Gawain as Arthurian literature

1. Gawain as Arthurian literature • Part of the Arthurian tradition • Anglo rather than Continental • in tradition of Marie de France rather than Malory • portrays Guenevere as “general adulteress” rather than as romantically besotted with Launcelot • Focus on Gawain not Launcelot • Gawain as greatest English-born knight • Similar to large body of Celtic Arthurian tales from Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, Ireland • tales emphasize supernatural powers of natural world

2. Gawain as Romance • Part of the Romance tradition • Focus on knightly adventures • compare/contrast Gawain to either Lanval or Eliduc in his leaving home, in his adventures in love, inhis moral decision-making • Contains elements of the supernatural • Combines two romance narrative elements • the “Beheading Game” • the “Exchange of Winnings” • Focus on courtly love motif

3. Gawain as “Germanic” warrior • Part of the Germanic warrior tradition • alliterative verse • long epic narrative • emphasis on belonging to warrior group • compare to Beowulf or Roland • emphasis on uncle/nephew relationship • Gawain is Arthur’s sister’s son (and Mordred’s brother) • emphasis on gift-exchanges as social glue

4. Gawain and the Green Knight • Poem contrasts not good and evil but serious sin and venial sin. • Poem is set in a world of adultery • Opens and closes with references to the Trojan War, fought over adultery • Opens in Camelot, which will fall because of Guinevere’s and Lancelot’s adultery • Gawain successfully resists Lady B’s adulterous overtures • Gawain ultimately saved because he resists the serious sin of adultery, despite his venial sins of fear of death, and keeping girdle.

5. So what’s with Troy? • In Iliad, Homer portrays Troy as aging, eastern, effete city which must fall to transfer center of power westward to Greece • In Aeneid, Virgil portrays Rome as founded by Aeneas--escaped Trojan prince--so Rome becomes “New Troy” and avenges conquest of Troy by Greeks For both cultures, Troy becomes the desired origin--the locus of civilization

6. Troy haunts the Middle Ages • Anglo-Saxons invent Brutus, yet another Trojan prince, who founds London and gives his name to “Britain” • All medieval cultures that see themselves as inheritors of Roman glory--the papacy--Charlemagne’s Holy Roman Empire--Dante’s dream of a unified Italy governed from Rome--all claim descent from Troy • Gawain begins & ends with Trojan reference

7. Camelot religious celebration begins each day more populated less natural people do not resist their animal instincts and instead commit adultery host wishes to be entertained by others Green World religious celebration begins each day less populated more natural people see the necessity of resisting their animal instincts and refrain from adultery host entertains his Christmas guests Contrasting Worlds

8. Green Knight heard before he was seen comes unarmed except for axe, which he leaves behind asks to play a Christmas game not invited to eat, drink, sit, or rest Gawain seen before he was heard travels fully armed, including his horse; carries all weapons asks for Christmas hospitality invited to eat, drink, stay, bathe, etc. Contrast the Green Knight’s arrival at Camelot’s with Gawain’s arrival at Bercilak’s

9. Gawain’s errors • Chopping off the Green Knight’s head. • Should have realized he was supernatural • over 7 feet tall • he and his horse are both GREEN! • Demonstrates clear misunderstanding of Christian values; should “return good for evil” or should follow Golden Rule • Failing to abide by rules of “Exchange of Winnings” game; keeping the girdle • should have realized that his host and the GK were the same; live half a mile apart!

10. Gawain’s resisting serious sin Look at Part III: the hunting of the deer • Lord B and his men go hunting at dawn • Lady B “hunts” Gawain in his bed • he pretends to sleep (playing possum) • he must be courteous, yet say no • Lord B et al slaughter and butcher the captured deer in minute detail • we are reminded of an essential human/animal difference--humans aren’t butchered • Implication--what could happen to Gawain if he forgets to be human?