In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the way the poet depicts the importance of a knight's proper behavior towards a lady and the manner in which a knight should represent/ speak about himself suggests that the chivalric code according to which Gawain lives in is a representation not of the real world of the 14th century but of an idealized version of that world. ... The poet demonstrates this ideal in Arthur's court when the knights are confronted with the Green Knight's challenge. ... Gawain is a model for the ideal knight, and confirms he has not offended his queen because s...

• Word Count: 706
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Aspects of these tensions can be seen in Lanval and in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, in which the central speakers, Lanval and Sir Gawain, are shadowed and challenged by the maintenance of their faith to women. ... A similar approach of the complication in the relationship of faith and women is explored in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in which Sir Gawain finds himself at a decision to either fall to the lust of Lady Bertilak, the Green Knights wife, or succeed in maintaining his loyalty towards earning the respect of King Arthur: valuing his morals for which he decides to not commit adul...

• Word Count: 1049
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, King Arthur's nephew, Sir Gawain, accepts a challenge from the Green Knight that interrupts Arthur's party to take part in the knight's game. The "game " consists of Sir Gawain delivering a blow, swinging as hard as he chooses, to the Green Knight with an axe as long as the Green Knight has the opportunity to do the same to Sir Gawain in one year and one day. ... Going in to the Green Knight's game, Sir Gawain is predicting that he will not return after he visits the Green Knight in one year and one day. ... Sir Gawain gives the Green Kni...

• Word Count: 955
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Through all its complicated twists, redefinings and renamings, "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" consistently develops the theme of chivalry. ... As Gawain himself knows, the Green Knight's "cut taught [him] cowardice, care for [his] life, / And coveting came after, contrary / Both to largesse and loyalty belonging to knights" " (2379-2381). ... The Green Knight has no real personal stake in the final judgment on Gawain. If anything, by pronouncing Gawain "polished as a pearl,"" the Green Knight is congratulating himself for adding to Gawain's chivalric and worldly education. Thus ev...

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

Beowulf fought for his King and his people, however, that changes and "in the later medieval romances, such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the hero is no longer fighting for his people, but for his ideals" (Jokinen 1996). Gawain faces his curious encounter with the Green Knight and various temptations of by the lord's wife at the castle where he is staying. ... Heroism for Beowulf seems to be more physical in nature, where heroism of Gawain is of a more spiritual nature. ...

• Word Count: 2885
• Approx Pages: 12
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate