Romance Written in the Fourteenth Century
An important fourteenth century romance is Sir Gawain and The Green Knight. Sir Gawain can be found in a collection of four different poems. The first poem’s title is “Pearl”, and since the author is anonymous those refer to him as the “Pearl Poet”. A romance is a verse narrative which adventures a brave knight or other hero who must overcome danger for love of a noble lady or a high ideal. Violation of the code of chivalry will result in the loss of honor to the knight. Romances usually involve strict adherence to the code of chivalry. Chivalry is loyalty toward church and king, and reverence toward women. Three of the seven elements that make up a romance are present in this essay. A romance consists of elements to allow a moral lesson(s) to be learned by the reader. In this medieval romance Sir Gawain learns valuable lessons that allow him to become a better knight through a quest, a series of tests, and important roles played by female figures.
The first element of a romance is the quest that consists of three parts. In the first part of the quest a near perfect hero takes a dangerous journey. On his journey away from Camelot, Gawain commits a sin by betraying

The quest, the test, and the important roles played by the female figures in this romance allow the near perfect hero, Sir Gawain, to learn and enhance his understanding of the rules to be a greater knight, but also the rules about life. This romance illustrates a brave knight overcoming danger for a prominent principle. Gawain learns through each of the three elements mentioned about the misconceptions of people; being the people that he has grown up with and the people that surround the world of Camelot. The situations Gawain endures can be applied to people no matter what the century or time period might be. Romances pull excitement, betrayal, and love and allow them to take it over to provide the reader with a delightful understanding of the central story.

The final element to a romance is the presence of female figures and their effect on the characters in the story. The female figures mentioned in this story, Morgana Lafaye and the Lady of Lord Bersilak, are used to challenge Gawain and his knighthood. Morgana Lafaye is a witch out to destroy her half brother and his kingdom. Morgana Lafaye brings the Green Knight to Camelot, and with her powers allows the Green Knight to be in disguise, lose his head, and live through the experience. She is the old lady in disguise at Lord Bersilak’s castle studying Sir Gawain. Morgana allows the Lady to tempt Gawain to prove him a poor knight, and Morgana concocts this challenge involving the Green Knight to prove the same idea. Morgana’s presence allows Gawain to recognize the Lady since a young woman’s appearance will override the appearance of an old and deathly looking woman. The Pearl Poet writes, “When Gawain glimpsed that gay lady that so gracious / looked, / with leave sought of the lord towards the ladies he / went;” (Sir Gawain 40). This quote speaks of the entrance of Gawain at the Green Knight’s castle when Gawain meets Morgana and the Lady for the first time. The quote shows how