sir gawain and the green knight. manuscript unknown author, though clearly a popular poet,...

Sir GawainSir Gawain and the and the Green Green KnightKnight

ManuscriptManuscript

Unknown author, though clearly a Unknown author, though clearly a popular poet, well-educated, and popular poet, well-educated, and versed (though not professionally versed (though not professionally so) in theologyso) in theology

The poem shows influence of Latin The poem shows influence of Latin and French language and culture, and French language and culture, but is written in North Midlands but is written in North Midlands dialectdialect

Written around 1350-1400 (roughly Written around 1350-1400 (roughly the same time period as Chaucer’s the same time period as Chaucer’s The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales

Single manuscript also contains Single manuscript also contains PearlPearl, , PatiencePatience, and , and Purity Purity (Cleanness)(Cleanness)

Poetic Form and DevicesPoetic Form and Devices

Alliterative Revival – 14Alliterative Revival – 14thth century movement to “use the old century movement to “use the old native metre and style long rusticated for high and serious native metre and style long rusticated for high and serious writing” (Tolkien 1975)writing” (Tolkien 1975)

Stanza form and rhymed verse reflect French influence (vs. Stanza form and rhymed verse reflect French influence (vs. stichic or heroic couplet form of stichic or heroic couplet form of BeowulfBeowulf))

““Bob and wheel” structure (blend of Anglo-Saxon and Bob and wheel” structure (blend of Anglo-Saxon and French)French) Stanzas: 15-25 unrhymed lines, four stresses per line, Stanzas: 15-25 unrhymed lines, four stresses per line,

three of which are usually alliteratedthree of which are usually alliterated Bob: one iambic line of two syllables, one stress Bob: one iambic line of two syllables, one stress

(emphasis)(emphasis) Wheel: four three-stress lines (summary and anticipation)Wheel: four three-stress lines (summary and anticipation) Bob and wheel structure rhymes ABABABob and wheel structure rhymes ABABA

Poetic Form and DevicesPoetic Form and Devices

““Wherefore a marvel among men I mean to recall,Wherefore a marvel among men I mean to recall,A sight strange to see some men have held it,A sight strange to see some men have held it,One of the wildest adventures of the wonders of One of the wildest adventures of the wonders of Arthur.Arthur.If you will listen to this lay but a little while now,If you will listen to this lay but a little while now,I will tell it at once as in town I have heardI will tell it at once as in town I have heard

it told,it told,As it is fixed and fetteredAs it is fixed and fetteredIn story brave and bold,In story brave and bold,thus linked and truly lettered,thus linked and truly lettered,as was loved in this land of old.”as was loved in this land of old.”

(Stanza 2)(Stanza 2)

Structure of the PoemStructure of the Poem

Symmetrical structure: Four parts, three major elementsSymmetrical structure: Four parts, three major elements Beheading gameBeheading game Temptation storyTemptation story Exchange of winningsExchange of winnings

Circular or “concentric ring” structure (Solomon 1963) – begins Circular or “concentric ring” structure (Solomon 1963) – begins and ends with Brutus, January and King Arthur’s courtand ends with Brutus, January and King Arthur’s court

Two New Year’s Days, two beheading scenes, two courts, two Two New Year’s Days, two beheading scenes, two courts, two robing scenes, two confessions, three hunts, three kisses, robing scenes, two confessions, three hunts, three kisses, three axe strokes, three hunt scenes and three bedroom three axe strokes, three hunt scenes and three bedroom scenesscenes

Three Gawains:Three Gawains: Courteous and brave brother of Round TableCourteous and brave brother of Round Table Flawless exemplar of Christian chivalryFlawless exemplar of Christian chivalry Flawed everymanFlawed everyman

BeowulfBeowulf and and Sir GawainSir Gawain

Both heroes belong to a Both heroes belong to a ruling military classruling military class

Both warriors are Both warriors are courageouscourageous

Both are zealous for their Both are zealous for their personal honorpersonal honor

Both risk their lives for the Both risk their lives for the honor of their liege lordshonor of their liege lords

Both of their stories Both of their stories include magic as an include magic as an elementelement

BeowulfBeowulf vs. vs. Sir GawainSir Gawain

Beowulf makes a boastful speech about his Beowulf makes a boastful speech about his accomplishments; Gawain lives by a code of humilityaccomplishments; Gawain lives by a code of humility

Beowulf Beowulf is basically a pagan story to which Christian is basically a pagan story to which Christian values have been added. Sir Gawain serves his values have been added. Sir Gawain serves his Heavenly Lord as well as an earthly one.Heavenly Lord as well as an earthly one.

Beowulf Beowulf is a sad poem, but is a sad poem, but Sir Gawain and the Green Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Knight is subtly comic.is subtly comic.

In In Beowulf Beowulf the hero dies, but Sir Gawain is (possibly) the hero dies, but Sir Gawain is (possibly) redeemed after his failure.redeemed after his failure.

Beowulf speaks of his glories in past battles, but the Beowulf speaks of his glories in past battles, but the poet who wrote poet who wrote Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Sir Gawain and the Green Knight glosses over Gawain’s past battles with men and glosses over Gawain’s past battles with men and monsters as the action shifts from the battlefield to monsters as the action shifts from the battlefield to the bedroom.the bedroom.

Elements of Medieval RomanceElements of Medieval Romance

Set in a remote place and timeSet in a remote place and time

Incorporates the marvelous, miraclesIncorporates the marvelous, miracles

Hero is Hero is ““superior in degree to other men and to superior in degree to other men and to his environment”his environment”

May involve conventional testing plotMay involve conventional testing plotTester is unrealistic and remote Tester is unrealistic and remote Test is extremeTest is extremeHero follows higher of conflicting virtuesHero follows higher of conflicting virtuesTester relents and allows hero to fulfill lower Tester relents and allows hero to fulfill lower

virtue (example: God and Abraham)virtue (example: God and Abraham)

Gawain as Medieval RomanceGawain as Medieval Romance

References to ecclesiastical calendar/cyclic time and real References to ecclesiastical calendar/cyclic time and real placesplaces

Hero is one of us, not superior to us/environmentHero is one of us, not superior to us/environment

Tester is split: malicious, magic Morgan le Fay and Tester is split: malicious, magic Morgan le Fay and likeable, realistic Bertilak de Hautdesertlikeable, realistic Bertilak de Hautdesert

Gawain fails the test because he is human/sinfulGawain fails the test because he is human/sinful

Realism may result from 13Realism may result from 13thth-14-14thth century century ““penance penance campaigns,campaigns,”” new new ““moral psychology.moral psychology.””

Mixture of romance and realism leaves the reader Mixture of romance and realism leaves the reader wondering what rules govern this world.wondering what rules govern this world.

Fitt One: Establishing Fitt One: Establishing TraditionTradition

Opens with the siege of TroyOpens with the siege of Troy connecting to epic traditionconnecting to epic tradition allusion to Aeneas and theory of allusion to Aeneas and theory of

Britain’s origins (Brutus—great-Britain’s origins (Brutus—great-grandson of Aeneas)grandson of Aeneas)

recalls fears of invasion present recalls fears of invasion present (100 Years War)(100 Years War)

establishes Arthur and his court establishes Arthur and his court as heirs of the epic traditionas heirs of the epic tradition

Fitt One: CharactersFitt One: Characters

King Arthur: ideal of traits and traditionKing Arthur: ideal of traits and tradition

““king most courteous,”king most courteous,”but also “first in fame,” “high in pride”but also “first in fame,” “high in pride”


“…“…it pleased him not to eatit pleased him not to eatUpon festival so fair, ere he first were Upon festival so fair, ere he first were apprisedapprisedof some strange story or stirring of some strange story or stirring adventure,adventure,of some moving marvel that he might of some moving marvel that he might believe in”believe in”



Green Knight: ambiguous natureGreen Knight: ambiguous nature

““All of green were they made, both All of green were they made, both garments and man”garments and man”

““and verily all this vesture was of and verily all this vesture was of verdure clear”verdure clear”

““a rich robe above it all. . . .a rich robe above it all. . . .embroidered upon…with birds and embroidered upon…with birds and

with flieswith fliesin a gay glory of green, and ever in a gay glory of green, and ever gold in the midst.”gold in the midst.”

(Stanza (Stanza 8)8)


Gawain: Arthur’s champion? A model Gawain: Arthur’s champion? A model of courtly/chivalric virtueof courtly/chivalric virtue

““I am the weakest, I am aware, I am the weakest, I am aware, and in and in wit feeblest,wit feeblest,and the least loss, if I live not, if and the least loss, if I live not, if one one would learn the truth.would learn the truth.Only because you are my uncle is Only because you are my uncle is honour given me:”honour given me:”


Fitt One: The GameFitt One: The Game

Gratuitous (thus romantic, not heroic)Gratuitous (thus romantic, not heroic)

Governed by rules (romantic, not heroic)Governed by rules (romantic, not heroic)

Seasonable (customary Christmas drama)Seasonable (customary Christmas drama)

Quasi-legal (rules are reiterated)Quasi-legal (rules are reiterated)

Tests important knightly virtues: “Tests important knightly virtues: “trauthetrauthe””

Involves seemingly inevitable deathInvolves seemingly inevitable death

Fitt Two: Time FliesFitt Two: Time Flies

The year is marked by the passing of The year is marked by the passing of natural and ecclesiastical seasons:natural and ecclesiastical seasons:

““a year slips by swiftly…a year slips by swiftly…After Christmas there came the After Christmas there came the crabbed Lentencrabbed Lententhat with fish tries the flesh and that with fish tries the flesh and with with food more meagre;food more meagre;but then the weather in the world but then the weather in the world

makes war on the winter…”makes war on the winter…”(Stanza 23)(Stanza 23)

Fitt Two: The Arming of GawainFitt Two: The Arming of Gawain

“…“…the gilded gear in plenty there the gilded gear in plenty there glittered glittered upon it.upon it.The stern man stepped thereon and The stern man stepped thereon and the the steel things handed,steel things handed,dressed in a couplet of damask of dressed in a couplet of damask of Tharsia,Tharsia,and over it a cunning capadoce that and over it a cunning capadoce that was was closed at the throatclosed at the throatand with fair ermine was furred all and with fair ermine was furred all

within…”within…”(Stanza 25)(Stanza 25)

Fitt Two: The PentangleFitt Two: The Pentangle

“…“…the pentangle depicted in pure the pentangle depicted in pure hue hue of gold. . . .of gold. . . .It is a sign that Solomon once set on It is a sign that Solomon once set on a a timetimeto betoken Troth, as it is entitled to to betoken Troth, as it is entitled to do;do;for it is a figure that in it five points for it is a figure that in it five points

holdeth,holdeth,and each line overlaps and is linked and each line overlaps and is linked

with another,with another,and every way it is endless; and the and every way it is endless; and the

English, I hear,English, I hear,everywhere name it the Endless everywhere name it the Endless Knot.”Knot.”


Fitt Two: The Five FivesFitt Two: The Five Fives

1.1. Five sensesFive senses2.2. Five fingersFive fingers3.3. Five Wounds of ChristFive Wounds of Christ4.4. Five Joys Five Joys (annunciation, (annunciation,

nativity, resurrection, nativity, resurrection, ascension, assumption)ascension, assumption)

5.5. Five virtues Five virtues (beneficence, brotherly (beneficence, brotherly love, pure mind, pure love, pure mind, pure manners, faith)manners, faith)

Fitt Two: The JourneyFitt Two: The Journey

““At whiles with worms he wars, At whiles with worms he wars, and with wolves also,and with wolves also,

at whiles with wood-trolls that at whiles with wood-trolls that wandered in the crags,wandered in the crags,

and with bulls and with bears and with bulls and with bears and boars, too, at times;and boars, too, at times;

and with ogres that hounded and with ogres that hounded him from the heights of him from the heights of the fells.”the fells.”


Fitt Two: Hautdesert, or, Bizarro Fitt Two: Hautdesert, or, Bizarro CamelotCamelot

Parallels CamelotParallels Camelot Provincial outlook – a Provincial outlook – a ““lopsided lopsided

pentanglepentangle” ” – skewed expectations of – skewed expectations of GawainGawain

GawainGawain’’s behavior: confirms claims s behavior: confirms claims made for him in arming scenemade for him in arming scene

Names: host knows GawainNames: host knows Gawain’’s name s name but Gawain doesnbut Gawain doesn’’t know hostt know host’’ss

Another contract – same qualities, Another contract – same qualities, ambiguity: the Exchange of ambiguity: the Exchange of Winnings (Stanza 45)Winnings (Stanza 45)

Pay attention to the women! Pay attention to the women! (Stanza 39)(Stanza 39)

Fitt Three: The Hunt(s)Fitt Three: The Hunt(s)

FabliauFabliau: parallelism; sexual favors : parallelism; sexual favors are commoditiesare commodities

Openness, action and noise (hunt) Openness, action and noise (hunt) vs. enclosure, word play and vs. enclosure, word play and erotically-charged quiet (bedroom)erotically-charged quiet (bedroom)

Inversions (hunter vs. hunted)Inversions (hunter vs. hunted) Quarry (deer/innocence trapped, Quarry (deer/innocence trapped,

boar/ferociousness and flirting, boar/ferociousness and flirting, fox/sly, crafty conquest)fox/sly, crafty conquest)

Butchering/field dressing scenes Butchering/field dressing scenes render the trophy, as Gawain’s render the trophy, as Gawain’s soul is laid baresoul is laid bare

Fitt Three: The GirdleFitt Three: The Girdle

Green and gold (should remind reader Green and gold (should remind reader of Green Knight)of Green Knight)

Not accepted for monetary value or Not accepted for monetary value or beauty—he believes it is Providence (?)beauty—he believes it is Providence (?)

Gawain acts differently after his fall:Gawain acts differently after his fall: Gawain goes to Confession, not MassGawain goes to Confession, not Mass Gawain awaits host, instead of host Gawain awaits host, instead of host

callingcalling Gawain goes first, not hostGawain goes first, not host Gawain wears blue, color of Gawain wears blue, color of

faithfulness (Stanza 77) faithfulness (Stanza 77)

Fitt Four: Arming and Journey, Part Fitt Four: Arming and Journey, Part DeuxDeux

Green girdle added to arming (Stanza 81)Green girdle added to arming (Stanza 81)

Offered final temptation (Stanza 85)Offered final temptation (Stanza 85)

Variation from departure from Camelot – Variation from departure from Camelot – Gawain does not hear Mass – odd for day of Gawain does not hear Mass – odd for day of deathdeath

Qualities of Death ascribed to Green KnightQualities of Death ascribed to Green Knight Indiscriminate/universal/inevitableIndiscriminate/universal/inevitable Must be faced alone (guide turns back)Must be faced alone (guide turns back)

Fitt Four: Flinching!Fitt Four: Flinching!

““But Gawain on that guisarm then glanced to one side,But Gawain on that guisarm then glanced to one side,as down it came gliding on the green there to end him,as down it came gliding on the green there to end him,and he shrank a little with his shoulders at the sharp iron.”and he shrank a little with his shoulders at the sharp iron.”

““He made at him a mighty aim, but the man he touched not,He made at him a mighty aim, but the man he touched not,holding back hastily his hand, ere hurt it might do.holding back hastily his hand, ere hurt it might do.Gawain warily awaited it, and winced with no limb,Gawain warily awaited it, and winced with no limb,but stood as still as a stone or the stump of a treebut stood as still as a stone or the stump of a treethat with hundred ravelled roots in rocks is embedded.”that with hundred ravelled roots in rocks is embedded.”

““Lightly his weapon he lifted, and let it down neatlyLightly his weapon he lifted, and let it down neatlywith the bent horn of the blade towards the neck that was bare;with the bent horn of the blade towards the neck that was bare;though he hewed with a hammer-swung, he hurt him no morethough he hewed with a hammer-swung, he hurt him no morethan to snick him on one side and sever the skin.than to snick him on one side and sever the skin.

Fitt Four: RecognitionFitt Four: Recognition

““For it is my weed that thou wearest, that For it is my weed that thou wearest, that very very woven girdle”woven girdle”

The Green Knight is Bertilak de Hautdesert!The Green Knight is Bertilak de Hautdesert!

““She made me go in this guise to your goodly She made me go in this guise to your goodly courtcourt

to put its pride to the proof. . . .to put its pride to the proof. . . .in hope Guinevere to hurt, that she in horror in hope Guinevere to hurt, that she in horror

might diemight dieaghast at that glamoury that gruesomely aghast at that glamoury that gruesomely spakespakewith its head in its hand before the high with its head in its hand before the high table.”table.”

Morgan la Faye, GawainMorgan la Faye, Gawain’’s aunt, orchestrated s aunt, orchestrated events to humiliate the Round Table!events to humiliate the Round Table!

Fitt Four: ConfessionFitt Four: Confession

Replaces false confession at HautdesertReplaces false confession at Hautdesert

Shame and mortificationShame and mortification

Reparation: Gawain returns girdle (and it is Reparation: Gawain returns girdle (and it is given back to him)given back to him)

Statement of sin: Gawain admits Statement of sin: Gawain admits cowardice, covetousness, untruthcowardice, covetousness, untruth

Request for penance (Bertilak refuses)Request for penance (Bertilak refuses)

Fitt Four: JudgmentFitt Four: Judgment

Condemnation – Gawain did sinCondemnation – Gawain did sinMercy – Sin was from love of life, not from Mercy – Sin was from love of life, not from

lower passion or malice (Stanza 95)lower passion or malice (Stanza 95)Contrasting responses show decorumContrasting responses show decorum

Bertilak shows comparatively more Bertilak shows comparatively more mercy, for Gawain is more prone to mercy, for Gawain is more prone to despair than to presumptiondespair than to presumption

Gawain shows wounded pride, but is Gawain shows wounded pride, but is harsh on himselfharsh on himself

Problem of shifting blame to women – Problem of shifting blame to women – perhaps to make Gawainperhaps to make Gawain’’s behavior s behavior realistic? (Stanza 97)realistic? (Stanza 97)

Fitt Four: Return Fitt Four: Return

SymbolsSymbols GawainGawain’’s cut is healeds cut is healed Gawain wears the girdle as a symbol of his Gawain wears the girdle as a symbol of his

shameshame Court adopts the girdleCourt adopts the girdle

Contrasting responses again show decorumContrasting responses again show decorum Gawain is ashamedGawain is ashamed The court downplays his sinThe court downplays his sin

The story returns to its beginning with BrutusThe story returns to its beginning with Brutus

What does the courtWhat does the court’’s adoption of the girdle s adoption of the girdle really mean?really mean?

Concluding Points Concluding Points Openness vs. ambiguityOpenness vs. ambiguity

Romance Romance andand realism realism

Text does not prove that courtly and Christian values Text does not prove that courtly and Christian values inherently conflict, rather only that Gawain is inherently conflict, rather only that Gawain is human/sinful.human/sinful.

GawainGawain’’s experience represents the s experience represents the ““fundamental cycle of fundamental cycle of experienceexperience” ” – – ““social living, alienation, self-discovery, social living, alienation, self-discovery, desolation, recovery and restorationdesolation, recovery and restoration”” (Burrows 186). (Burrows 186).

Does Gawain take responsibility for his actions?Does Gawain take responsibility for his actions?

What is the poet’s message?What is the poet’s message?

Can this story be understood through a feminist lens?Can this story be understood through a feminist lens?

Source: Burrows, J.A. A Reading of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. New York: Barnes and Noble, 1966.

sir gawain and the green knight. manuscript unknown author, though clearly a popular poet,...

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