promises not to tell anyone. No one survives an encounter with the Green Knight, the guide informs Gawain, so continuing is tantamount to suicide. Gawain thanks the guide for his concern, but he refuses to be a coward. The guide wishes Gawain well and leaves at a breakneck pace, afraid to go any farther into the woods. Gawain strengthens his resolve and heads onward into the strange forest. He sees no sign of buildings and searches without success for a chapel in the wilderness. Finally he notices a strange mound and investigates it. He spots a kind of crevice or cave, fringed with tall grass, and realizes it must be the Green Chapel. Suddenly certain that the place belongs to the devil, Gawain curses the chapel and is proceeding toward the cave with his lance in hand when he hears the horrifying sound of a weapon being sharpened on a grindstone. Terrified, and fully aware that the sound means his own doom, Gawain calls out to the lord of the place, stating that he has come to fulfill his agreement. The Green Knight replies, telling Gawain to stay put, and continues to sharpen his weapon. The Green Knight emerges from around a crag, carrying a Danish axe. He welcomes Gawain warmly and compliments him on his punctuality, then tells him he will repay him for his own beheading a year ago. Gawain tries to act unafraid as he bares his neck for the deadly blow. The Green Knight lifts the axe high and drops it. When the Green Knight sees Gawain flinch he stops his blade, mocking Gawain and questioning his reputation. Gawain tells him he will not flinch again, and the Green Knight lifts the axe a second time. Gawain doesn't flinch as the axe comes down, and the Green Knight holds the blade again, this time congratulating Gawain's courage. He then threatens Gawain, saying that the next blow will strike him. Angry, Gawain tells the knight to hurry up and strike, and the knight lifts his axe one last time. He brings it down hard, but causes Gawain no harm other than a slight cut on his neck. Gawain leaps away, draws his sword gleefully, and challenges the Green Knight to a fight, telling him that he has withstood the promised blow. The Green Knight leans on his axe and agrees that Gawain has met the terms of the covenant, but refuses to fight. He points out that he has spared Gawain. He feinted the first two times, in accordance with their contract on the first two days, when Gawain gave him the gifts he had received from the lady. The nick from the third blow was punishment for Gawain's behavior on the third day, when he failed to tell the truth about the green girdle. This speech reveals that the Green Knight is the host of the castle where Gawain was staying. He again congratulates Gawain on his bravery, calling him the worthiest of Arthur's knights and excusing his transgression on the third day. Gawain responds by untying the girdle and cursing it, and asking to regain the host's trust if possible. The Green Knight laughs and absolves Gawain, now that he has adequately confessed his sin. He gives Gawain the girdle to keep and asks him to come back to the castle and stay there longer to celebrate New Year's, but Gawain refuses. Page 2Page 3 Gawain thanks the Green Knight and sends his best wishes to the lady and the old woman, then complains about the deceitfulness of women, who have brought about the downfalls of great men such as Adam, Solomon, Samson, and David. He accepts the girdle, though, and asks that the Green Knight tell him his true name. The knight agrees and reveals himself as Bertilak de Hautdesert, servant of Morgan le Faye, who is the old woman in the castle. Le Faye is also Gawain's aunt and Arthur's half sister, as well as Merlin's mistress; she sometimes helps and sometimes makes trouble for Arthur. Bertilak reveals that Le Faye sent him in disguise as the Green Knight to Camelot in order to scare Queen Guinevere to death. One last time, Bertilak asks Gawain to return with him to the castle and celebrate New Year's with Morgan le Faye and the others, but Gawain refuses and hurries back toward Camelot. On his journey back to Arthur's castle, Gawain's wound heals, but he continues to wear the green girdle on his right shoulder. When he enters the court, he meets a gleeful reception and tells the story of his encounter with Bertilak. He explains that he intends to wear the green girdle forever as a sign of his failure and sin. Arthur and the court try to comfort Gawain, and they decide that they will all wear belts of green silk as a sign of respect and unity. The poet concludes by reaffirming the truth of his story, which happened in the days of King Arthur, and which is recorded in "[t]he books of Brutus' deeds" (2523). In the last wheel of the poem, the poet praises Christ.

Agravain a la dure main

Gawain's brother; his name means "of the hard hand"

Part 2 starts with Sir Gawain on a quest for who?

Green Knight

What part of the wager does Gawain not uphold?

He doesn't return the girdle to Lord Bertilak

Describe Sir Gawain's religious beliefs

He is a Christian

What is the wager that Lord Bertilak makes with Sir Gawain?

He must give anything he receives in his house to him, and Lord Bertilak in return

What would happen if a knight did not act chivalrous?

He would become an outcast

What is the legend of Saint Winifred?

Her head was chopped off, but a saint put it back on

What does the narrator think Sir Gawain really struggles with during his quests?

His fear and self-conscience

What does Sir Gawain learn from his journey?

Humility

Why is it considered a nature poem?

It is a quest / journey through nature; descriptive imagery

King Uther Pendragon

King Arthur's father

Who does Sir Gawain met at the banquet?

Lord and Lady Bertilak

The poem is written in what type of English?

Middle English

Was courtly love consummated?

No

Plot summary of fitt 2:

Part 2 begins with a brief summary of the New Year's feast in Part 1. The poet calls the Green Knight's game with Gawain King Arthur's New Year's gift, since it provided him with the marvelous story he had waited to hear. The poet describes in elaborate language the change of seasons, from Christmas to the cold season of Lent with its ritual fasting, to a green young spring and summer, then into harvest time, and finally back to winter. In late autumn, on the Day of All Saints, the knights of Camelot prepare to send a mournful Gawain off on his quest for the Green Chapel. Worried but resigned, Gawain calls for his armor, which the poet describes in great detail. He devotes space to each and every piece, down to the shimmering skirts on Gawain's horse, Gringolet. The description lingers on Gawain's shield, which depicts on its outside a gold five-pointed star, or pentangle, on a red background. On the inside of the shield is the face of Mary, Christ's mother. Each of the five points of the pentangle, which is described as an "endless knot" (630), represents a set of Gawain's virtues: his five senses; his five fingers; his fidelity, founded on the five wounds of Christ; his force, founded on the five joys of Mary; and the five knightly virtues. After dressing, Gawain says goodbye to his friends and leaves the court. Sparks fly from Gringolet's hooves as they ride off. He heads out into the wilderness, traveling through North Wales and the west coast of England in his search for the mysterious Green Chapel. He encounters various foes—wolves and dragons, bulls and bears, boars and giants—but always prevails over his enemies. He sleeps in his armor and has frequent nightmares. As the winter grows colder, he nearly freezes to death. Finally, on Christmas Eve, the desperate Gawain prays to the Virgin Mary that he might find a place to attend Christmas Mass. He repents his sins, crosses himself three times, and, when he looks up, he sees a beautiful castle. Surrounded by a green park and a moat, the castle shimmers in the distance through the trees, and Gawain, full of thanks to God for saving him, approaches the drawbridge. The castle is so white and its crowns and turrets so tall and intricately carved that the whole building looks as if it were cut out of paper. Gawain salutes, and a guardian allows him to enter. The porter welcomes Gawain warmly, inviting him in to meet the courtiers and the lord of the castle. The host's lords and ladies repeatedly express their joy that Gawain (a minor celebrity because he is Arthur's nephew and a knight of the Round Table) can show them the latest in knightly behavior and help them to become more courtly themselves. Like Arthur's followers, the courtiers seem inexperienced and carefree. But Gawain's host presents a much more imposing figure than Arthur. The lord appears to be middle-aged, with a thick, gray-black beard and solid, sturdy legs. Though the host's fiery face and stocky figure make him appear fierce, his speech reveals him to be gracious and gentle. The lord takes Gawain to a rich chamber, where he feeds Gawain sumptuous food and wine, and introduces Gawain to two women. The host's wife is young, beautiful, and elegantly dressed, her firm neck and bosom exposed. The other, an old woman, is wrinkled, stocky, hairy, black-browed, and covered entirely in clothing. Only her nose, eyes, and blistered lips are exposed by the fabric. After the introductions, the lords and ladies play games and celebrate late into the night, when Gawain retires for bed. Christmas morning and the two days following it pass in a similar manner, but Gawain begins to feel the weight of his quest pressing on him. With only three days remaining before his engagement with the Green Knight, Gawain refuses his host's offer of a longer stay, explaining that he must search for the Green Chapel or else be judged a failure. The host responds gleefully, telling Gawain he can send him to the Green Chapel easily—it is only two miles away. Gladdened, Gawain thanks the host and accepts the invitation to stay the three days until New Year's. The host proposes a game of sorts: during the day, he wants Gawain to stay at court and linger in bed and around the castle, spending time with the two ladies. Meanwhile, the host will go out hunting with his men. At the end of each of the three days, the two men will exchange whatever they have won. Happy to play along, Gawain accepts. The men kiss each other, repeating their vows, and then go off to bed.

Part 4 of quizlet:

Plot summaries

What is alliteration?

Repetition of the *first *consonant sound in a series of words

Part 5 of quizlet

Rhetoric (this wasn't on the study guide so idk if its on the test but i'm including it anyways)

Who takes the challenge?

Sir Gawain

Title

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Test info:

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Test Study Guide Format: Multiple Choice Questions via GoFormative (80 pts.) (45 min.) What to study: Gawain PPT, BBC Documentary Handout, Sir Gawain Introduction (pgs. 189 - 190), Text, Annotations / Notes, Reading Questions, Class OneNote Background Info (PPT, BBC Documentary, Introduction) § Know details about the poem o Historical / Literary Context o Poetic Language / Style - Poetic Devices o When / where / by whom it was composed o Knights / Chivalry o Gawain's struggles / challenges o Narrator as cultural historian § Themes & Symbols o Be able to identify significant symbols in the poem o Be able to identify significant themes in the poem Part 1 § Understand the introductory portion of the poem (lines 1-36) / Devices and Themes § Characterize King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, Sir Gawain, Green Knight, King Arthur's court § Know the Setting- Time and Place / Characteristics § Understand the challenge § Tones and Tone Shifts Part 2 § Understand and be able to detail the following: o Changing seasons o The arming ritual / preparation o The pentangle o Gawain's journey o The castle / Setting Characteristics Part 3 § Understand and be able to detail the following o The 3 hunts & the 3 seduction scenes o Chivalry vs. Courtly Love o The green girdle o What motivates Gawain

Why does the green knight allow Sir Gawain to live?

Sir Gawain is a good man.

Gringolet

Sir Gawain's horse

What challenge does this knight give?

Someone can chop off his head, if he can chop theirs off in return

What new theme is introduced?

Temptation

What does the green knight reveal to Sir Gawain?

That he is Lord Bertilak and he sent Lady Bertilak to him as a test.

What was odd about the Knight who stormed in the castle while the knights were at the roundtable?

The Knight was green

What two scenes are compared during part 2?

The hunting scenes and the bed chamber scenes

What happens when Sir Gawain chops off the knight's head?

The knight's head rolls off, but he puts it back on and rides off

What does Sir Gawain hear that lets him know the green knight is near?

The sound of the ax

First part of quizlet: Intro powerpoint

(slides 1-36)

What are the three main elements of the plot that derive from popular folklore?

1. Beheading game 2. Exchange of winnings 3. Temptation story

What poetic forms are found in SGGK?

1. Bob and wheel 2. Alliteration

What are the three types of knightly chivalry?

1. Duty to countrymen (Warrior Chivalry) 2. Duty to God (Religious Chivalry) 3. Duty to Women

When was the middle ages?

1066-1485

Who is the King of Camelot?

Arthur

The poem starts during what holiday?

Christmas

Each different section of SGGK is called a__________

fitt

What was the temptation story?

•An attractive woman attempts to seduce a man and he is obliged to resist her •Essentially a test in the man's ability to balance the male-oriented chivalric code with the female-oriented rules of courtly love

What was the beheading game?

•An unknown challenger proposes that one of a group of warriors volunteer to cut off his head, the stroke to be repaid in kind at some future date (a year and one day in SGGK) •Goes back to fertility rituals practiced among pre-Christians (Pagans), where the peasants attempted to ensure the fertility of their land by offering sacrifices to the forces of nature in a variety of mock deaths

What is chivalry?

•the code of conduct that by which knights were supposedly guided •Became a large, elaborate system of etiquette

The Green Knight

-A mysterious visitor to Camelot -The Green Knight's huge stature, wild appearance, and green complexion set him apart from the beardless knights and beautiful ladies of Arthur's Camelot -He is an ambiguous figure: he says that he comes in friendship, not wanting to fight, but the friendly game he proposes is quite deadly -He attaches great importance to verbal contracts, expecting Sir Gawain to go to great lengths to hold up his end of their bargain -The Green Knight shows himself to be a supernatural being when he picks up his own severed head and rides out of Arthur's court, still speaking -At the same time, he seems to symbolize the natural world, in that he is killed and reborn as part of a cycle -At the poem's end, we discover that the Green Knight is also Bertilak, Gawain's host, and one of Morgan le Faye's minions. -mysteriou, unknown -very tall and large and muscular -entirely green -dressed in a cloak with a fur lining, a hood, a coat, hose, gold spurs, riding gear -His horse was also green (as well as the embroidered saddle decorated with green gems and gold thread, green stirrups, green knotted mane with bells tied in) -Lots of hair (big bushy beard, hair to his elbows) -carried no knightly equipment, but did hold a giant ax and a holly branch -considered to be a phantom or faerie (evil beings) by Arthur's court -red eyes -challenges the knights' sense of pride when none of them initially except the beheading challenge -described in paradoxical/ juxtapositional/ contrasting/ contradictory terms

What are characteristics of medieval arthurian romance (the genre of SGGK)?

-A tale of adventure in which knights, kings, or distressed ladies are motivated by love, religious faith, or the mere desire for adventure. -The focus is always on adventure and knightly activity •Any "love interest" is likely to be incidental to the story •The stories were often woven around a well-known figure -The hero is always made to conform to medieval conceptions of a knight -Often follows the loose pattern of a quest -Usually set in remote times or places -Involves elements of the fantastic or supernatural

Morgan le Fay

-Arthur's half sister -Gawain's aunt -an evil sorceress trained by Merlin scheming and plotting against Arthur's wife, Guenevere, and his court -enchants Lord Bertilak into the Green Knight

Lady Bertilak

-Bertilak's wife attempts to seduce Gawain on a daily basis during his stay at the castle -Though the poem presents her to the reader as no more than a beautiful young woman, Bertilak's wife is an amazingly clever debater and an astute reader of Gawain's responses as she argues her way through three attempted seductions -Flirtatious and intelligent, Bertilak's wife ultimately turns out to be another pawn in Morgan le Faye's plot. -more beautiful than Guenevere

Guenevere

-King Arthur's wife (queen of Camelot) -is hated by Morgan le Fay -is less beautiful than lady Bertilak

What is Bob & Wheel?

-The "bob" is the first line, about 2 syllables in length, that serves as a bridge between the alliterative lines and the concluding four rhyming lines -The "wheel" is the four lines following the bob that rhyme in the ABAB pattern -In all, the Bob and Wheel mechanism serves as a refrain/summary, or an ironic counterpoint for the preceding stanza

King Arthur

-The king of Camelot -young and beardless, and his court is in its golden age. -courteous, good ruler, noble, brave -doesn't eat until everyone is served (humble) -boyish, light hearted, young-blooded (pg 203) -a bit prideful (he vowed that he wouldn't eat on a holiday until he had heard a "fair feat or fray") -Arthur's refusal to eat until he hears a fantastic tale shows the petulance of youth, as does Arthur's initial stunned response to the Green Knight's challenge -However, like a good king, Arthur soon steps forward to take on the challenge -At the story's end, Arthur joins his nephew in wearing a green girdle on his arm, showing that Gawain's trial has taught him about his own fallibility.

Sir Gawain

-The story's protagonist -Arthur's nephew and one of his most loyal knights. -Although he modestly disclaims it, Gawain has the reputation of being a great knight and courtly lover. -He prides himself on his observance of the five points of chivalry in every aspect of his life -Gawain is a pinnacle of humility, piety, integrity, loyalty, and honesty -His only flaw proves to be that he loves his own life so much that he will lie in order to protect himself. -humble (thinks himself to be the weakest and least smart of Arthur's knights) -brave (volunteers for the green knight's challenge)

Lord Bertilak

-The sturdy, good-natured lord of the castle where Gawain spends Christmas -We only learn Bertilak's name at the end of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight -The poem associates Bertilak with the natural world—his beard resembles a beaver, his face a fire—but also with the courtly behavior of an aristocratic host -Boisterous, powerful, brave, and generous, Lord Bertilak provides an interesting foil to King Arthur -At the end of the poem we learn that Bertilak and the Green Knight are the same person, magically enchanted by Morgan le Faye for her own designs

What are characteristics of warrior chivalry?

-This area of chivalry deals with a knight's virtuous traits such as valor, honor, and protecting the poor -To the knights, this was the most important type of chivalry -This type of chivalry included: •Serving the lord faithfully •Aiding orphans and widows •Refraining from malicious offenses •Refusing and abhorring monetary awards •Living for glory •Guarding the honor of fellow knights •Never retaliating upon a foe, but never refusing a challenge from an equal •Completing any task or challenge that has been started •Always speaking the truth

merlin

-Wizard in Arthurian legends -Mistress is Morgan Le Fay -trained Morgan le Fay

What genre is SGGK?

-medieval arthurian romance

What were the four attributes of courtly love?

1. Aristocratic - practiced by noble lords & ladies, usually at the royal palace or court 2. Ritualistic - couples exchanged gifts or tokens of their affair, such as songs, poems, bouquets, and sweet favors. The woman only need to return a small hint of approval. The woman became the domina (commanding "mistress" of the affair) and the man was the "servus" (a lowly but faithful servant) 3. Secret - lovers were pledged to strict secrecy 4. Adulterous - offered an escape from the dull routines and boring confinements of noble marriage

What symbols are found in SGGK?

1. The Green knight 2. The Pentangle 3. Armor 4. The Seasons 5. Wilderness

Analysis of the plot summary of fitt 1:

1. The narrator places Gawain's story within the larger context of Greek/Roman history (this sets a high bar for Gawain to live up to by drawing a parallel between him and the ancient heroes) 2. The story starts with an account of the festivities going on in the palace, which gives the reader the feeling of excess and abundance (this appealed to the audience of the middle ages) 3. The poet describes the Green knight in contradictory terms, which effects our perception of the green knight because we cannot know whether he is good or evil

What were the 7 stages of courtly love?

1.Attraction to the lady 2.Worship of the lady from afar 3.Declaration 4.Virtuous rejection by the lady 5.Renewed wooing 6.Lovesickness 7.Heroic deeds

How is SGGK different from a traditional epic?

1.The reader is conscious of the narrator. The narrator serves as a cultural historian 2.The emphasis is on chivalry, rather than heroic acts

When was SGGK written?

1375 (during the middle ages)

SGGK is divided into _______ parts

4

How many parts are there to Sir Gawain?

4 parts

What is chivalry?

A code of loyalty to kingdom and to the King that must be followed by knights

What does Lady Bertilak offer Gawain? What powers does it possess?

A girdle; protection

What does Sir Gawain have to give to Lord Bertilak in exchange for the venison won during the hunt?

A kiss

What kind of verse forms the poem?

Alliterative & bob & wheel

Part 2 of quizlet:

BBC Documentary

Where does the start of the poem take place?

Camelot

Plot summary of fitt 3

Early in the morning, the host and his guests get out of bed and prepare to ride forth from the castle. They attend Mass, eat a small breakfast, and leave with their hunting dogs as dawn breaks. They ride through the woods, chasing after the deer and herding the does away from the bucks and harts. In the fields, they slay the deer dozens at a time with their deadly arrows. The hounds hunt down the wounded animals, and the hunters follow to kill them off with their knives. Back at the castle, Gawain lingers in bed until daybreak. While still half asleep, he hears the door open quietly. Peeking out of his bed's canopy, he sees the host's wife creeping toward his bed. Gawain lies back down, pretending to be asleep. Stealthily, the lady climbs inside the bed curtains and sits beside Gawain. Confused but curious, Gawain stretches and pretends to wake up. Upon seeing the lady in his bed, he feigns surprise and makes the sign of the cross. The host's wife smiles and greets him, teasing him for sleeping so deeply that he didn't notice her entering his chamber. She jokes that she has captured him, and she threatens to tie him to the bed, laughing at her own game. Gawain laughs and "surrenders" to her, then asks her leave to get up and put on his clothes. She refuses, saying that instead she will hold him captive. She tells Gawain that she has heard many stories about him and wants to spend time alone with him. She offers to be his servant and tells him to use her body any way he sees fit. The two continue bantering, and the lady tells Gawain that she would have chosen him for her husband if she could have. Gawain responds that her own husband is the better man. Until mid-morning, the lady continues to lavish Gawain with admiration, and Gawain continues to guard himself while still being gracious. When the lady gets up to leave, she laughs and then sternly accuses her captive knight of not being the real Gawain. Alarmed and worried that he has failed in his courtesy, Gawain asks her to explain what she means. She responds that the real Gawain would never let a lady leave his chamber without taking a kiss. Gawain allows one kiss, and then the lady leaves. He dresses immediately and goes to hear Mass, then spends the afternoon with the host's wife and the old woman. Meanwhile, the lord has been hunting deer with his men all day. As evening comes on, the hunters begin to flay the animals, separating the meat and skin from the carcasses. The poet describes the dismembering of the deer in gory detail, from the removal of their bowels to the severing of their heads. After they finish their bloody task, the hunters return home with their meat. The host greets Gawain and gives him the venison he won during the hunt that day. Gawain thanks him and in return gives him the kiss he won from the lady. The host jokingly asks where Gawain won such a prize, and Gawain points out that they agreed to exchange winnings, not to tell where or how they were acquired. Happy, the men feast and retire to bed, agreeing before they part to play the game again the next day. The next two days follow a similar pattern. On the second day, the lord hunts a wild boar, risking his life as he wrestles it to the ground and stabs it with his sword. At the castle, the lady continues to teasingly challenge Gawain's reputation, pressuring him into allowing her two kisses and continuing to make convincing arguments for how his acceptance of her love would be chivalrous. That night, the host brings home the boar's head on a stick and exchanges it with Gawain for the two kisses. On the third day the host hunts a fox, and Gawain, awakened by the lady from horrible nightmares about the Green Knight, receives three kisses from the lady during the course of their conversation. However, while they banter, the lady asks Gawain for a love token. Gawain refuses to fulfill her request, claiming he has nothing to give, so the lady offers him a ring, which he also refuses. She then offers him her green girdle, which she claims has magical properties: it possesses the ability to keep the man who wears it safe from death. Tempted by the possibility of protecting his life, Gawain accepts the girdle. That afternoon, Gawain goes to confession. At the end of the day, he gives the three kisses to his host but fails to mention the lady's gift. After the exchange, the host and his courtiers hold a farewell party for Gawain, who later retires to his chamber, prepared to leave the next day to seek out the Green Chapel. Whether he sleeps or not, the poet cannot say.

Plot summary of fitt 1:

The war in Troy ended and Troy lost. However, some Trojans survived because they were traitors and made deals with the enemy. These survivors were kicked out and went to other lands. One survivor was called Aeneas. His descendent Romulus went on to start the city of Rome. Ticious founded Tuscany, Langobard started Lombardy, and Felix Brutus founded Britain. Since that time, the best king of Britain is King Arthur. The narrator then speaks directly to the readers and tells us that he will try to tell us a tale from Arthur's court... the tale of Sir Gawain. Arthur's palace was located in Camelot, Britain and right now it is Christmastime so there are lots of festivities that have been going on for the past 15 days. His knights, the ladies, and the guests feast, carol, joust, and dance. Amidst all these people, Arthur's wife Guenevere sat on a fancy, decorated platform. Meanwhile, Arthur will not eat until all his guests were served. He is also waiting to hear an adventure tale of some sort (or something equally exciting) before he starts to eat. Everybody else (the knights, Gawain and his brother, Guenevere) have started eating, so now he's just waiting for something exciting to happen. Then, a mysterious rider hurtles into the hall: its the green knight! The narrator describes the Green Knight's appearance extensively. The Green Knight is holding a giant ax and a holly sprig. The green knight asks to talk to whoever is in charge (meaning the king) but no one answers. Finally, Arthur answers him. The Green Knight assures Arthur that he means no harm, and then proposes the beheading game, offering his ax as a prize to whoever accepts his challenge. No one accepted his challenge, but the Green Knight eggs them on (taking advantage of their hubris or pride) and finally Arthur takes up the ax. However, Gawain speaks up and requests that Arthur allow him to take on the challenge instead because Arthur's life is worth so much more than lowly Gawain's own life. Gawain and the Green Knight go over the agreements of the beheading game again, and Gawain asks where the green knight lives, and the green knight responds that he will tell Gawain after Gawain has chopped off the Green Knight's head. The Green knight bows his head in preparation, and Gawain (using the Green Knight's own ax) chops off his head. Blood gushed out, but the knight's body picked up its head, hopped on his horse,tells Gawain to meet him at the Green Chapel in one year, and rides away in a flash. One the green knight is gone, everyone in the palace is full of mirth again and the festivities kick back in (Arthur and Gawain even make fun of the Green Knight). They hang up the ax above the raised platform, and Arthur starts eating now that he has had his fill of excitement.

When was the poem written? Who is the author?

Unknown author, written in the 1400s (***This date from the documentary is different from the one she gave us - 1375 - so idk which is right)

Author

Unknown, referred to as "The Gawain Poet"

What is rhetoric?

art of skillful speaking/persuading

Part 3 of quizlet:

characters

What are the three arts of rhetoric?

ethos, logos, pathos (if you utilize these strategies, than you will successfully speak well and have good rhetoric)

The main elements of the plot within the of SGGK derive from_____________

popular folklore

Logos

the appeal to logic, means to convince an audience by use of logic or reason. Effect on audience: logos evokes a cognitive, rational response. Readers get a sense of, "Oh, that makes sense" or "Hmm, that really doesn't prove anything."

pathos

the emotional appeal, means to persuade an audience by appealing to their emotions. Effect on Audience: Evokes an emotional response. Persuasion by emotion (usually evoking fear, sympathy, empathy, anger)

ethos

the ethical appeal, means to convince an audience of the author's credibility or character. Effect on audience: Helps reader to see the author as reliable, trustworthy, competent, and credible. The reader might respect the author or his/her views.

What was courtly love?

the practice of expressing love; its purpose existed somewhere between spiritual enlightenment and erotic desire

What language style is SGGK written in?

traditional late middle english alliterative poetry

ways to develop ethos

•Author's profession / background •Author's publication •Appearing sincere, fair minded, knowledgeable •Conceding to opposition where appropriate •Morally / ethically likeable •Appropriate language for audience and subject •Appropriate vocabulary •Correct grammar •Professional format

What were characteristics of religious chivalry?

•Being faithful to God •Being faithful to the church •Always being a proponent of good against evil •Putting the worship of God above all others, even the feudal lord

What were characteristics of chivalry towards women?

•Chivalry towards women was derived from worship of the Virgin Mary •Interestingly, the Medieval worship of Mary contrasted greatly with the attitudes in Medieval society about women in general. •For the most part, women were oppressed and viewed as much lesser beings than men. •Women outside of noble families were viewed as especially worthless •Women were even sometimes viewed as source of evil, even though Mary was seen as a refuge for man and a mediator to God

What does the symbol of the pentangle represent?

•Designed by Solomon as a token of truth •Called the "endless knot" •Fitting for Sir Gawain, as he is "ever faithful fivefold in fivefold fashion" •Symbolizes Gawain's perfection or power over evil •Each of the 5 points of the pentangle represents a set of Gawain's virtues and illustrates Gawain's inner fight (faithfulness, honor, Christian faith, goodness, and purity)

What does the symbol of the green knight represent?

•Dualistic color - can represent envy, evil, and trickery; can also represent growth, renewal and life •Represents death or the devil sent to test King Arthur's court •Can also be seen as a catalyst in Gawain's pilgrimage from innocence to experience

Ways to develop pathos

•Emotionally loaded language •Vivid descriptions •Emotional examples •Anecdotes, testimonies, or narratives about emotional experiences or events •Figurative language •Emotional tone (humor, sarcasm, disappointment, excitement, etc.)

What happens in each fitt?

•Fitt 1: Introduction to the story & opening of the adventure. We meet The Green Knight! •Fitt 2: Gawain begins his journey and meets Lord and Lady Bertilak •Fitt 3: Contrast of (3) hunting scenes with Lady Bertilak's romantic pursuit of Gawain •Fitt 4: Gawain and Green Knight meet again to fulfill the original agreement.

What does the symbol of wilderness represent?

•Gawain battles with beasts and serpents •The wilderness is described as without order and Godless. This reflects the idea that court, a place of order, represents what is Godly. Thus, God is order.

What themes are found in SGGK?

•Nature vs. Human Society •Faith in God •Paganism vs. Christianity •Fall of Man & loss of innocence •Human Constructions, specifically Chivalry & codes of conduct

What does the symbol of the seasons represent?

•Poet gives details about the natural cycles of the year in order to emphasize that time will pass, no matter what man may hope •Underscores the idea that Gawain will have to face his fate •Gawain's journey during the changing seasons symbolizes every man and woman •every mortal will have to journey throughout the seasons of life to reach their personal destination •Yearly cycles are sometimes interpreted to indicate the inevitable fall of all good and noble things in the world •Look at the beginning for support - "Since the siege and the assault was ceased at Troy"

What does the symbol of armor represent?

•Symbolically and literally a mode of protection

ways to develop logos

•Theories / scientific facts •Indicated meanings or reasons (because...) •Literal or historical analogies •Definitions •Factual data & statistics •Quotations •Citations from experts & authorities •Informed opinions •Examples (real life examples) •Personal anecdotes

What was the exchange of winnings?

•Two men agree to exchange what each has acquired during a set period of time •Games at this time were seen as tests of worthiness and was common in Germanic cultures If a man received a gift, he was obliged to provide the giver with a better gift or risk losing his honour