More handpicked essays just for you.
Midsummer nights dream essay power and control
Why courage is so important in to kill a mockingbird
Introduction of courage
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
The poet of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, handles the theme of the story “courtesy”; in a very open manner. Courtesy is the showing of politeness in one’s attitude and behavior towards others. Throughout the story, courtesy is displayed many time, at different levels, and in different forms. The main character Sir Gawain, is the best representation of courtesy. Sir Gawain is were polite and friendly towards the other characters that he interacts with in the story.
The main theme of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is the journey to maturity of Gawain, the hero. During the passage, Gawain goes through three tests on his development. First, Gawain shows courage and resourcefulness when he volunteers to take the Green Knight’s challenge instead of Arthur doing so. Second, Gawain shows authority, self-restraint, and integrity when he denies the sexual endeavours of the lady of the house. Lastly, Gawain shows bravery when he faces death by keeping his meeting with the Green
Generally speaking, the Green Knight told Sir Gawain that "I'm bound to be called a better man than you" simply when the Green Knight was coming down on the first strike, Gawain flinched in fear before the ax even connected to his neck. Consequently, the Green Knight mocked Gawain specifically saying, "For look how you flinch for fear before anything's felt, I never heard tell that Sir Gawain was ever a coward!" (264-265) Gawain made a pact with the Green Knight that he would requite the same swing that he made at the Green Knight. Ordinarily, when a knight makes a consensus with another person, they are supposed to show their chivalric code of honor.
The Green Knight strikes one time but Gawain flinches. The Green Knight strikes again just to test to see if Gawain will flinch again. The third strike, it pierces the skin but does not take Gawain's head off. The Green Knight explains to Gawain that he is the same lord of the castle that Gawain spent his holidays at. He says the first two blows, were in return for the way Gawain returned the kisses of his wife, following the rules of their game as an
In response to the taunting of the Green Knight, Sir Gawain says, "I shied once: no more. You have my word," (272-273). Gawain, like all natural man, shied away once from the Knight's sword as a defensive reflex, but he quickly shakes off any cowardice and announces to the Green Knight that he was caught in a moment of doubt. From there he goes to say that he ultimately is no coward, but rather a noble and courageous knight of the roundtable who is devoted and loyal to King Arthur. He is more than willing and prepared to take what is coming and preserve the honor of his people, as well as his own.
This scar from the Green Knight helped Gawain to realize his faults and the things that make us human in life. As he realizes these imperfections it says, “Gawain stood their speechless for what felt like a century, so shocked and ashamed that his stomach churned and the fire of his blood brought flames to his face and he wriggled and writhed at the other man’s words.” (179). The Green Knight had tested Gawain and by being honest two-thirds of the time, Gawain was allowed to live, even though he would always live in shame from that moment on. Others believed that he was brave and stood up, but Gawain was ashamed while the knights thought he was honorable.
Sir Gawain shows loyalty and humility when he makes the decision of honoring the promise he made with the Green Knight. This humility drives him to set off to pursue the Green Knight to honor the pact they agreed on. On his arrival at the Green chapel, he calls the Green Knight who emerges to greet him and to fulfill the terms of the contract (Cathell). Sir Gawain presents his neck voluntarily to the Green Knight who feigns two blows (Cooke 4). This is a commitment and a sign of piety that Gawain manifests.
In the lines above it is seen that the Green Knight’s head had completely been severed yet he remains unshaved, it is clear now that Gawain has been deceived. Gawain continues to keep his word even though his journey is lonely and dangerous. “ […] Sir Gawain, Gods servant, on his grim quest, passing long dark nights unloved and alone […] With no friends
Early on in the tale, Sir Gawain shows courage when he steps up and accepts the Green Man's challenge well knowing of the chance of Death. By doing so Sir Gawain surpassed his fear of death by stepping up to do a mission none of the other knights at the round table wished to do. His reasoning for this was to take the place of his uncle, King Arthur who was originally the chosen participant after none of the other present knights volunteered. After chopping off the head of the Green Man, Sir Gawain is told that he must go to the green chapel in one year and one day to meet the Green Man. Sir Gawain fearful of death debates whether or not he will set journey to the green chapel at that time yet his courageous characteristics force him to go.
The Green Knight applauded Sir Gawain for living up to his end of the bargain. The Green Knight swung twice at Gawain’s neck and the first time Gawain flinched and the second time the Green Knight stopped right before his neck. The third time the Green Knight swings the axe and breaks the skin but doesn't decapitate Gawain.
what happened when Gawain hit the green knight with the axe? Gawain beheaded him, it fell to the ground, sprawled around, blood squirted from his body, green knight picked up his head, bestrided his horse, and spoke. However, the Green Knight did not drop down from his horse. He extended down, picked up the head, and held it before him, pointing it toward the high table. The head communicated, recapitulated the terms of Gawain’s promise.
As an Expert states, “Critics consider the puzzle of the theme a major asset of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and they continue to debate whether the real test was what happened at Castle Hautdesert rather than the exchange of blows, as well as whether, finally, Gawain passed or failed the tests” (Classical and Medieval Literature Criticism). The reason the critics say this is because they see that the real or possibly the real test was when Sir Gawain was in the castle getting tested by the king which turns out to be the king rather than getting swung at with an axe. Although Sir Gawain was not aware that the king was testing him under these circumstances he did want he had to do even if it meant he was a bit disloyal when taking the green sash. As Sir Gawain states, ‘“There, there’s my fault! The foul fiend vex it” (line 389)!
When the Green Knight gives him the girdle back Gawain says "I gladly take it and be pleased to posses, not for the pure gold, nor the bright belt itself, not the beauteous pendants/When I ride in renown, and remember with shame the faults and the frailty of the flesh perverse, how it 's tenderness entices the foul taint of sin"(2439-36). It is at this point where the girdle has changed from a symbol of life to a symbol or shame and temptation. Gawain and the Green Knight say goodbye to each other and part ways. Gawain heads home ashamed of what he had done, when he gets home the court is overjoyed that he had returned and he was alive. When the court asks of the quest that he had been on he retells how it was all set up and that he now wears the green girdle out of shame because of his actions.
His taking of the girdle represents his utter trust in God wavering and instead placing his trust and safety in the hands of the supernatural. Since religion at this point was such a vital aspect of everyday life, this wavering of belief was considered a great sin. However, when the Green Knight is given the opportunity to kill Gawain, he barely nicks his neck. It is then revealed that he is the lord and this was all a test.
In part 1, a knight by the name of Gawain defends Arthur’s Court when a mysterious green knight ridicules and challenges the fellow knights during a New Year’s feast. “The man on the horse turned himself in his saddle, ferociously rolling his red eyes about, bunched up his eyebrows, bristling with green, swung his beard this way and that to see whoever would rise” (Black, lines 342-348). When the Green Knight dared a challenge to prove their cowardly character, Gawain accepts the challenge. “When no one answered he cried aloud, “To let this task be mine” (Black, lines 349-351). He displays a well-respected act of valor and then continues on his quest to execute the Green Knight’s
