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Social structures during the medieval era
Social structures during the medieval era
Social structures during the medieval era
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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
In the story of sir Gawain and the Green knight we see a very structured development of the hero archetype thought the entire story as Sir Gawain embarks on his quest. Sir gawain embodies, like many other such stories and fables, the perfect development of the ideal hero from the beginning of his story at the round table to the end of the story with the climactic face off with his greatest adversary (both within himself and the physical world) and even past his heroic finale with the green knight to the aftermath of what he learned on his quest and the other knight’s inability to comprehend his personal change. The ordinary world. To begin this story we find sir Gawain, who up until this first confrontation with the green knight was nothing
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.
The green knights adheres to the code of chivalrous conduct. The Green Knight is a mysterious, supernatural creature. He rides into Arthur’s court on New Year’s Eve almost as if summoned by the king’s request to hear a marvelous story. His supernatural characteristics, such as his ability to survive decapitation and his green complexion, immediately mark him as a foreboding figure. The Green Knight contrasts with Arthur’s court in many ways.
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
During the Medieval times chivalry was one of the most important characteristics a knight could display. Chivalry was viewed as a moral obligation that involved bravery, honor, respect, and gallantry. Knights were expected to uphold this code or face social consequences for any infractions, with punishments ranging from humiliation to termination of their knighthood. “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” presents the struggles knights faced with honoring the chivalrous code at all times. Sir Gawain, while imperfect, exhibits qualities expected of knights and embodies the internal struggle between honoring the chivalrous code and giving into selfish desires.
All in all, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight gave many fine examples of classic literature and the beauty of it. However, Gawain tried to redeem himself, but failed miserably. Redemption is achieved by falling and getting back up. Gawain tripped over his own feet, then blamed the girl who didn’t do anything. Gawain cannot teach anyone anything about redemption.
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.
Although Sir Gawain does not want to take the Green Knight’s challenge, he honorable takes the place of King Arthur and lies about his worth. The Green Knight arrives carrying an axe and holly, symbolizing peace and war, but tells them that he “travel[s] in peace and seek[s] no trouble” (12). Despite saying that he wants no trouble, he proposes a game involves one strike with his axe by whoever is brave enough for another done by him a year later. The court is baffled by his request, and when no one speaks up to take the Green Knights challenge, he ridicules them by conveying that “all the pageantry and power of the Round Table made nothing by the words of one man” (13). After the Green Knight finishes mocking the Knights of the Round Table, Arthur boldly takes the challenge until Sir Gawain politely requested to take his place.
The Green Knight believes no one will ever be able to be better than him. He appears in Arthur's court at Christmas and issues a challenge: anyone can try to cut off his head. Gawain tries to do so; in failing, he is called to face the green creature in one year to give the Green Knight his opportunity to take Gawain's head, as a part of their agreement. He is impatient and rude in his challenge to the court, calling them mere children and telling them that if he had come to fight, no one could stand against him. Just alone his appearance made him a villain.
Analyse the importance of symbolism as a literary device in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. This essay aims to discuss the importance of symbolism as a literary device in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Symbolism is a literary device which uses specific items or images to convey abstract concepts (Whitehead 22). In SGGK, the Gawain poet implements symbolism in the narrative through the symbols of the pentangle, the green girdle, Gawain’s armour, the seasons and nature, and the Green Knight.
Romance as a genre has two basic plots: the adventure plot and the love plot. In these plots, there is usually an individual hero who is on a quest. The hero, usually a knight, encounters one or more others. The two most important others are the public other and the private other. The public other competes with the outside worlds, such as: enemies, animals, monsters, strange environments and adverse conditions.
Therefore, “The Knight of the Sword”, Gawain doesn’t share this same notion of mercy towards the daughter of his host, who had since become his wife. When Gawain and the young girl are taking leave of the castle, they are attacked on the road by another man. The young girl is taken from Gawain, who challenges the man in order to get her back. The challenge consists of testing the loyalty to Gawain of first the girl and then her greyhounds. Both are allowed to choose who they wish to stay with.
If you were to look at the life of Sir Gawain, what would you see? Many people see his life as an allegory for human nature. At the beginning of his knighthood, Gawain was a feeble man. He thought of himself as the weakest, least important knight. When he stepped up to accept the challenge that the Green Knight proposed on Arthur and the knights of the Round Table, he showed honor and respect for his uncle and the other knights of the Round Table.
