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Sir Gawain's Journey Analysis

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Gawain’s Journey What makes a hero? A cape? A villain? A sidekick? How about a journey with a call to adventure, assistance, trials, a crisis, treasure, and a new life. Most hero’s follow a cycle called the hero’s journey. Take for instance Sir Gawain of Camelot. Gawain gets a call to adventure and assistance. Then trials and a crisis. Finally Gawain finds treasure and begins his new life. In the tails of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, Sir Gawain’s journey follows that of a hero. Gawain’s journey begins with a call to adventure and assistance. It all starts when he accepts the Green Knight’s challenge. He says to King Arthur, “ ‘My lord and great uncle, grant me a boon! Let this adventure be mine, for still there is my old …show more content…

When Gawain arrives at the Green Chapel he is told to take his helmet off. The Green Knight said, “ ‘Now I will repay the stroke you dealt me at Camelot and none shall come between us is this lonely valley. Take off your helmet and make ready for the blow!’ “ (113). The Green Knight swings his axe but does not hit Gawain. Gawain and the Green Knight tells Gawain, “ ‘You are surely not Gawain the brave, thus to fear even the whistle of the blade! When you struck off my head in King Arthur’s hall I never flinched from your blow!’ “ (113). Gawain assures the Green Knight he will not flinch again and the Green Knight swings again, but still does not hit Gawain. The next time, the Green Knight hits Gawain and makes a deep cut in his neck, but does not cut his head off. Although short and easy, these were Gawain’s trials. His crisis was painful but not impossible to …show more content…

After being struck by the Green Knight, the Green Knight tells him that he is the king Gawain met during his journey. The Green Knight said the first two swings were for the two days Gawain told the truth. The cut in his neck is for the day he told only half the truth. If Gawain had not told the truth his head would have been cut off. Gawain learns that honesty is rewarding and lying has consequences. He is changed by the experience and travels back to Camelot, “ ‘Gawain rode back swiftly through the forest of Wirral, and after many more adventures he came to Camelot’ “(116). The narrator says King Arthur, “ ‘set him at his place at the round table. And of all the knights who ever sat there, few indeed were so worthy as Gawain.’ “(116). His treasure is not physical but is well earned and still fits the hero’s journey. He learns a lesson of honesty and honorability. As changed man and a more honest knight, Gawain travels back to King Arthur’s court to begin a better

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