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Sir Gwain and the Green Knight

            
            
             "Sir Gwain and the Green Knight" is a medieval romance but is by no means a love story.
             In the 14th century when this tale was written romances were broadly defined as very imaginative literature set in a fantasy world that features a battle between good and evil. More specifically they need to have an almost perfect hero, a long and dangerous quest, supernatural elements and a female figure of some sort. The story of "Sir Gwain and the Green Knight" meets all of these characteristics and is therefore a medieval romance.
             The key elements that make a story a medieval romance are imaginative literature, fantasy world setting and a battle between good and evil. All of these elements are demonstrated by Sir Gwain himself when his New Year's dinner with King Arthur and a few other knights is interrupted by a green stranger who proposes a "game". The strange green knight asks if someone will exchange a blow for blow and Sir Gwain is the only one to accept. Sir Gwain swiftly chops the Knights head off as requested but to everyone's surprise. The Green Knight ".held his head in his hands up high before him" (28). The knights headless body lept onto his horse "And the eyelids lifted wide, and the eyes looked out/And the mouth said just this much, as you may hear now" (30-31). He then challenged Sir Gwain to keep his promise by finding the Green Chapel in one year and receive his below. This scenario illustrates a fantasy world because obviously in the real world nobody can hold up their decapitated head. It is also an example of good vs. evil because the honorable Sir Gwain is having his life threatened by a sneaky stranger.
             The hero traveling on a long and dangerous quest is another essential part of any medieval romance. This key element is present in "Sir Gwain and the Green Knight" when Sir Gwain "shaved through the heavy thicket grown up by the woods/and rode down the steep to the floor of the valley" in order to find the Green Chapel.


Essays Related to Sir Gwain and the Green Knight

1. An Examination of Symbolism in Sir Gawain and the Green Knig

An Examination of Symbolism In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight For as long as man has put pen to paper in an effort to communicate ideas through written word, authors have used symbolism to develop a story or create an understanding. ... (Griffith 7) The Medieval masterpiece "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" provides many excellent examples of the effective use of symbolism in literature. ... Green is on of the colors that medieval knights wore in their surcoats. ... Bercilak disguised himself as the Green Knight in an effort to test Sir Gawain's virtue. ...

  • Word Count: 2124
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Sir Gawin Vs. Knight From Wife Of Bath

Human Nature When comparing the two knights, Sir Gawain and the knight from the Wife of Bath, Sir Gawain seems to have no faults. ... When examining Sir Gawain's and the knight from the Wife of Bath differences, Sir Gawain seems to be the more noble of the two. For example, in the poem "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," Gawain is portrayed by the poet to be honorable, brave, reliable, but yet humble. ... This is true when Sir Gawain receives a strike from the Green Knight at the Green Chapel. He posses the green girdle, but still he lets fear take over and flinches when hit with the...

  • Word Count: 1099
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

I recently read the book Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. ... King Arthur steps up to accept the Green Knight's offer, but as the King stands, Sir Gawain jumps up first. ... The Green Knight retrieves his head, and speaks to Sir Gawain, telling him to come to the Green Chapel by New Year's day to receive his blow, or be a coward forever. The Green Knight rides off, trusting Sir Gawain to come by New Year's Day. ... Sir Gawain kept the sash, thinking it would keep him safe from the Green Knight's axe. ...

  • Word Count: 600
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Sir Gawin and the Green Knight

SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT" An anonymous author wrote Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in the 14th century. ... Gawain bravely cuts off the Green Knight's head, and the Green Knight proceeds to pick it up. ... "Sir Gawain hefts his ax and chops off the giant green head." ... "Sir Gawian accepts a magical green sash." ... "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" is one of the great works of Romanticism. ...

  • Word Count: 3400
  • Approx Pages: 14
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, there are several instances in which the number three is used. ... Thirdly he encounters the Green Knight at the mysterious Green Chapel. ... Aside from the implied religious themes, there are three examples of blatant Christianity in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. ... The story can actually be paralleled to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight as a whole. ... These examples show a correlation between direct themes and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and underlying themes of Catholicism....

  • Word Count: 1383
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

In the tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the lady of the castle tempts Sir Gawain with a magical, green girdle and explains to him that the wearer of this corset "could not be killed by any craft on earth.(1854)" Sir Gawain, amidst an ethical dilemma, accepts the gift and chooses to conceal it from Lord Bercilak. ... The question as to whether Gawain is right in choosing his life over his morals is mentioned when the Green Knight reveals himself as Lord Bercilak. The Green Knight feels that it was excusable for Gawain to accept the girdle, as his decision was well motivated. ... Whe...

  • Word Count: 1224
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Heroism In Beowulf And Sir Gawain

It is evident through their many differences how the concept of heroism changes from the time of Beowulf to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. ... In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Gawain must pass mental as well as physical tests to prove himself worthy as a hero. ... When he is staying at Bercilak de Hautdesert's castle on his way to find the Green Knight, Sir Gawains chivalry is tested by the lord's wife. ... It is simple to see how the concept of heroism changed from Beowulf to Sir Gewain and the Green Knight. In Beowulf's time heroes were confident, strong, and brave,...

  • Word Count: 762
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Courage in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Throughout the medieval period, one's lifestyle was basically determined by their social standing, how you ranked among the next. ... In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, one thing that stuck out at me that greatly demonstrates courage is when Gawain is at Berselac's house. ... One of the tasks that Gawain faces is when he has to fight the Green Knight. Gawain, knowing that he has the protection of the green girdle does not back down from the Green Knight. ... Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is an extremely symbolic piece of literature an...

  • Word Count: 541
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

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