Sir Gawain Essay
Steven Sanchez
Prof. M. Jarrell
English 225
8 October 2011
Sir Gawain
Sir Gawain is a nephew of King Arthur and the brother of Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth. In the poem he is described by the author as "the good knight" and "most courteous" . His character is
shown through supernatural tests when he steps in for King Arthur and takes the challenge of the
Green Knight on himself. Then his second test in the poem is to withstand the lust of the Green Knight 's
wife. Both of these challenges Sir Gawain passes, and gains more respect and honor than he started out
with. The tasks that he accomplishes prove once more the true Gawain and help the reader to
understand his character more clearly. Sir Gawain is a hero in the poem, and as usual, heroes have to
overcome all their foes and many dangers. Sir Gawain encounters many wonders and monstrous foes:
"So many were the wonders he wandered among ... Now with serpents he wars, now with savage
wolves ... And giants that came gibbering from the jagged steeps ... He had met with many mishaps and
mortal harms" . Sir Gawain’s character is portrayed as a mighty warrior, maybe even with supernatural
power. Yet it is not clear how he could fight with giants and was afraid at the first sight of the Green
Knight. As author describes the Green Knight, "Half a giant on earth I hold him to be..." . If he is half a
giant and later we see that Sir Gawain is fighting with giants, it is not clear here why everyone
Prof. M. Jarrell
English 225
8 October 2011
Sir Gawain
Sir Gawain is a nephew of King Arthur and the brother of Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth. In the poem he is described by the author as "the good knight" and "most courteous" . His character is
shown through supernatural tests when he steps in for King Arthur and takes the challenge of the
Green Knight on himself. Then his second test in the poem is to withstand the lust of the Green Knight 's
wife. Both of these challenges Sir Gawain passes, and gains more respect and honor than he started out
with. The tasks that he accomplishes prove once more the true Gawain and help the reader to
understand his character more clearly. Sir Gawain is a hero in the poem, and as usual, heroes have to
overcome all their foes and many dangers. Sir Gawain encounters many wonders and monstrous foes:
"So many were the wonders he wandered among ... Now with serpents he wars, now with savage
wolves ... And giants that came gibbering from the jagged steeps ... He had met with many mishaps and
mortal harms" . Sir Gawain’s character is portrayed as a mighty warrior, maybe even with supernatural
power. Yet it is not clear how he could fight with giants and was afraid at the first sight of the Green
Knight. As author describes the Green Knight, "Half a giant on earth I hold him to be..." . If he is half a
giant and later we see that Sir Gawain is fighting with giants, it is not clear here why everyone
Cited: Lawall, Sarah N. "The Odyssey." The Norton Anthology of World Literature: Beginning to 1650. 2nd ed. Vol. A. W W Norton & Co, 2001. Print.