... Arthurian chivalry is founded upon Christian ideology and this tale is no exception. According to Robert Blanch, "the poet upholds Christian faith as the ultimate, saving grace for humanity. Ever pious, Gawain continuously finds guidance in God: from the image of the Virgin Mary on the inside of his shield to ... his prayers while journeying alone, to his narrow escape from the adulterous temptations of Lady Bertilak. It is, in a sense, faith in God that enables mankind to negotiate between the dangers of human society and the dangers of the ... he struggles with his faith in many insta...

• Word Count: 2814
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: High School

... an age of early innocence to the reality within experience. Courage, virtue, and chastity of the ideal knight are being challenged by beheading, hunting, and temptation from the Green Knight (Samuels). Besides the many symbols in the beginning, there are many more that follow the introduction. One is the Virgin Mary. Gawain is completely devoted to her; he is known by the translator, ... Gardner, as "Mary's Knight" (Galenet). She represents chastity, honor, and Christian protection. Also in Gawain's favor, he possesses the pentangle on his shield. This symbol looks like an infinite knot...

• Word Count: 2582
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... this journey he preys to God for his guidance. Sir Gawain's shield can be seen as a symbol of Christ, the pentangle representing the five wounds of Christ. A picture of the Virgin Mary is also on his shield. In "Morte Darthur", Christianity is exemplified in the search for the Holy Grail, the glass ... increasing thirst for knowledge. The writers of this era began incorporating their new ideas into literature. In this era the common themes are virtue and moral teachings, and good vs. evil. First, moral teachings can be found in Thomas Mores "Utopia". In this book More uses an imaginary l...

• Word Count: 2920
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School