The Canterbury Tales and Sir Gawain

Describe the game that the Lord and Gawain play for three days

Gawain comes to this castle and the lord says stay and we shall play this game for 3 days and whatever we collect each day we give to each other: 1. Lord hunts deer - Gawain gets a kiss 2. Lord hunts boar - Gawain gets a kiss 3. Lord hunts god - Gawain gets a kiss and a green sash but doesn't give the lord the sash

*Explain Gawain's condemnation of himself, why is he so ashamed? In your opinion, has Gawain failed to live up to his knightly ideals?

Gawain condemns himself very hard, and a little dramatically - coveted heart = he wants to live, coward = so ashamed because he feels he should do better and *he failed king Arthur and his knights* In my opinion he failed to live up to his knightly ideals however what he did was a common human flaw = he just wanted to live

*What is Gawain's reaction the first time the Knight attempts to behead him? How does this reaction contribute to our conception of Gawain as a valiant Knight who simultaneously exhibits vulnerability?*

Gawain shrinks away from the ax Shows that Gawain is still human due to his flinching - he is a vulnerable human and it shows here

Describe Sir Gawain attitude as he prepares to be beheaded.

Gawain's attitude is he offers his neck with good grace, he fakes a cheerful face because he refuses to look afraid

Describe the Green Knights appearance

Green - all clothing green Huge, taller than man Thick, long beard and hair Square and thick Shirt tight tunic

Why does the Green Knight feel that he's "the better man" when comparing himself to Gawain? Why might readers, like Gawain, feel that Green Knight's self- assessment is flawed?

Green Knight feels like he is the better man because he didn't flinch when he got his head chopped off Flawed because the Green Knight's head was going to go back on unlike Gawain's head

The Prioress prologue

Has good manners - she is faking/has to try hard to do this Very materialistic = bracelet and broach - swears to patron saint of goldsmith = *satirizing the clergy* Gets upset when a mouse is killed but feeds her dog flesh = ironic Overall = anti-semantic story

What is the Green Knights purpose in coming to Arthur's court?

He heard they were the best Knights so he sought them out

The Miller prologue

Heavy, muscular man, broad knotty, restless rams& beats them; rips doors off hinges Red beard (like a spade) , wart on his nose with hair, huge nostrils, mouth/breath disgusting Tells dirty bar stories Steals things Plays bagpipes Overall= disgusting, dirty person= fabliaux tale/story

What is Arthur's response to the Green Knights provocation? What does he response suggest about the Knights attitude toward honor

Lines 85-91: he takes a stride to the Knight, gets very angry (blushes with shame and anger) and says he will take the challenge but Gawain says no he can't because he is the lord. His response suggests that he takes his honor seriously

The Wife of Bath prologue

Scarlet red nose, soft and new shoes, bold face, handsome, wide-gapped teeth, broad women Great sower Had lots of lovers and has been in a lot of pilgrimages = well traveled Overall: Romance tale

Describe the appearance of the Green Chapel. What is Gawain's impression of the chapel?

The Green Chapel is a mound of earth/grass (similar to a cave) - hallow and covered in grass clumps Gawain says it is hideous, not an appropriate place for prayer = where the devil would worship (evil/supernatural)

How many times does the Green Knight "attempt" to behead Gawain? What does he do on the last attempt?

The Green Knight attempts to behead him 3 times On the third attempt he cuts his neck and draws some blood

What is the Green Knights response to Gawains pleas to win back the Green Knight's good grace?

The Green Knight laughs, says that he has done his penance and that he gave him his cut that will remind him of what happened, also he tells Gawain he can keep the sash

What happens after Gawain beheads the Green Knight?

The Green Knight walks over picks up his head off the floor, says don't forget our promise, rides away on his horse and then the feast continues

*What is the Green Knights explanation for his multiple attempts to behead Gawain?*

The Green Knights explanation for the three attempts is that it represents the 3 nights of games between the Lord and Gawain and what he returned each night - first two times doesn't hurt him= first 2 days loyal -third time cuts him because he wasn't truthful on the 3rd day

What is the main frame for the stories in the Canterbury Tales?

The main frame is the pilgrimage to the shrine - 29 pilgrims, the Tabord Inn Harry Bailey says each pilgrim tell 2 stories on the way there and 2 on the way back and the winner gets a feast.

Why does Gawain offer to complete the challenge for Arthur? How does his offer comply with tenants of chivalry?

The relationship between the Knights and the Lord = loyalty = Gawain and Arthur Claims he is the weakest and dumbest of all Knights and the loss of him really wouldn't matter and King Arthur can't do it Gawain wants to prove himself to Arthur = chivalry He is being humble = chivalry

The prioress tale summary

-Christian boy who walks through the Jewish ghetto to get to school everyday -When he is at school his friend teaches him a song -The boy sings it while he is walking through the jewish ghetto and the jewish plan to kill him -the Jewish kill him and throw him into a pit -the widower tries to find him when the boy doesn't come home from school, she goes to the jews and they wont tell her a thing -the widower prays and sings the song that the boy was singing and she hears him singing it and finds where he is -He says he is alive because Mary put a grain on his tongue -the grain is taken out and the boy dies and goes to heaven

Chivalry

-Code of conduct based on feudal ideals of honor -A chivalrous Knight must: -be a courageous warrior -exhibit loyalty to god, king &country -selflessly fight for justice

Medieval Romance

-Narratives based in fantasy; tell strange, sometimes supernatural events in exotic settings -adventure stories that feature kings, knights and doomed love

Fabliaux

A short, bawdy, humorous tale

Frame Story

A story within a story

In what way is Arthur courteous to the Green Knight?

By being hospitable and courteous by inviting him to stay

The Knight prologue

Chivalrous, truth, honor, generousness & courtesy Good soldier = lists all his battle; risk taker; fights for his faith and his king His pilgrimage for thanks - modestly dresses; tunic stained with armor marks Overall= good person, honest and generous = romance tale

The Pardoner prologue

Yellow hair like wax/long, bulging eyes, goat like voice = not a real man immaculating him Charges people money for fake relics - selling pardons

What are the stories within the main frame

within the main frame are the stories told by the pilgrims