1. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
English II Pre-AP

2. I. Timeline a little context Bayeux Tapestry 1077
1154—An English King (Henry II) back on the throne
1066—William the Norman invades and conquers England
Medieval Period
Viking/Anglo-Saxon Rule
Norman Rule
410—Romans retreat from England
991—Battle of Maldon
1347—Black Death kills 50% of the population

3. II. Medieval Literature & Poetic Form
Alliterative Revival
Bob-and-Wheel: a two- or three-syllable “bob” followed by a quatrain (the “wheel”)
Bob is the bridge between long series of alliterative lines and the wheel
Bob’s stress is on the last syllable
Wheel usually contains three stressed syllables per line
Rhyme scheme (beginning with bob) is ABABA

4. III. The Manuscript

5. III. The Manuscript Exists only in one 14th-century manuscript
Manuscript containing Gawain also contains three other poems, including Pearl
Manuscript’s name = Cotton Nero A.x. (Hmmm… does this sound familiar?)
Author = the “Pearl Poet;” clearly familiar with life of the nobiility

6. III. Romance
Romance: An adventure tale that recounts the heroic deeds of knights and celebrates their chivalric way of life. They convey medieval values of loyalty and Christian faith
Common Characteristics:
Opens with a feast
Involves a challenge
Tells adventures of a young, nearly perfect hero
Involves supernatural elements
Teaches the hero a moral lesson
Includes women as temptation
Shows cyclical qualities of nature

7. IV. Epics Vs. Romances Long narrative poem
About the exploits of a single hero who is usually the savior/protector of his people
The hero fights for an ideal, not to save his tribe. Usually goes on a quest.
Exists in a warrior/shame culture (don’t shame your family name!)
Exists in a courtly culture, where courtesy and reverence for women is as important as fighting skill
Realistic setting (even if fantastic elements exist, such as dragons). The places, people, and economic conditions are often real.
Idealization of places and people. Not meant to be realistic.
Ends in death of the hero (Glorious and Honorable!)
Happy ending! (almost always)

8. V. Code of Chivalry
Chivalry: the code that guides the behavior of knights in romance literature. It requires a knight to…
Swear allegiance to his lord
Fight to uphold Christianity
Seek to redress all wrongs
Honor truth by word and deed
Be faithful to one lady
Act with bravery, courtesy, and modesty

9. VI. Courtly Love
Courtly love: comes from “rules” the were developed to regulate the behavior of lovers
Love songs and poems tell of a man’s unrequited love for a woman
Lovelorn hero feels inferior to the woman and flatters her in song and verse
Man does everything he can to refine himself to become worthy of her love
Man desires to serve the woman and be rewarded with love
To love her is exquisite pain, yet it gives him great joy (a paradox!)
The woman can A) advance the affair and reward him, OR B) reject and spurn him.

10. VII. Plot Structure Interweaving narratives
Beheading game
Quest
Seduction tale
Beheading Game – common in oral poetry
Outsider comes to court and challenges.
Hero accepts challenge.
Hero gives outsider a blow, cutting off his head.
Hero journey to the court of the outsider.
Outsider tests the hero .
Hero accepts the return blow and returns to court.

11. VIII. What do I Look For? Archetypes Use of the bob-and-wheel
Traits of Romances (and contrasts to what might happen in an epic)
Structure – great deal of structural unity
Use of parallels and balance
Use of contrast and antithesis