LIT 2001 Major English Writers 1 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight The Gawain Poet Identity of the poet is unknown, but the manuscript was found in a collection including three other poems (Pearl, Patience, and Purity), all religious poems: the only manuscript of the poem. The poem was probably composed some time between 1375-1400: the time that Chaucer was writing—many hundred years after Beowulf. We have the poem in translation, but Chaucer in the original Middle English. (Chaucer uses a dialect of English that would become Modern English).

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight The Legend of King Arthur A vast complex of stories center around King Arthur and his court. Even if we are not familiar with the different stories, the names associated with Arthur and his court are familiar:  Sir Lancelot, Sir Gawain, Queen Guenevere, Merlin the Magician, the Round Table, Camelot. A historical "Arthur" may have existed as a Celtic cavalry leader who fought against invading Saxon forces in the early 6th century. The Celts had a history of defeats, and Arthur was probably a "heroic creation of a defeated people." The Arthurian legend provided England with an aristocratic myth of its past glories.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight The Legend of King Arthur and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight When the Gawain-poet was writing, in the 14th century, the Arthurian legends had been told and retold over and over, and the legends themselves and the idealism of the court were increasingly being treated in a debased fashion. The poem suggests the decadence of the Arthurian tradition. This reflects the social changes of 14th century England -- the aristocratic ideals were kept alive through tournaments and the founding of chivalric orders, but social changes cause the Gawain-poet both to praise and to call into question the past and its aristocratic ideals. 

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Arthur's Court (Lines 37 to 106) -- Identify and explain any words, phrases, or comments the poet makes about Arthur's court that may be criticisms of it. Too much emphasis on pleasure.  Too much emphasis on worldly goods. Seems to be almost a self-contained fantasy world. The knights are untested; they seem almost to be children. Very controlled world, removed from nature -- established times for "wonders.“ Portrayed as a very civilized world. What we might call a decadent portrayal of King Arthur's court = "Being in a state of decline or decay."

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Gawain’s request to stand before Arthur (Lines 343-347) seems almost a parody of courtly manners

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight The entrance / depiction of the Green Knight (Lines 222 to 283, Lines 301-322) -- Identify in what ways the Green Knight stands in contrast to Arthur's court and in what ways the Knight seems to criticize or belittle the court.  Who is this strange green man? Seems to show how fragile this world is as he comes riding in and makes his challenge. He see the knights as unworthy to battle against him = young and untested. Pretends not to know which one of the men is King Arthur (and he probably is pretending). 

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight The entrance / depiction of the Green Knight (Lines 222 to 283, Lines 301-322) -- Identify in what ways the Green Knight stands in contrast to Arthur's court and in what ways the Knight seems to criticize or belittle the court.  Who is this strange green man? He knows of the history of Arthur's court, but he suspects they are not all that they have been made out to be.  Closely associated with the natural world (images to describe the green knight are drawn from nature). May represent an earlier time, when people were less corrupted by civilization.  May even be a remnant of some earlier god associated with fertility and nature. 

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Gawain’s Pentangle (Lines 619-669)   The “Five Fives” Five senses = should be faultless Five fingers = probably refers to strength Five wounds of Christ = to remember Christ’s suffering on the Cross Five Joys: Annunciation, Nativity, Resurrection, Ascension, Assumption Five moral qualities: beneficence boundless, brotherly love, pure mind, pure manners, compassion 

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight The Courtly Love Tradition  Courtly Love: “a highly conventionalized code of conduct for lovers during the Middle Ages” Adoration for the Virgin Mary, was, in part, responsible for a philosophy of love and a code of lovemaking that was a popular and important aspect of chivalry. Bertilak's wife is entering Gawain's room with expectations of a courtly romance.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight The Courtly Love Tradition  Andreas Capellanus (late 12th century) wrote an in-depth treatise on courtly love, which included its 31 "rules.“ True love was held to be impossible in a married state By its very nature, courtly love is illicit and sensual, naturally leading to adultery. A knight’s object of devotion would often be his lord's wife. Queen Guenivere and Lancelot 

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Gawain as a Hero How has Gawain been tested? How well does Gawain succeed as a hero? The third morning (lines 1826-1892) Gawain and Lord Bertilak (lines 1932-1951) Gawain and the Green Knight (lines 2345-2388)