“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” was chosen for this research paper because this anonymous poem has a very powerful effect to the modern world of today. Even though it was written so many years ago, the themes, motifs, and historical context that are used throughout are seen in many of the works that are currently being written. This seems to be the first poem that used universal themes and motifs that can be translated and used in modern day poetries and stories. An amazing part of this anonymous poem is that it went on to inspire other stories and historically motivated many other tales in Early British writing. This paper will go on to explore all of the themes, motifs, and historical influences that were created.
The analysis of “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” reveals a very powerful theme, which runs throughout the entire play, of valor and courage. The main theme of chivalry is enhanced by the
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Historians believe that the first story that features beheading games, which plays a great role in the Green Knight, was written in the 8th century Middle Irish. This story parallels Gawain in that, like the Green Knight, the main antagonist feints three blows with the axe before letting his target depart without injury. In 13th century Perlesvaus is the first signs of Lancelot, which can be tied to the Arthurian literature route that England was taking. This story is about a knight begging Lancelot to cut his head off. When Lancelot attempts and missed he promises to come back to the same place in a year to put Sir Lancelot’s head in the same danger. When Lancelot arrives, the people of the town celebrate and announce that they have finally found a true knight, because many others had failed this test of chivalry. These stories seem to lead up to the Green Knight. They all have similar plotlines and