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Sir Gawain & the Green Knight

Sir Gawain & the Green Knight. By: Anonymous or “The Pearl Poet”. The Mystery Behind The Author. The author is considered anonymous, or a nickname of “The Pearl Poet.” (He apparently also wrote a poem called The Pearl.) He was certainly English and spoke and wrote in Middle English.

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Sir Gawain & the Green Knight

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  1. Sir Gawain & the Green Knight By: Anonymous or “The Pearl Poet”

  2. The Mystery Behind The Author The author is considered anonymous, or a nickname of “The Pearl Poet.” (He apparently also wrote a poem called The Pearl.) He was certainly English and spoke and wrote in Middle English. This poet is sometimes referred to as the “Gawain Poet.” Written in the Middle Ages late 14th century.

  3. Gawain as a Part of Tradition Sir Gawain was part of an old tradition of stories about Arthur, the legendary British King. Arthur and his wife, Guinevere entertained the knights of the Round Table in the city of Camelot. Sir Gawain, one of these knights, was also Arthur’s nephew.

  4. King Arthur & Pop Culture • Arthurian legends even last to today! • Disney’s The Sword in the Stone • Broadway’s Camelot, & Spamalot • Movies: First Knight, Monty Python’s Holy Grail, Kid in King Arthur’s Court, etc

  5. The Code of Chivalry Major Theme Alert! We will explore more about chivalry later! • The Knights of the Round Table were the most famous for this behavior in the Middle Ages. • What does this mean?! • men were brave • had honor • showed gallantry (courteous behavior) towards women • Christian values in warfare (rules of engagement because “the enemy is my brother”) • courtesy to all people • Being a gentleman • willing to sacrifice yourself for your lord and ladies

  6. Courtly Love This is the love a knight has for a woman who is generally not his wife. It is a love from “afar” and is usually very superficial. It is often explained, for example, with a knight who is struck by cupid’s arrow as he sees a beautiful maiden walking out of a castle. This kind of love is also generally unattainable (at most, the knight may get a kiss, but that is all). Often the maiden is married to the King (e.g., Arthur & Guinevere and then Lancelot comes into the picture). Creates a situation where the knight seeks to impress the lady by doing brave deeds and being the perfect gentleman (showing great chivalry).

  7. Elements of a Legend • Medieval romances or adventures were written in episodes or sections. • All of the stories are woven together and the details have purpose. • Sir Gawain’s storyhas two episodes. • Christian themes & Pagan (magical) elements present. • The Hero is tested: • Gawain’s trouthe(his real character) is repeatedly tested in this as well as his loyalty: to Arthur and to the chivalric code.

  8. SO What Kind of Story is This?!?!? • It’s a ROMANCE (but not like the movie The Notebook). • ROMANCE: • a narrative set in a world of pure wish fulfillment • superhuman heroes fight and almost always conquer the forces of evil • Wizardry/Sorcery/ Fairy Tale Enchantments • the hero undertakes a hard journey in search of something valuable (a quest…remember that?)

  9. Main Character Break Down! • King Arthur • Legendary King of Britain • Husband of Guinevere • Uncle of Gawain • Rules over the famous Knights of the Round Table at Camelot • Brave, courageous, chivalrous

  10. Main Character Break Down! • Sir Gawain • Arthur’s nephew and one of the most loyal, brave knights • Follows the chivalrous code (humility, piety, integrity, loyalty, honesty) • Courtly lover • One flaw: loves his life so much that he will lie to protect it (obviously breaking the code)

  11. Main Character Break Down! • The Green Knight • Yes…he is a green man. • Huge guy with big muscles/carries a huge axe. • Says he comes in friendship but proposes that someone step forward to play the “beheading game.” • Expects the knights to be courageous and step forward to play.

  12. Minor Characters to Know! Queen Guinevere: Arthur’s wife and queen Lord and Lady of the castle where Gawain stays for Christmas (Hint: The lady tries to seduce Gawain every day he is there.)

  13. Let’s Set Up The Story! • New Year's Eve feast @ King Arthur's court. • A strange figure, referred to only as the Green Knight, pays the court an unexpected visit. • He challenges the group's leader or any other brave soul to a game: • The Green Knight will allow whomever accepts the challenge to strike him with his own axe, on the condition that the challenger find him in exactly one year to receive a blow in return.

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