Knighthood In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

Though the author of the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (SGGK) remains unknown, the poem itself exists because of its unique attributes of the alliteration pattern and the poetic form, bob and wheel. A year after Gawain sunders the head of the Green Knight, he departs at Christmas time on a journey to find the Green Chapel, but instead stumbles upon the helping hands of a beautiful castle, which happens to be the place that additionally tries his character. In the days of the Knights of the Round Table, the codes of chivalry define these noblemen striving to be loyal to God and their lord. In Tolkien’s translation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the author uses different objects and actions to symbolize how knighthood derives its

The first pair of points on the intertwining star testifies to Gawain’s faultless individual abilities. The duty of the Christian knight includes being impeccable in their ability to make decisions and to act with their hands, and Sir Gawain illustrates these on Christmas day when he says, “I implore with prayer plain / that this match should now be mine” as he accepts the fight against the Green Knight in the beheading game (SGGK I.15.22-23). In this match that fights to the death, Gawain sacrifices for his king and knocks off the head of the competitor, demonstrating Gawain’s selfless actions in his five senses and five fingers. The third and fourth aspect of the endless knot depicts the spiritual life of the knight. Knowing he will die, Gawain journeys to his death, as he searches for the Green Knight’s Chapel “in prayer he now did ride… he blesses him oft and cried, ‘The Cross of Christ me speed!’” (II.32.22-25). He sets his faith on the Five Wounds of Christ and gains courage from the Five Joys of Mary during the long voyages of knighthood. The pentacle’s last point exemplifies the knightly virtues that Gawain must have in his social relationships. When Sir Gawain accepts the lord of the castle’s agreement of “whatever I win in the wood at once shall be yours, and whatever gain you may get you shall give in exchange” it

After traveling many miles through a treacherous wilderness, resisting a enchanting lady for three days, and journeying to what he believes is his death to fulfill his part of the bargain “he shrank a little with his shoulders at the sharp / iron” (IV.91.11-12). Regardless of Gawain’s craven flinching before the Green Knight, he remains alive because of his courage to refuse the attractive lady without rebuking her and maintain a behavior like Christ. On the Green Giant’s second blow, Sir Gawain stands firm like a boar, and remains unharmed indicating his restraint in the castle is not in vain. When Gawain “stood as still as a stone”, he boldly passes yet another test in that moment (IV.92.12). Gawain remains chaste and the Green Knight rewards his self-control, while Gawain continues to reflect Christ’s attributes. Unlike the others, the third hit from the knight hued in green, slashes Gawain’s neck exemplifying his failure on the third day of temptation. The Green Knight reproaches Gawain for not being stalwart in keeping his agreement: “but in this you lacked, sir, a little, and of loyalty / came short” (IV.95.10-11). Even though he fails in advocating the truthfulness of Christ on the third day, he says to the Green Giant after he becomes aware of his sin, “I confess, sir, here to you / all faulty has been