... expectation for the conduct of his characters, and he reinforces this idea by opening in the heroic style of epic myth, describing the great leaders of antiquity such as Aeneas and Romulus. However, this expectation is quickly questioned, as the great English hero, Arthur, is inert and belittled throughout much of the description. Whereas Aeneas "prevails"" and Romulus "builds," " Arthur merely "lays ... high regard. Simply by accepting and following through on the challenge, he outdoes every so-called brave knight who stays at court, and, when he returns, Gawain must be made a hero. An...

• Word Count: 1568
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate