Sir Gawain And The Green Knight Analysis
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is without doubt one of the best known works of medieval English literature. Medieval England poetry was best known for its medieval romance, religious views, alliterative form and its chivalry nature. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is one of the best works of medieval poetry because it criticizes the fact that chivalric courtesy often displaces true Christian ethics. Sir Gawain a character in the poem was known for his chivalry, honor, and Christian faith. Medieval romance tales deal with the quests and challenges of Arthur and his knights. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Gawain as one of King Arthur’s knight’s gets sent on a quest to meet the Green Knight. Another characteristic
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of medieval literature was it’s of courtly love. Courtly love is the relationship between a knight and his lord's lady, which Sir Gawain showed with lady bertilak. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight it shows the reader alliterative form, a single line of poetry which is held together by two words at the beginning of the line that share the same first sound. For example in one of the lines Sir Gawain in the Green Knight it says “Bothe the barres of his belt and other blythe stones” (162), the line is made up of two parts which makes it alliterative form. Based upon these characteristics, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight contains many of the elements to be considered a Medieval England style of writing. What drives medieval romances? A medieval romance is driven by a heroic knight who was sent on a quest for love and adventure. The heroes always demonstrate the characteristics of a kind, noble and helpful knight. Sir Gawain a well-loved knight sets out on a journey by King Arthur. Along the way he faces obstacles and does daring deeds. Medieval romances also had unclear settings and fairytale like features. In this story the set is in a vague setting. Random places are identified and described unclearly. Sir Gawain starts in the court of King Arthur and goes out into the wilderness in order to track down the Green Chapel to find the Green Knight. The Green Knight is magical. The element that he was able to lose his head and stay alive suggests to a mystical element seen in classic fairytales. Gawain's falls tempted to a beautiful women who he described as the most beautiful women he had ever seen. She determinedly tries to seduce him, insisting that he live up to his character as the most chivalrous knight. Romance and adventure is what drives medieval romances throughout Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The idea of chivalry is most important in understanding of the Medieval Literature. Knights were supposed to be kind to women and in their conduct must be respectful, chivalrous, and helpful. Sir Gawain was tempted by a lady of the lord of the castle in which he was staying. He couldn’t simply refuse to be involved with Lady Bertilak, because that would be highly rude of him and not be courteous conduct. Lady Bertilak came to Gawain’s bed and tempted him. Courtesy demanded that he engage in lovemaking, while the code of chivalry demanded that he respects his host. He gives in by taking the kiss. In Sir Gawain’s eyes, he was a failure and a knight who had sinned. He believed he did not met the expectations of a knight while the court believed he did through his daring, heroism, and ability to remain alive and return to him safely as loyalty to King Arthur. The ethics of chivalry were tested throughout the story. Medieval Literature was known for its alliterative verse form.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was an alliterative poem because of the tempo of the verses and how words in sentences stared with the same letter. Each section of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight had an uneven number of lines and no fixed tempo. The alliterative lines were always unrhymed. This somewhat simplified text of lines, for example; “ If any so hardy in this house holds himself, Be so bold in his blood, brain in his head, That dare stiffly strike a stroke for another, I shall give him of my gift this giserne rich” (285-289). Bob and Wheel was aslo a form of alliterative writing which was used in Medieval Literature. When writing these type of verse “bob” was normally the very short and sometimes only had two syllables which followed by “wheel” which was longer lines that had internal rhyme. In Sir Gawain and the green knight bob and wheel were used throughout the poem for example, “The fole that he ferkkes on fyn of that ilke, sertayn. A grene hors gret and thikke,A stede ful stif to strayne, in brawden brydel quik;To the gome he watz ful gayn.” (173-178).Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was a perfect example of alliterative form, which was part of Medieval England
Culture. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is arguably one the best known Medieval literature readings. Medieval literature was known for its romance, chivalry and verse form. The story was about a heroic knight who was sent of an adventure for his king and along the way he had to deal with things that made him question his loyalty. He was tempted by a women who he felt strongly about and was faced with a dilemma of what the ideal knight should represent. He felt compromised between chivalry and courtly love because he knew it was wrong, but he also felt that he had to kiss her back. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight represent a knight during the Arthurian times who was proud Knight and took that oath very serious. It added a supernatural element set that made this story a very successful medieval romance. This story also introduced alliterative form of writing which was a different type of word play that wasn’t seen before. Which why Sir Gawain and the Green Knight fits all the characteristics of Medieval England Literature.
of medieval literature was it’s of courtly love. Courtly love is the relationship between a knight and his lord's lady, which Sir Gawain showed with lady bertilak. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight it shows the reader alliterative form, a single line of poetry which is held together by two words at the beginning of the line that share the same first sound. For example in one of the lines Sir Gawain in the Green Knight it says “Bothe the barres of his belt and other blythe stones” (162), the line is made up of two parts which makes it alliterative form. Based upon these characteristics, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight contains many of the elements to be considered a Medieval England style of writing. What drives medieval romances? A medieval romance is driven by a heroic knight who was sent on a quest for love and adventure. The heroes always demonstrate the characteristics of a kind, noble and helpful knight. Sir Gawain a well-loved knight sets out on a journey by King Arthur. Along the way he faces obstacles and does daring deeds. Medieval romances also had unclear settings and fairytale like features. In this story the set is in a vague setting. Random places are identified and described unclearly. Sir Gawain starts in the court of King Arthur and goes out into the wilderness in order to track down the Green Chapel to find the Green Knight. The Green Knight is magical. The element that he was able to lose his head and stay alive suggests to a mystical element seen in classic fairytales. Gawain's falls tempted to a beautiful women who he described as the most beautiful women he had ever seen. She determinedly tries to seduce him, insisting that he live up to his character as the most chivalrous knight. Romance and adventure is what drives medieval romances throughout Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The idea of chivalry is most important in understanding of the Medieval Literature. Knights were supposed to be kind to women and in their conduct must be respectful, chivalrous, and helpful. Sir Gawain was tempted by a lady of the lord of the castle in which he was staying. He couldn’t simply refuse to be involved with Lady Bertilak, because that would be highly rude of him and not be courteous conduct. Lady Bertilak came to Gawain’s bed and tempted him. Courtesy demanded that he engage in lovemaking, while the code of chivalry demanded that he respects his host. He gives in by taking the kiss. In Sir Gawain’s eyes, he was a failure and a knight who had sinned. He believed he did not met the expectations of a knight while the court believed he did through his daring, heroism, and ability to remain alive and return to him safely as loyalty to King Arthur. The ethics of chivalry were tested throughout the story. Medieval Literature was known for its alliterative verse form.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was an alliterative poem because of the tempo of the verses and how words in sentences stared with the same letter. Each section of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight had an uneven number of lines and no fixed tempo. The alliterative lines were always unrhymed. This somewhat simplified text of lines, for example; “ If any so hardy in this house holds himself, Be so bold in his blood, brain in his head, That dare stiffly strike a stroke for another, I shall give him of my gift this giserne rich” (285-289). Bob and Wheel was aslo a form of alliterative writing which was used in Medieval Literature. When writing these type of verse “bob” was normally the very short and sometimes only had two syllables which followed by “wheel” which was longer lines that had internal rhyme. In Sir Gawain and the green knight bob and wheel were used throughout the poem for example, “The fole that he ferkkes on fyn of that ilke, sertayn. A grene hors gret and thikke,A stede ful stif to strayne, in brawden brydel quik;To the gome he watz ful gayn.” (173-178).Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was a perfect example of alliterative form, which was part of Medieval England
Culture. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is arguably one the best known Medieval literature readings. Medieval literature was known for its romance, chivalry and verse form. The story was about a heroic knight who was sent of an adventure for his king and along the way he had to deal with things that made him question his loyalty. He was tempted by a women who he felt strongly about and was faced with a dilemma of what the ideal knight should represent. He felt compromised between chivalry and courtly love because he knew it was wrong, but he also felt that he had to kiss her back. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight represent a knight during the Arthurian times who was proud Knight and took that oath very serious. It added a supernatural element set that made this story a very successful medieval romance. This story also introduced alliterative form of writing which was a different type of word play that wasn’t seen before. Which why Sir Gawain and the Green Knight fits all the characteristics of Medieval England Literature.