“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”

1. “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” A Medieval Romance and a tale of chivalry

2. Term: Chivalry

3. 1.  Prowess:  ability to fight Definition of Chivalry

4. 2.  Loyalty:  to God, King, and lady Definition of Chivalry

5. 3. Generosity:  includes gift-giving and hospitality Definition of Chivalry

6. 4.   Franchise:  that "something special" that distinguishes a knight; linked to birthright Definition of Chivalry

7. 5.  Courtesy:  initially "behavior at court," the term emphasizes behavior towards a lady Definition of Chivalry

8. A Few Rules of Chivalry Include…

9. Live to serve King and Country.

10. Never use a weapon on an opponent not equal to the attack.

11. Exhibit courage in word and deed.

12. Always keep one's word of honor.

13. Avoid deception.

14. Be respectful of host, women, and honor.

15. Term: Medieval Romance

16. The basic material of medieval romance is knightly activity and adventure; we might best define medieval romance as a story of adventure.

17. Any "love interest" is likely to be incidental to the story Aspects of a Medieval Romance

18. The stories were often woven around a well known figure. Aspects of a Medieval Romance

19. The hero is always made to conform to medieval conceptions of a knight . Aspects of a Medieval Romance

20. Often follows the loose pattern of a quest. Aspects of a Medieval Romance

21. A tale of adventure in which knights, kings, or distressed ladies, are motivated by love, religious faith, or the mere desire for adventure. Aspects of a Medieval Romance

22. Usually set in remote times or places. Aspects of a Medieval Romance

23. Involves elements of the fantastic or supernatural Aspects of a Medieval Romance

24. Successive words or stressed syllables begin with the same consonant or vowel sound in close succession. Term: Alliteration

25. a brief reference to a person, event, or place, real or fictitious, or to a work of art. Casual reference to a famous historical or literary figure or event.An allusion may be drawn from history, geography, literature, or religion. Term: Allusion

26. a tradition or story handed down from earlier times and popularly accepted as true but actually a mix of fact and fiction. The term is also applied to any fictitious tale concerning a real person, event, or place and is likely to be less concerned with the supernatural than a myth. Term: Legend

27. A person, object, image, word, or event that evokes a range of additional meaning beyond and usually more abstract than its literal significance. Conventional symbols have meanings that are widely recognized by a society or culture. Term: symbol

28. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight •Author is known as 1) The Gawain Poet or 2) The Pearl Poet •Composed around 1370

29. Themes in SGGK •temptation and testing •hunting and seduction •games •time and seasons •nature and chivalry

30. Symbolism in SGGK •the color green •the green knight •girdle •pentangle •numbers •wounds

31. Read handout entitled “A Look at the Symbolism of the Pentangle in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.” Record what the five points of the pentangle represent.

32. Use the handout entitled “A Look at the Symbolism of the Pentangle in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.” Record what the five knightly virtues are..

33. The Essay

34. The Introduction • It introduces the main idea of your essay. A good opening paragraph captures the interest of your reader and tells why your topic is important. • The main idea of the essay is stated in a single sentence called the thesis statement. You must limit your entire essay to the topic you have introduced in your thesis statement. • Provide some background information about your topic. You can use interesting facts, quotations, or definitions of important terms you will use later in the essay.

35. Supporting Paragraphs • What are supporting paragraphs?Supporting paragraphs make up the main body of your essay. • What do they do?They develop the main idea of your essay. • How do I write them? 1. List the points that develop the main idea of your essay.2. Place each supporting point in its own paragraph.3. Develop each supporting point with facts, details, and examples.

36. Conclusion • What does it do?It summarizes or restates the main idea of the essay. You want to leave the reader with a sense that your essay is complete. • How do I write one?1. Restate the strongest points of your essay that support your main idea. 2. Conclude your essay by restating the main idea in different words.

37. Things to Keep in Mind

38. Verb Tense • Always write about literature in the present tense • Always write about history in the past tense • Be sure you do not change tenses in your writing

39. Transitions • Use transitions to give writing a smooth flow • Use to connect one idea to the next • Avoid transitions like first, second, third, etc. • Use them between and within paragraphs • Make sure transitions are being used properly

40. Sentence Structure • Simple • Compound • Complex • Vary your sentence structure, and use introductory phrases and clauses for interest.

41. Diction • Avoid words like good, bad, things, a lot • Avoid use of clichés • Use a thesaurus to find more interesting words • Avoid using the same words over and over

42. Prepositions • Avoid ending sentences with a preposition. Example: In order to uphold the code of chivalry, Gawain must honor the agreement he and the Green Knight agreed upon. Remedy: In order to uphold the code of chivalry, Gawain must honor the agreement upon which he and the Green Knight agreed.

43. Personal Pronouns • You, I, me, we, etc. • Quite simply, do NOT use these in your essays!!!

44. Common Grammar Errors

45. Comma Splices • What is a comma splice? an error caused by joining two independent clauses (sentences) with only a comma Example: Sir Gawain is not only a knight of the Round Table but is King Arthur’s nephew as well, he fights the infamous Green Knight.

46. Remedies SEMICOLON: Sir Gawain is not only a knight of the Round Table but is King Arthur’s nephew as well; he fights the infamous Green Knight. COORDINATING CONJUNCTION: Sir Gawain is not only a knight of the Round Table but is King Arthur’s nephew as well, and he fights the infamous Green Knight.

47. Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement • An antecedent is the word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers, understood by the context.

48. Incorrect Although Gawain is considered to be one of the most noble knights of the Round Table, they occasionally fall short of meeting the expectations of the chivalric code. Correct Although Gawain is considered to be one of the most noble knights of the Round Table, he occasionally falls short of meeting the expectations of the chivalric code.

49. Commas/Coordinating Conjunctions • Only use a commas with a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, so) when connecting two complete sentences. • Example: Gawain, a courteous knight of the Round Table, accepts the Green Knight’s challenge, and he stays true to the covenant upon which the two agreed.

50. Introductory words like however, still, furthermore, and meanwhile create continuity from one sentence to the next; use a comma to set these apart. Example. Gawain accepts the terms of the Green Knight’s game. However, the young knight must wait a year and a day to search for the mysterious, headless man. Commas with Introductory Words