Geschke/British Literature "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight" “Sir Gawain & the Green Knight”

Geschke/British Literature "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight" Background Information Setting –Christmas-season party at King Arthur’s court in Camelot The gigantic Green Knight appears, armed with only his huge ax Makes an offer to the court: He will submit to a blow from the ax if he can return the blow in one year and one day.

Geschke/British Literature "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight" Background Information Sir Gawain accepts the challenge and cuts off the Green Knight’s head The Green Knight picks up his own head, gets on his horse, reaffirms the offer and rides away One year later, true to his word, Sir Gawain leaves Camelot to find the Green Knight and stay true to the bargain

Geschke/British Literature "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight" Background Information Travels for weeks through the cold and haunted forests of north Whales Comes to a beautiful castle where is warmly welcomed by the lord and the lady During the next three mornings, the lord of the castle goes hunting and the wife woos Sir Gawain

Geschke/British Literature "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight" Background Information While the lord of the castle is away, Sir Gawain kisses his wife Sir Gawain and the lord of the castle exchange the fruits of the day The lady presents Sir Gawain with a love token –A magic green girdle that will protect the wearer from any harm

Geschke/British Literature "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight" Background Information Eventually, Sir Gawain sets out to find the Green Knight with a servant from the castle The servant tries to persuade Sir Gawain to not search for the Green Knight Sir Gawain does not accept the proposal; rather, he rides on alone

Geschke/British Literature "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight" Setting “Then he spurred Gringolet down the path, Across a slope, beside a grove, Riding a rough road to the valley Below. Then he looked about. It seemed wild, No sign of shelter anywhere, nothing But steep hills on every side, Gnarled crags with huge rocks, Crags scratching at the sky!” (1-8)

Geschke/British Literature "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight" Setting Wilderness is described as chaotic and dangerous Demonstrates Sir Gawain’s courage

Geschke/British Literature "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight" Setting “He saw holes at the end and the sides, Saw patches of grass growing everywhere, And only an old cave inside-- A hole—a crevice in a crag: he couldn’t Tell. “My Lord, My Lord,” said the courteous knight, “Can this be the chapel? At midnight, Here, the devils of hell Could pray their prayers quite well!” (21-29)

Geschke/British Literature "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight" Setting “By Jesus, it’s lonely here: this chapel Is ugly, gruesome, all overgrown. But a good place for the green knight, He could serve the devil properly here, By Christ, it’s Satan who struck me with this meeting, I felt it! He’s sent me here to destroy me. What an evil church: may destruction end it! The most cursed chapel I’ve ever come to!” (30-37)

Geschke/British Literature "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight" Setting Even though the entrance to the cave is fearsome, ugly enough to be a place where devils reside, Sir Gawain does not back away. –demonstrates his courage Gawain connects the Green Knight with the devil –This is an incorrect assumption by Sir Gawain

Geschke/British Literature "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight" The Green Knight “…Then he stopped, and stepped Down across a crag, came Through a hole, whiling a fierce weapon, A long-bladed battle-ax, sharpened for the stroke, Its massive blade bent to the shaft, Filed like a knife, on a grindstone four feet Wide; a leather strap hung at Its length; and the green man looked as he’d looked At the start, his skin and his beard and his face, Except that he skipped like a dancer, setting His ax handle on stones and leaping along. At the brook, to keep dry, he leaned on the handle And hopped across, and hurried to Gawain” (61-73)

Geschke/British Literature "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight" The Green Knight Creates a mood of fear –He is agile –He holds a huge ax –He is huge –He can skip (very agile)

Geschke/British Literature "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight" Sir Gawain “God’s will be done!—‘Alas, alas!’-- What good is wailing? It never Helps; I’ll never gasp, Though my life will be severed.” (49-52) –Gawain puts his faith in God

Geschke/British Literature "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight" Sir Gawain “By God,” said Gawain, “may the Holy Ghost Grant me the power to begrudge you nothing. Keep to the bargain, swing just once, And I’ll stand still, and you’ll do exactly As you please.” And he bent his neck, leaned Forward; the white flesh gleamed. He tried to seem Fearless, but his knees Were weak.” (91-100)

Geschke/British Literature "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight" Sir Gawain Displays many of the characteristics of a knight –Keeps his word –Trusts in God

Geschke/British Literature "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight" Sir Gawain Yet he does display fear –Weak knees –Gawain flinches when the Green Knight is about ready to strike Not a typical trait of a knight

Geschke/British Literature "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight" Sir Gawain “I flinched,” said Gawain, “I won’t again. And this much is plain: My head, if it falls, won’t talk in my hands. “But get it done, let it be over. Bring me my fate, and bring it quickly. I’ll stand like a stone: on my word of honor My neck will be still till your stroke comes to it.” ( )

Geschke/British Literature "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight" Sir Gawain Gawain is aware of his mortality –He is unlike the Green Knight, who was able to pick up his head and still live, Gawain would die if his head were to be cut off.

Geschke/British Literature "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight" Conclusion of the Poem The Green Knight only slightly wounds Sir Gawain At first, Gawain does not understand that the Green Knight deliberately spared his life

Geschke/British Literature "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight" Conclusion of the Poem The Green Knight reveals he was the lord of the castle Gawain deceived –In the complete poem, we find out Arthur’s half-sister sent the Green Knight to test Gawain’s nobility

Geschke/British Literature "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight" Conclusion of the Poem “And Gawain stood silent, stood a long time, So burdened with grief that his heart shuddered: His blood ran like fire in his face, He winced for shame at the green man’s words. And finally he found words of his own: “A curse on cowardice and a curse on greed! They shatter chivalry, their vice destroys Virtue.” ( )

Geschke/British Literature "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight" Conclusion of the Poem Gawain is embarrassed Gawain is shocked as he learns what really happened –Understanding will lead to repentance –Repentance will lead to forgiveness

Geschke/British Literature "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight" Conclusion of the Poem Christian philosophy of sin and forgiveness –Sin –Penance the wound from the ax

Geschke/British Literature "Sir Gawain & the Green Knight" Conclusion of the Poem Christian philosophy of sin and forgiveness (cont.) –Forgiveness “The damage you did me is cured, it’s gone. You stand confessed so clean, you took Such plain penance at the point of my ax, That I hold you cleansed, as pure in heart As if from your birth to this day you’d never Sinned!” ( )