Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
it is New Year's Eve & it is holiday season, all of the upper class people are there - all young, beautiful & handsome
how are King Arthur and his court portrayed thus far?
Green Knight - purposely is being obnoxious and rude to everyone is the hall Arthur's court - the knights are gentlemen, kind, welcoming the Green Knight in
how does the Green Knight's behavior contrast with the behavior of Arthur's court?
- she knows he is not going to refuse her - she uses the courtesy to her advantage so she can entice & tempt him - makes him very uncomfortable & he does not want to deny or push her away because that would not be knightly of him
how does the lady use Gawain's courtesy against him?
- they treat the story as a tale to laugh about & not think anything of it - they all started wearing green belts in honor of Sir Gawain's adventure
how is the green girdle treated by King Arthur's court when Sir Gawain returns?
- it was a symbol of truth & faithfulness - he wore it to represent who he was - only someone who it truly worthy should wear the shield, should represent the truth and worthiness of the shield
how is the pentangle important to Sir Gawain?
- the lord's wife & Sir Gawain - it was unattainable, because he does not really love her
what is an example of a knight's love
asked where to find the Green Knight & where to meet him; had to ask people for help along the way
what is an example of an imaginary or vague setting?
- returning the kisses to the lady courteously - Sir Gawain was always a gentlemen towards the lady - Sir Gawain was NOT rude to the lady
what is an idealization of chivalry in SGATGK?
- men were brave, had honor, & showed gallantry towards women - Christian values in warfare (rules of engagement because "the enemy is my brother") - usually a good lover - courtesy to all people is key - being a gentlemen in all situations is importnat - willing to sacrifice yourself for your lord & ladies
what is chivalry?
- the love a knight has for a woman who is generally not his wife - it is a love from "afar" - it is usually very superficial (often not explained) - generally unattainable
what is courtly love?
that they are beardless children, cowards, and challenges their reputation
what is the Green Knight's attitude toward Arthur & his knights?
- while the lord is out hunting, whatever he wins will be Sir Gawain's - whatever Sir Gawain wins while at the castle he shall give to the lord of the castle
what is the agreement that Sir Gawain & the lord of the castle make?
The Green Chapel
what is the meeting place for the end of the beheading game?
King Arthur's court
what is the place where the beheading game begins?
- that he was of the court of Arthur - fame, valor, courtesy - famous for his chivalry & being a knight that he was part of Arthur's court
which of Gawain's characteristics do the people at this castle seem to be most excited about?
unknown / anonymous
who is the author of Sir Gawain And The Green Knight?
Sir Gawain
who is the romantic hero?
The Green Knight
who is the supernatural character who demands a dangerous New Year's game?
the lord's wife
who is the temptress in this story?
- the Green Knight / the lord - he tricked King Arthur's court - the lord's wife was put up to tempting Sir Gawain
who is the trickster in this story?
Sir Gawain
who tries to be a model knight?
The Green Knight
who was the host of the castle where our Sir Gawain stays for 3 days
he realizes how being a coward he feels that he is a failure at being a knight, he has not been true to his word
why is Sir Gawain ashamed?
- how much food they have - going a little overboard with the feasting - Arthur will not eat till a fight breaks out or story is told, he wants entertainment while he is eating
can you detect any subtle criticism of the court & its behavior, explain?
king - in this scene the king is having little more difficulty taking down the boar but finally manages to kill it Gawain - in the bedroom, it is a little more difficult for Sir Gawain to get rid of the lady - but both are able to overcome the obstacle
describe how the boar hunt outing & the 2nd time the lady entered the room of Sir Gawain's are similar in a way
king - in this scene the king is easily able to hunt the deer down Gawain - in the bedroom, Gawain is able shew off the lady quite easily without being too rude
describe how the deer hunt outing of the king & the 1st time the lady entered the room of Sir Gawain's are similar in a way
king - in this scene it was very difficult for the king to get hold of the sly fox, but he finally was able to kill it & skin it Gawain - in the bedroom, it is very hard for Sir Gawain to get rid of the lady, because she was trying to woo him into receiving a gift from her, but she was very tempting - both were able to overcome their obstacle
describe how the fox hunt outing & the 3rd time the lady entered the room of Sir Gawain's are similar in a way
- they think of the girdle as just a story and an adventure tale - they then wear belts to honor Sir Gawain - Sir Gawain wears the belt to remind him of his cowardice actions and his faults
does King Arthur's court truly understand the significance of the girdle, explain?
- people love to see the progression of a journey - people love the plots of good & evil - people love heroes - people love courteous romance
elements of these stories continue to be used till to this day in contemporary films & literature, why are these elements still being loved to this day?
- he finds out that the girdle is magical & that it will protect him - it symbolizes protection & his fear of death
explain why Sir Gawain accepts the girdle & what the girdle symbolized at that point in the story
FIRST BLOW: - there is no effect, no harm - Sir Gawain dodges out of fear - Sir Gawain kept the pact with the lord, so he was given no blow to the neck, he was true to his word SECOND BLOW: - there is no effect, no harm - Sir Gawain does not flinch, stood there ready to be killed - Sir Gawain kept the pact with the lord, so he was given no blow to the neck, truthful once again THIRD BLOW: - one cut on his neck, the Green Knight purposely swung the axe lightly to his neck - Sir Gawain quickly gets up, puts his helmet back on, & is ready to get out of the Green Chapel - he had a small cut on his neck, because he did not fully fulfill the pact with the lord, only fulfilled the pact halfway - returned the kiss, but not the girdle
for each of the Green Knight's 3 blows of the axe, explain: the effect on Gawain's body, the effect on Sir Gawain's emotions (how he reacts), what each stroke symbolized
- Sir Gawain is being polite with her, though he is not comfortable with her - when decided to leave, he was ready for her to go - he is trying to change the subject when she is being flirtatious & tempting - Sir Gawain granted her request of a light kiss - overview: he granted her request, was being polite, had to keep in mind that he was staying in the house of the lord whom is married to this lady
how do elements of "courtly love" appear in the scene between the wife of the lord and Sir Gawain?
- each blow of the axe represented each day Sir Gawain was at the castle - 1st swing = the first day - 2nd swing = the second day - 3rd swing = the third day - he cut him on the third strike, but only to show him that he did not fulfill his pact with the lord of the castle
how does the Green Knight make his point to Sir Gawain?
- the fox is smart - the fox is able to double back - the fox is sly & was able to dodge the hunters
how is the fox hunt different than the other animals the lord has hunted?
- he is supposed to give the lord everything he earns at the castle, but he only gave the lord 3 kisses - connection: just as the king had finally caught the fox, the lady in a way caught Gawain when she led him into not giving everything that he had earned
in what ways does Sir Gawain fail when he accepts the & then conceals the green girdle?
King Arthur
the leader of the hall that is said to be the home of the bravest & most worthy knights
- the nobles were rich people themselves - King Arthur is a king with a queen - they enjoyed hearing stories about their own class - enjoyed being able to relate to the stories
the stories of the adventures of knights were popular among the wealthy & rich, why do you think that the nobles enjoyed these stories?
- Medieval romances occurred - combines 2 distinct sorts of adventure (the beheading contest & the events at Bercilak's castle) - Gawain's real character is repeatedly tested & his loyalty to Arthur - Gawain's true character is symbolized by is Pentangle
what are elements of legends in this story?
- many men in the Bible have failed my being tempted by women - Adam & Eve - Samson & Delilah - Soloman & many women - David & Bathsheba
what are examples of Biblical allusions?
- Now the New Year drew near - King Arthur was in Camelot one Christmas
what are examples of alliteration?
- Sir Gawain risked his life knowing he was going to die, by getting his head chopped off in the beheading game, but he kept his word - he did not fall for the lady's tempting talk, he politely refused her & in order to do what was right, he had to tell her no
what are examples of moral courage?
- when Sir Gawain persuades King Arthur to back out of the beheading game & let him go in his place - if SG dies, it will be no biggy, because he is not as important as the king - when the guide persuades Sir Gawain to go on home & bail on the beheading game, he tells Sir Gawain that he won't tell anyone that he has bailed out
what are examples of persuasive speech?
- the three times Sir Gawain was with the lady - when the guide tempts Sir Gawain to go on home & that he would not tell anyone that Sir Gawain bailed on the game
what are examples of temptation?
- the Green Knight & all of his green colored armor & horse's bridle accessories - the Green Chapel - the Green belt / girdle
what are examples of uses of color?
- The Matter of Rome - The Matter of France - The Matter of Britain
what are the adventure narratives of the Middle Ages?
- 3 times the lady talked with Sir Gawain - 3 times the lord went out hunting - 3 times the Green Knight swung his axe - 3 days Sir Gawain spent at the castle
what are things that occur in 3's?
- he keeps the girdle - it symbolizes all of his faults, failures, & coward actions - reminds him that he was not 100% true to his word & who he was
what does Sir Gawain do with the girdle at the end of the story & what does it symbolize at the end of the story?
1) five sense - considered to be faultless 2) five fingers that never failed 3) five wounds of Christ 4) five joys of Mary - annunciation - nativity - resurrection - ascension - assumption 5) Gawain's Virtues - - boundless beneficence (being kind & charitable) - brotherly love - pure mind - manners - compassion
what does the Pentangle symbolize?
- green belt that goes around the waist - embroidered with gold - soft & silky
what does the girdle / sash look like?
- when the Green Knight was going to cut off Sir Gawain's head; hoping the girdle will save his life - Green Knight getting his own head chopped off
what is an example mystery & suspense / supernatural elements?
the Green Knight was really disguised as the lord of the castle (vise versa)
what is an example of a concealed or disguised identity?
- King Arthur was going to take the challenge, but Sir Gawain took the place instead - if Sir Gawain were too die, it would not be that big of a deal because he is not that important, but if the King were to die, that would be a big issue
what is an idealization of the hero / knight & his noble deeds?
- at first he was not too fond about accepting this gift - then he realized that it was a magical girdle - whoever has it on, will have no harm come to them - Sir Gawain thought this was worth a try so he accepted the girdle - overview: didn't want the girdle, found out it was magical, decided "eh, couldn't hurt" so he took up the offer
what is special about the girdle that was given to Sir Gawain from the lady?
- a be-heading game - someone will be-head the Green Knight with his own axe - one year & one day later the Green Knight will return the same be-heading to the person
what is the "game" the Green Knight challenges Arthur's court to play?
- they both become more & more difficult to deal with each time - the intensity ramps up each time - the lady becomes more aggressive towards Sir Gawain - the lord gets more aggressive towards the animals he hunts
what is the relationship between the lord's hunting & the scenes between Gawain & the lady?
Medieval (The Middle Ages) 475 - 1453 AD
what is the time period for this story?
- to keep him there as a prisoner & to talk while he is there - to hear of his knightly tales & she knows that he has to stay in the room because of his knightly, gentlemen character
what seems to be this woman's purpose for spending time with Sir Gawain?
- the lady gives Sir Gawain the girdle - the girdle was originally the lord's (the Green Knight's)
who does the girdle come from?
Sir Gawain
who is the hero in this story?