Arthurian Legend & Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Medieval Romance Adventure Narratives Medieval Legend

King Arthur Was King Arthur real? No one knows for certain, but his name has popped up since the sixth century, and by the ninth century, he was a folk hero.

The Arthurian Legend – The Past and Present Somehow the Arthurian legends actually developed in the ancient world, probably with the Celts who would eventually make up Britain. Basic elements of the Arthurian legend were first introduced into the literary world by Geoffrey of Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain (ca. 1139) Monmouth places the reign of King Arthur somewhere shortly after Britain's separation from the Roman Empire, around the year 410 A.D. Arthurian Legend is probably based on a REAL 5th or 6th century Celtic leader who defended Britain against the Anglo-Saxons Poetic translation of Roman de Brut by Layamon introduced the Round Table into the Arthurian legend, as well as Excalibur (Arthur’s famous sword) French author Chretien de Troyes introduced Lancelot The English Knight Sir Thomas Malory codified the Arthur legends in Morte D’Arthur (1485)

The Arthurian Legend – The Past and Present Arthurian Legend Today Arthurian legends even last to today with pop culture taking on the Matter of Britain (e.g., Disney’s The Sword in the Stone, Broadway’s Camelot, First Knight, and in satire, Monty Python’s Holy Grail) King Arthur legends continue to be a major influence of modern literature, movies, websites, and video games

Arthurian Legend Courtly Love Courtly Love: the love a knight has for a woman who is generally not his wife. It is a love from “afar” and it is usually very superficial. Courtly Love: not between husband and wife because it was an idealized sort of relationship that could not exist within the context of "real life" medieval marriages. In the middle ages, marriages amongst the nobility were typically based on practical and political concerns rather than on love. It is often explained, for example, with a knight who is struck by cupid’s arrow as he sees a beautiful maiden walking out of a castle.

Arthurian Legend Courtly Love Courtly Love: generally unattainable (at most, the knight may get a kiss, but that is all). Often the maiden is married to the King (e.g., Arthur & Guinevere, and then Lancelot comes into the picture). The romance tells of ideal, not realistic love Knights were typically younger brothers without land of their own (hence unable to support a wife). Therefore, they became members of the household of the feudal lords whom they served. “Courtly love” taught bored young knights to control their baser desires and to channel their energy into socially useful behavior (love and service rather than wandering around the countryside, stealing and/or raping women). The literary model of courtly love may have been invented to provide young men with a model for appropriate behavior. Adultery often occurs, but has tragic consequences (ex: Sir Lancelot and Guinevere) She is in complete control; he owes her obedience and submission.

Arthurian Legend and Chivalry Courtly Love creates a situation where the knight seeks to impress the lady from afar by doing brave deeds and being the perfect gentleman (showing great chivalry). The knight serves his courtly lady with the same obedience and loyalty which he owes to his liege lord. The knight's love for the lady inspires him to do great deeds, in order to be worthy of her love or to win her favor. All of his acts of heroism and valor are in her honor He wears her colors to tournaments, devotes his trophies to her A WARRIOR, CHRISTIAN and LOVER (he’s a lover and a fighter) Possesses good manners, delicacy, protocol Has respect and passion (both!) for ladies Chivalric Ideal: The Knights of the Round Table were the most famous for this behavior in the Middle Ages.

Sir Gawain & the Green Knight A comedy/satire of manners A Christian view of character and its destiny Vivid descriptions Lively language Dramatic picture of life in medieval times Skillful use of alliterations and rhyme

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight “Pearl Poet” or the “Gawain Poet” Authorship for SGGK is typically considered anonymous, or it is attributed to a mysterious, unknown poet since named “The Pearl Poet.”(ca. 1380 A.D.) This poet wrote an alliterative poem titled The Pearl, and a similar dialect and style is present in several other works, including SGGK. He was certainly English and spoke and wrote in Middle English. This poet is sometimes referred to as the “Gawain Poet.” This poet seems to have been a follower of Chaucer. He seems to have a knowledge of Christian theology and a deep vocabulary and poetic sense. There is still no agreement, however, on the authorship of SGGK.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Adventure Narratives of the Middle Ages Adventure narratives in this time period were dominated by stories from three areas or “matters”: The Matter of Rome: stories of ancient Roman heroes involved in exciting adventure, physical or involving love – “Romance”

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Adventure Narratives of the Middle Ages The Matter of France: stories involving the French hero Roland (Orlando in Italian). The Matter of Britain: stories involving chivalry, especially that of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (Camelot) or Arthurian Legend.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Elements of the Legends and This Story Medieval romances (adventures) were frequently episodic as is the case with the Arthurian legends. The best of these stories are carefully constructed (not at random) and the details tend to “count.” SGGK is an example of this because it combines two distinct sorts of adventures (the beheading contest and the events at Bercilak’s castle).

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Elements of the Legends and This Story Christian themes are major themes in the story, because not only is the poet a Christian, but the knights are as well. It’s important to understand that the poet may not always be agreeing with the chivalric code. Strangely, however, there are pagan Celtic themes as well, especially in dealing with nature and “magical” elements. What is particularly important is the nature of Gawain’s “trouthe” or his “true character,” symbolized by the star on his shield or “Pentangle.”

What the Pentangle Symbolizes The Pentangle in SGGK What the Pentangle Symbolizes 1. Five Senses Faultless 2. Five Fingers That Never Failed 3. Five Wounds of Christ 4. Five Joys of Mary: A. Annunciation B. Nativity C. Resurrection D. Ascension E. Assumption 5. Gawain’s Virtues (boundless beneficence (being kind and charitable), brotherly love, pure mind, manners, & compassion)

The Chivalric Hero Sir Gawain is Arthur’s loyal nephew; he is tested by three challenges Gawain is marked by absolute courtliness. He is always courageous, honorable (he keeps his word), devout, loyal, and gracious toward all men and (especially) women. Gawain is admirable, but not invulnerable

Medieval Symbolism (Motifs) Motif: an object or idea that repeats throughout a text in order to help the reader determine the themes Green: Life, nature, immortality, safety, renewal, and hope. Red: Blood, sacrifice, love, courage Gold: Wealth, value, success White: Goodness, virtue

Who is this Green Knight that challenges Sir Gawain? At King Arthur's castle, you must keep in mind that no one knows what is going on. Like Grendel, the Green Knight is a sort of creature never seen before by men.

As we read, ask yourself: HOW does Gawain display ideals of chivalry and courtly love? What is really being tested? (This is not a simple question.) How does Sir Gawain do? Is Gawain good, bad or a little of both? How do we judge him? Does Gawain represent the best or the worst of human possibilities? What are we supposed to think of the Green Knight? the wife? King Arthur? his court? Sir Gawain himself?

Sir Gawain’s Test He thinks it is his courage that is being tested. He does not realize that he is enduring another kind of test. When he arrives to face his test at the end, he finds that he has already been tested--that his test is, in fact, over.

Faced with magic, and a lady who tempts him, Gawain stumbles as a perfect knight. He takes the story of his humiliation back to the court so that they all might learn from his mistakes. He serves his king and helps develop new values for his civilization.

Summary of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: A huge knight, dressed all in green, appears at Camelot on New Year’s Eve. The Green Knight challenges any man in the court to strike his bare neck with an axe, provided that the Green Knight may do the same to the man in a year and a day. Sir Gawain, the youngest of the knights and nephew to King Arthur, accepts the challenge and severs the Green Knight’s head with one blow. The Green Knight retrieves his head and rides off, reminding Gawain to meet him at the Green Chapel on the proposed day. One year later, after many dangerous adventures and on his way to keep his appointment with the Green Knight, Gawain reaches a castle.

Summary of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (continued): The lord and lady who reside there invite him to stay for a few days. The lady attempts to seduce Gawain, and even offers him several gifts, but he resists her advances. He keeps, however, her gift of a green sash which, she promises, “charms are woven within,” and he wraps it around his neck. After leaving the castle, Gawain faces the Green Knight. The Knight raises brings his axe down upon Gawain, thus fulfilling the pact; but Gawain’s neck is only nicked. The Green Knight explains that he himself had been Gawain’s host at the castle and had arranged for his wife to test Gawain’s honor.

Le Morte d’Arthur (The Death of Arthur)

Morte d’Arthur Written by Sir Thomas Mallory First English prose version of King Arthur’s life. Romance & medieval legend King Arthur battles his illegitimate son, Mordred, loses his knights, and then dies himself Values Chivalry, bravery, loyalty, warfare, honor, conquests, heroism Themes Love, loyalty, betrayal

Summary of Morte d’Arthur (the death of Arthur): King Arthur and his army have besieged Sir Lancelot in the fortified city of Benwick. Meanwhile, Sir Mordred has seized Arthur’s throne and attempts to persuade Queen Guinevere to marry him. Arthur sails back to Britain to regain his throne, and Gawain is injured as they fight their way ashore. Before dying, Gawain writes to Lancelot, begging him to help Arthur. In a post-death ghostly vision, Gawain also warns Arthur that he will be killed if he battles Mordred before Lancelot’s return.

Summary of Morte d’Arthur (continued): Arthur makes peace with Mordred, but fighting erupts at the signing of the treaty. Mordred is killed, and Arthur is mortally wounded. Realizing that his end is near, Arthur commands Bedivere to throw Excalibur into a nearby lake. After two failed attempts, Bedivere finally does as he is told. He later reports that he saw a hand rise from the water, catch the sword, shake it three times, brandish it, then pull it down. Arthur’s body is carried to that same waterside and put aboard a mysterious barge (ship). The barge takes the dead Arthur away to the land of Avalon, and no one sees him in Britain again. Legend says that Arthur will one day return from Avalon as a messiah figure to save the people of Britain.