1.  by “The Pearl” Poet

2.  Composed in the late fourteenth century.  The anonymous poet is referred to as “The Pearl” Poet because he also wrote "The Pearl." He was probably a member of a court, evident from his familiarity with court life, costumes, and entertainments.  “The Pearl” Poet was a contemporary of Chaucer, and he wrote in a Northwest Midland's dialect-- much less modern than Chaucer’s London dialect.

3. Is a Verse Romance: A long medieval narrative in verse that tells of the adventures and heroic exploits of chivalric heroes: an Arthurian romance.

4.  The metrical device utilized in SGGK is known as the “bob and wheel.”  The first short line of a group of rhyming lines is known as the "bob" and the subsequent four are a quatrain called the "wheel." The bob is only two or three syllables long.

5. Together, the bob-and-wheel constitutes five lines rhyming in an ABABA pattern. The "bob" serves as a structural bridge between the alliterative sections and the rhyming sections of the poem because it matches the alliterative pattern of the stanza’s first part, but also fits the rhyme scheme of the last five lines. SGGK shows us literature in transition from alliterative poetry (such as Beowulf ) to rhyming poetry (such as TCT).

6.  This is the first stanza of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The bob appears in red, and the wheel appears in blue. Alliteration is in bold, and rhymes are in italics.  Sithen the sege and the assut was sesed at Troye, The borgh brittened and brent to brondes and askes, The tulk that the trammes of tresoun ther wroght Was tried for his tricherie, the trewest on erthe-- Hit was Ennias the athel and highe kynde, That sithen depreced provinces and patrounes bicome Welneghe of al the wele in the west iles. Fro riche Romulus to Rome ricchis hym swythe, With gret bobbaunce that burghe he biges upon fyrst, And nevenes hit his aune nome, as hit now hat. Ticius to Tuskan and teldes bigynnes, Langaberde in Lumbardie lyftes up homes, And fer over the French flod Felix Brutus On mony bonkkes ful brode Bretayn he settes with wynne,  Where werre and wrake and wonder Bi sythes has wont therinne, And oft bothe blysse and blunder Ful skete has skyfted synne.

7.  The stories of Arthur, his knights, and his court are called “romances.”  The Arthur stories, prevalent in Britain, France, Germany, and Italy, are a microcosm of European medieval culture emerging from the chaotic days (Dark Ages) in the centuries after the fall of Rome.  Rome had given Europe order, laws, judges, roads, etc.

8.  When the Germanic tribes destroyed most of this—starting in the fifth century CE—people had to start all over again, that is reinvent civilization.  What was painfully slow historically was telescoped in the Arthurian tales (speeded up fictionally). Thus, in Arthur’s court, we have a miniature, accelerated story of European society reinventing itself without Rome and with a strong Christian sensibility.  In much the same way, Westerns in America are a miniature story of America inventing itself, turning away from Europe and embracing the anti-authority spirit that is the essence of America.

9.  The introduction of the poem deals with the fall of Troy and the civilizations that were built after its fall.  (Why did Troy fall?—breaking of guest/host bond)  Britain has experienced the fall of the Roman government and now must begin again.  But how to begin?

10.  Like the culture itself, Arthur is young and inexperienced— stupid, really.  His knights are equally clueless.  There are numerous references to the new year and the beauty of men and women; the focus in this court is clearly on youth and appearance.  Since everyone is starting from scratch, the knights typically go out on adventures and face the forces of good and evil, uncertain how to balance courage and Christianity.  A Christian knight must decide how best to act in ambiguous situations. Baby Steps

11. Most important for the development and instruction of society, the knight must return to the court and report his actions. Only in this way can the court learn from the individual’s experiences. Thus, future knights will have more to guide them. “And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teache” (Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, ln 308)

12.  But here is the problem facing the Christian knights: how can one emulate Christ and be a soldier in the real world?  Is it possible to be like Christ?  Or have knights set themselves a goal which they will surely fail to achieve?

13.  The Beheading Game occurs fairly frequently in 8 th and 9 th century Irish (Celtic) romances.  In this story, the Green Knight invites Gawain to exchange blows, not to chop off his head.  According to medieval definitions, the Green Knight is unarmed. He is wearing no armor or helmet; he is carrying no sword, spear, or shield. He is wearing soft shoes instead of armored footwear.

14.  So why does Gawain behead the Green Knight?  Is this wrong on Gawain’s part?  Does Gawain do it because the Green Knight has insulted the valor of Arthur’s knights?  Does he do it from fear?  How do these motivations parallel with virtues of Christianity and chivalry?

15.  He is huge; bigger than life  He is green, the color of the land in the spring and summer.  His clothes are embroidered in gold, the color of the sun, without whose warmth and light no life on earth could endure.  He carries holly. Holly maintains its greenery throughout the winter. Could this represent the eternality of life?  His beard is like a bush—another nature symbol.  He does not die.  The Green Knight, hardy and vibrantly green, represents the life force in nature and in human beings.  Season: The story occurs during Christmas/New Year— symbols of new life.

16.  If the Green Knight represents fertility (Pagan virtue?)  Does Gawain represent chastity (Christian virtue?)  Clash of religions/beliefs?

17.  Ritual Robing: layering of character (his beliefs, his society, his identity, etc.)  Ekphrasis: elaborate description of art, especially visual (here, the shield)  Pentangle: Solomon’s knot; five points interconnected (if one fails, all fail)  The line of the pentangle eventually returns to the beginning point

18. 1. Five senses faultless 2. Five fingers that never failed 3. Five wounds of Christ (head, two hands, one foot, side) 4. Five joys of Mary (annunciation, nativity, resurrection, ascension, assumption) 5. Five virtues of Gawain (liberality, loving- kindness, continence, courtesy, piety)

19.  Gawain goes out into the wilderness to face the Green Knight as he has honorably promised.  Gawain prides himself on being the perfect Christian knight.  And we all know that “pride goeth before destruction and an haughty spirit before a fall.” [Proverbs 16:18]  Gawain’s shield and its symbolism are there to remind Gawain to act like Christ.  Christ was celibate and so is Gawain.

20.  Errant has a double meaning.  It comes from the Latin root “errare” (error or errant) 1. To wander around; the knight errant went around doing good, like a policeman on patrol 2. To wander astray: Gawain is in danger of going astray. While he was fighting monsters, he was fine, but how will he handle a moral temptation?

21.  There are several hints that Gawain is outside his comfort zone. He just doesn’t seem to get them: o The further from Camelot he travels, the wilder the country o When he prays for shelter and signs himself three times, he suddenly sees a gigantic castle (didn’t notice a gigantic castle?) o The castle looks like “a castle cut of paper”; indicates magic qualities o The castle is surrounded by greenery (in the dead of winter? Hint that he is approaching Green Knight) o He must cross water to reach the castle (indicating transition to a magical land)

22.  The Host is of middle age, not a kid like those in Camelot  The Host is of tremendous size and is red in hue.  Gawain is treated very hospitably, not like the Green Knight was treated at Camelot (after all, Gawain is the Medieval equivalent of a rock star; everyone knows his reputation)  The Hostess is beautiful (typical)  But the Hag is surrounded by handsome squires (hint)  At dinner, Gawain flirts with the Hostess  The Host will leave Gawain alone with his wife for three days (is this a set-up or what?)

23.  The Host proposes the game of exchanging whatever he and Gawain get during their day.  Odd sort of game.  Wouldn’t you be suspicious? After all, what could one gain indoors?

24. The Deer Hunt The Temptation of Lust  Just as Bertilak hunts the hind (female deer), the “dear” in the castle hunts Gawain.  The Lady treats Gawain as many women would treat a rock star staying in her house. She shows up in his bedroom.  She has him at her mercy because in the Middle Ages, one slept in the nude.  She threatens to tie him up; she threatens to hold him in bed.

25.  He can’t just throw her out because that would ruin his reputation for courtesy.  Nor can he avail himself of her offer (despite her insults that he is not courteous or he must think she is ugly or must not be the real Gawain)  Because if he does, he will break the guest/host bond  If he breaks that bond, it will cost him his honor and it might cost him his life  (Besides, if he has sex with her, won’t he have to give that to the host? That could be another motive for abstaining.)  Note that although Gawain gives his Host the kiss, he will not tell him where he got the kiss.

26.  Compare the way a deer flees its pursuer with the way Gawain tries to escape the Lady.  At the first sign of danger a deer will  FREEZE  Then  RUN / ELUDE  Remind you of anyone?

27. THE BOAR HUNT The Temptation of Pride  The Lady comes into Gawain’s room but this time he is awake.  She entices him as she did before but this time becomes a little more aggressive  She wants to know why he is not living up to his reputation; she wants “instruction” in courtesy.  However, Gawain resists her (though he is sorely tempted) by sparring verbally with her

28.  He is alert, wily, and aggressive  He will evade if he can, but if he cannot he will fight fiercely  He never gives up even when he is about to die The Boar as Opponent

29. The Fox Hunt (The Temptation of Avarice [greed])  The Hostess appears in Gawain’s bedroom with “Hir brest bare bifore & behinde eke.” (And we thought we knew about hospitality here in the South)  She offers him her girdle, which is sexually suggestive. (It’s like giving him her underwear.)  Only this is magic underwear, uh, a magic girdle. It can prevent him from being injured in a fight.  Gawain gives the host the kisses she gave him but not the girdle.  That is breaking faith.

30.  In the MA, the fox is not a honorable prey; it cannot be eaten.  The fox raids and kills domestic animals so it is considered vermin that simply needs to be exterminated.  The fox survives by guile, trickery. The fox will double back on his tracks, jump up on fences and travel by them for miles, walk through water, etc. to lose his predators. The fox will do anything to confuse his pursuers and put them off the track.  Remind you of anyone?

31.  Appearance? Hidden by undergrowth, covered in moss, tangles, vines, etc. (all natural)  But Gawain finds it intimidating; he is comfortable only with what he knows  He calls the Green Chapel the “most evil holy place I ever encountered”

32.  1 st : Gawain flinches (the agreement and Gawain keeping it)  2 nd : The Green Knight swings, Gawain does not flinch (the kisses that Gawain gave the Host; again, Gawain kept his word)  3 rd : The Green Knight swings and barely nicks Gawain (Gawain’s partial failure in keeping the girdle; the whole thing has been a set-up)

33.  The Green Knight gives Gawain the green girdle as a token of his weakness.  Gawain has achieved the maturity of recognizing his own failure and his need for forgiveness.  He has gotten beyond the overconfident self- righteousness of youth.

34.  Faced with magic, and a lady who tempts his virginity, 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.  Thus, he serves his king and helps construct new values for his civilization.

35.  Gawain rails against the wiles of women. (rather unchivalric of him, don’t you think?)  Clearly the Hostess was more dangerous than the ax.  Gawain will continue to wear the girdle as a sign of his cowardice and covetousness.  This is the boon he takes to Arthur’s court.  The whole court agrees to wear a similar girdle as a sash to signify their own weaknesses and realization of those weaknesses. (hmmm, did they get it?)  Thus begins “The Order of the Garter”

36.  The story ends with a reference to Troy.  Gawain has been delivered from making the same mistake that Paris did.

37. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, time is  Cyclical  Degenerative  Regenerative

38.  Founded by Edward III in 1348 after the capture of Calais.  One story tells of a celebratory ball when Joan, Countess of Salisbury (The Fair Maid of Kent, age 18), dropped her garter.  Amid ribald amusement, King Edward retrieved the garter himself, tied it around his left knee and declared, “Honi soit qui mal y pense.” (“Shame on him who thinks evil of it.”)  Of course, many dismiss this story as mere fabrication.

40.  The Garter is the oldest existing monarchical order of chivalry, founded with King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table in mind.  The Order consists of the Sovereign, the Prince of Wales, and twenty-four Knights Companions.  In addition there are also Royal Knights, Foreign Knights (other royal families), and Ladies of the Order.  The Queen appointed the first Lady Companion in 1990.