Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Fit I

New Year’s Day  Typical English Christmas-time revelry and merry-making  “Hondeselle” = New Year’s gift meant to express good wishes  “giving games” = a kissing game involving a man leading a woman with a green sash  Typical English Christmas-time revelry and merry-making  “Hondeselle” = New Year’s gift meant to express good wishes  “giving games” = a kissing game involving a man leading a woman with a green sash

New Year’s Day  Green = the promise that spring will follow winter  Holly = “wassail bob,” Christian symbol of good luck, of pagan origin  Green = the promise that spring will follow winter  Holly = “wassail bob,” Christian symbol of good luck, of pagan origin

A Golden Age of Camelot  Harkens the pre-Lapsarian bliss of Eden  Guenevere/Eve = temptress? adulteress?  Harkens the pre-Lapsarian bliss of Eden  Guenevere/Eve = temptress? adulteress?

Courtly Manners  The Green Knight is boorish in his entrance and demeanor, except when he formally challenges Gawain  Gawain’s speech is courtly and elevated at all times  The Green Knight is boorish in his entrance and demeanor, except when he formally challenges Gawain  Gawain’s speech is courtly and elevated at all times

The Goddess  Gawain is at Guinevere’s side  Gawain steps in for Arthur  Gawain is a medieval version of the Celtic-era Knight of the Goddess  Gawain is at Guinevere’s side  Gawain steps in for Arthur  Gawain is a medieval version of the Celtic-era Knight of the Goddess

The Boast  Rude intrusion of the supernatural on the feast = green  “Christmas Game”  Rude intrusion of the supernatural on the feast = green  “Christmas Game”

The Challenge “I shall offer to him this fine axe freely... And I shall bide the first blow, as bare as I sit here.” Completely without armor “I shall offer to him this fine axe freely... And I shall bide the first blow, as bare as I sit here.” Completely without armor

The Insult “What, is this Arthur’s house, the honour of which /Is bruited abroad so abundantly?”

The Quest  A year and a day = traditional period of mourning before the dead rise  The quest comes to Gawain  Journey through unknown territory to the Green Chapel  A year and a day = traditional period of mourning before the dead rise  The quest comes to Gawain  Journey through unknown territory to the Green Chapel

Final Words “Now Gawain give a thought, Lest peril make you pause In seeking out the sport That you have claimed as yours.” Can the game be won? “Now Gawain give a thought, Lest peril make you pause In seeking out the sport That you have claimed as yours.” Can the game be won?