MEDIEVAL ROMANCE

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Morte d’Arthur

Focus Standard: Determining Theme EQ: How are elements of medieval literature evident in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight?” Know: I will know the elements of chivalry in medieval lit. Show: I will show my understanding by identifying elements of medieval lit in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.”

PAGE 168-169

1. Define medieval romance.

2. Define legend.

3. Legends that relate to King Arthur and his knights feature what three elements?

4. How did chivalry and feudalism reinforce each other?

5. What type of work is Sir Gawain?

6. What is the basic plot?

7. Who wrote Sir Gawain and what is the stylistic device used in his poetry?

CHARACTERISTICS OF COURTLY BEHAVIOR

Respect the king. Do nothing to bring him dishonor.

Respect women. Do nothing to bring dishonor to any woman.

Protect the poor and the weak.

Honor God as a faithful Christian.

FEUDALISM AND CHIVALRY

Feudalism is based on a code of conduct called chivalry.

 Many of the characters you are about to read about observe a code of honorable behavior called chivalry.

 Feudalism was a system both of government and of land ownership. In exchange for a nobleman's oath of loyalty, a king would give him lands.

As you read, note the passages that reveal the kind of behavior that chivalry requires

CODE OF CHIVALRY

1.Fellowship: friendly association with those who share interests 2. Purity: free of sin, guilt, and evil thoughts; innocence 3. Courtesy: being polite in attitude and behavior to others 4. Compassion: sympathy and concern for others’ misfortunes 5.Generosity: Being kind and giving to others  Loyalty, honesty

SO WHAT KIND OF STORY IS THIS?

It’s a ROMANCE (but not like the movie The Notebook or Sweet Home Alabama).

   ROMANCE: a narrative set in a world of pure wish fulfillment superhuman heroes fight and almost always conquer the forces of evil the hero undertakes a hard journey in search of something valuable (a quest…remember that?)

ROMANCES

 Romances are narratives that tell of strange, sometimes supernatural events in exotic settings.

 Medieval romances are adventure stories with kings, knights, and damsels in distress.

 They include:  Vivid descriptions,  plot twists,  accounts of the reactions and motives of characters

LEGEND

A legend is an anonymous traditional story about the past that may have been inspired by real events and people.

  Legends, like these relating to King Arthur and his knights, often feature the following:  Heroic figures and memorable deeds Quests, or searches for something important; contests; and tests Patterns such as things repeated three times

SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT

 A medieval poem in alliterative verse by an unknown poet  Sir Gawain  Loyal knight  King Arthur’s nephew  Is tested by the green knight in three challenges  Shapes an enduring vision of personal integrity

LEGEND: JOURNEY = QUEST

In medieval poetry, the epic hero’s journey to battle (like Achilles’ voyage to Troy or Beowulf’s to Dane-land) becomes a quest.

A quest is “an adventurous expedition in search of something spiritually fulfilling or self-enhancing.”

SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT

AS EPIC POETRY

Review: Characteristics of the Epic Hero 1. He is a model of faith, loyalty, or bravery… 2. who makes a long, difficult journey… 3. to do battle on behalf of another… 4. perhaps using his own superhuman talents… 5. against an enemy who may himself have or be guarded by supernatural powers.

MAIN CHARACTERS…

King Arthur (ever heard of him?):  Legendary king of Britain  Husband of Guinevere   Uncle of Gawain Over the famous Knights of the Round Table at Camelot  Brave, courageous, chivalrous

MAIN CHARACTERS…

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)

MAIN CHARACTERS…

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.

OTHER CHARACTERS…

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

KING AUTHOR BACKGROUND

http://www.biography.com/people/king-arthur-9190042 King Arthur - The Legend

LITERARY SKILL: SUMMARIZING

Briefly restating a text’s main ideas and relevant details.

Read lines 1-10 and write a one sentence summary.

Page 172 

A knight on a horse rides into a crowded hall, looking for the leader of the group.

READING CHECK: PAGE 172-173

1. What are the three main points of the Green Knight’s speech in lines 34-51?

2. What aspect of medieval romances does the Green Knight’s appearance illustrate?

3. How does the Green Knight challenge Arthur’s court?

PAGE 172-173

1. What are the three main points of the Green Knight’s speech in lines 34-51?

The Green Knight has heard great reports of King Arthur and his Knights, he comes in peace, and he would enter into a contest with King Arthur.

2. What aspect of medieval romances does the Green Knight’s appearance illustrate?

The description combines realistic and supernatural elements.

3. How does the Green Knight challenge Arthur’s court?

The Green Knight says that he has heard King Arthur and his knights are the bravest and the best. He says he will allow Arthur to strike him with an ax, provided that in a year and a day, Arthur will allow the Green Knight to strike him one blow with the same weapon.

PAGE 174-175

1. Summarize lines 95-112. 2. How does King Arthur feel about the Green Knight’s challenge? What is Arthur’s motivation? How does the Green knight react? 3. Read Gawain’s description of himself in lines 128-130. In what ways does this illustration of Gawain contrast with those lines?

4. How are Gawain’s words in lines 128-134 and the court’s decision consistent with the ideals of chivalry?

5. What does Gawain do to the Green Knight?

PAGE 174-175

1. Summarize lines 95-112.

King Arthur tells the Green Knight that he is wrong about the knights in his court. Then he takes the Green Knight’s ax and gets ready to hit him. The Green Knight climbs off his horse and calmly waits.

2. How does King Arthur feel about the Green Knight’s challenge? What is Arthur’s motivation? How does the Green knight react?

King Arthur is angered by the Green Knight’s words. He is motivated to prove that he and his knights are brave. The Green Knight is calm and undaunted.

3. Read Gawain’s description of himself in lines 128-130. In what ways does this illustration of Gawain contrast with those lines?

The picture shows that Gawain is strong, good-looking, and even smart, but he says that he is weak, feeble of wit, and his body is barren of worth. The picture depicts a Gawain who is the very opposite of the man whom he describes.

PAGES 174-175

4. How are Gawain’s words in lines 128-134 and the court’s decision consistent with the ideals of chivalry?

Gawain’s words reflect the ideal qualities of humility, loyalty to the king, courage, and courtesy. The court’s decision reflects the ideals of loyalty to the king and being true to one’s word in that King Arthur must be formally released from his word before he can step down.

5. What does Gawain do to the Green Knight?

Gawain chops off the Green Knight’s head.

PAGES 176-177

1. How would you summarize the event described in lines 188-213?

2. What two characteristics of a medieval romance are reflected in lines 214-231?

3. Identify the main points in lines 236-254 of Arthur’s reaction to the Green Knight.

4. What happens after Gawain chops off the Green Knight’s head?

PAGES 176-177

1. How would you summarize the event described in lines 188-213?

The Green Knight bows his head and bares his neck. Gawain picks up the ax and deals a sharp blow, cutting off the Green Knight’s head. The head rolls across the floor. To everyone’s surprise, the knight reaches out with one arm, grabs the head, and mounts his horse.

4. What happens after Gawain chops off the Green Knight’s head?

After Gawain chops off the Green Knight’s head, the knight gathers his head and mounts his horse. He then reminds Gawain that he must find him in a year, reveals that he is the Knight of the Green Chapel, and gallops off.

2. What two characteristics of a medieval romance are reflected in lines 214-231?

Sir Gawain’s honor is being put to the test. The dramatic language and supernatural actions are also characteristics of medieval romance.

PAGES 176-177

3. Identify the main points in lines 236-254 of Arthur’s reaction to the Green Knight.

Arthur was uneasy about the whole event, but held his true feelings in check. He then urged all to dance, eat, and watch the entertainment.

PAGES 178-179

1. Examine this illustration of Gawain’s journey through the wilderness. Why might Gawain be tempted to stay in the castle and give up his quest?

Gawain might be tempted to stay at the castle because he might feel safe in the castle and insecure in the frightening wilderness.

2. In what way does Gawain’s speech in lines 287-294 add a dimension to the story that might not have been present in the original legend?

There is more imagery and alliteration here than would normally be found in the telling of an adventure tale. The bleakness of the place reflects the bleakness of Gawain’s feelings and situation. The alliteration is a tool used throughout this poem to make it memorable and entertaining.

3. What is the Green Knight doing when Gawain arrives at the Green Chapel?

The Green Knight is grinding, or sharpening, his ax in preparation for dealing Gawain a blow.

PAGES 180-181

1. In what ways does this illustration of the Green Knight compare or contrast with your mental image of him?

Some students might mention that the illustration paints a much more attractive image of the Green Knight than what they had imagined.

2. How do Gawain’s actions in lines 359-387 reflect or depart from the ideals of knighthood?

The ideals are shown in Gawain’s baring his neck for the blow and in his promise not to flinch the second time. He departs from them when he winces.

3. Summarize what happens after the Green Knight’s third stroke with the ax.

The third stroke leaves only a scratch on Gawain’s neck.

PAGES 182-183

1. In view of what has happened, how might Gawain feel when he remembers this image of the Green Knight’s wife?

Gawain might feel guilty and ashamed of himself when he remembers the image of the Green Knight’s wife.

2. What theme of medieval romance is suggested in lines 441-443?

In these lines we see the medieval theme of honor.

3. How would you summarize Sir Gawain’s response to the Green Knight in lines 459-477?

Gawain admits to his failure to live up to his end of the pledge. He is angry with himself and ashamed, and asks for forgiveness.

CRITICAL READING PAGE 183

1. (a) How do Arthur’s knights first respond to the Green Knight’s challenge?

The knights are at first silent with astonishment.

(b) Why does the Green Knight laugh at their response?

The Green Knight laughs because the reaction of Arthur’s knights does not live up to their reputation.

2. (a) What does Gawain offer to do?

Gawain offers to take Arthur’s place in the contest.

(b) How does he make his offer seem humble, not boastful?

He makes the offer seem humble by playing down his strength and skills.

CRITICAL READING PAGE 183

3. (a) In lines 465-477, how does Sir Gawain react when he considers his own actions?

Gawain is upset at himself for being false, greedy, cowardly, and disloyal to his code.

(b) What has Sir Gawain learned from his second encounter with the Green Knight?

He may have learned that it is always best to keep your word and act honorably, no matter what fears you may have.

4. Using the example of Sir Gawain, explain whether it is more important to achieve goals or to learn from mistakes.

It is more important to learn from one’s mistakes because… It is more important to achieve goals because…

ELEMENTS OF MEDIEVAL ROMANCE

Elements of Medieval Romance Description

Heroic Figures/Memorable Deeds Line # Quest/Adventure Line # Patterns Line # top of 178 and 180-181 Vivid Description Line #287-294 Plot Twist Line #451 Reaction and Motives of Characters Line # 236-254 A green knight enters Arthur’s hall and challenges him Sir Gawain chopped off the Green Knight’s head “The following November, Sir Gawain sets out to fulfill his promise to the Green Knight” (178).

“He puts his heels to his horse, and picks up the path…” 3 days;3 tests;3 hunts;3 blows of an ax “beyond the brook, from the bank, a most barbarous din…” “it is bleak hereabouts; This prayer house I s hideous, half covered with grass…” “…and the wooing of my wife—it was all my scheme” We find out that the host is the Green Knight 1. “Though high-born Arthur at heart had wonder, he let no sign be seen…” He acts casually because it is a part of his bravery, or it could be he doesn’t

Element of Chivalry

Defending one’s lord/liege

Times when sir Gawain was chivalrous

Gawain accepted the Green Knight’s Challenge in order to save Arthur Accepting/not backing down from a challenge Gawain wasn’t afraid to accept the Green Knight’s challenge

Times when Gawain was not chivalrous

Arthur should never have had to take up the challenge in the first place—Gawain should have stood up immediately instead of waiting He waited too long to accept and made Arthur look bad for a while Staying true to one’s word Respecting one’s host Showing no fear Facing death bravely Learning lessons Gawain delivered back the kiss from the wife Gawain showed respect by accepting his host’s challenge He didn’t flinch for the second two strokes He went to the knight as promised, knowing he would probably die He still hadn’t figured out how to be honest ad abide by chivalry when he met the Green Knight Gawain didn’t return the green girdle as promised Gawain showed a lack of respect by lying to his host He flinched when the Green Knight prepared his first blow He wore the girdle out of fear of dying He learned his lesson about lying about the green girdle when confronted by the Green Knight

ANALYSIS

Symbolism  The Beheading Game is a traditional plot element in early medieval romances  Many believe that the ritual beheadings were originally related to crops   Beheading seedpods is one way of ensuring strong plant growth for the next year -The situation to behead Sir Gawain –learned from his mistakes which made him stronger

SYMBOLISM

 The green girdle: Gawain’s survival • Each swing of the ax represented one part of the test • For Gawain’s first 2 days of honesty at the castle, he receives “fake” swipes as a reward.

• Contact was made as a consequence for being “less than loyal” about sash.

Background (cont’d):

Medieval symbolism  Green : Life, nature, immortality, safety, renewal, and hope.

    Red : Blood, sacrifice, love, courage Gold : Wealth, value, success White: Goodness, virtue

Pentangle (Gawain’s five Compassion.

-pointed star on his shield): NOT a symbol of the occult as it is now. Was to remind man of things divine. Five different groups of five: the five wounds suffered by Christ on the cross, Gawain's five fingers, the five joys Mary found in the infant Christ, the five human senses, and a series of 5 virtues: Generosity, Love, Purity, Courtesy, &

MAJOR THEME…

 Chivalry: The world of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is governed by well defined codes of behavior. The code of chivalry, in particular, shapes the values and actions of Sir Gawain and other characters in the poem. The ideals of chivalry come from the Christian concept of morality.

MAJOR THEME…

Arthur's court depends heavily on the code of chivalry, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight gently criticizes the fact that chivalry values appearance and symbols over truth. Arthur is introduced to us as the “most courteous of all,” indicating that people are ranked in this court according to their mastery of a certain code of behavior and good manners.

MAJOR THEME…

The lesson Gawain learns as a result of the Green Knight's challenge is that, at a basic level, he is just a physical being who is concerned above all else with his own life. Chivalry provides a valuable set of ideals toward which to strive, but a person must above all remain conscious of his or her own mortality and weakness.

 Gawain's faults throughout this story teach him that though he may be the most chivalrous knight in the land, he is nevertheless human and capable of error.

 Gawain can’t fight his basic human reaction to surviving, though it may seem un knightly. Character is human.

FINAL NOTE…

Knight admires that Gawain loved his life.

While the story shows a strive for perfection, it almost celebrates failure inherent in humanity Chance for redemption, humility

Summary:

A huge knight, dressed all in green, appears at Camelot on New Year’s Eve. The Green Knight challenges any man in the court to strike his bare neck with an axe, provided that the Green Knight may do the same to the man in a year and a day. Sir Gawain, the youngest of the knight’s and nephew to the king, accepts the challenge and severs the Green Knight’s head with one blow. The Green Knight retrieves his head and rides off, reminding Gawain to meet him at the Green Chapel on the proposed day.

One year later, after many dangerous adventures and on his way to keep his appointment with the Green Knight, Gawain reaches a castle.

Summary (cont’d):

The lord and lady who reside there invite him to stay for a few days. The lady attempts to seduce Gawain, and even offers him several gifts, but he resists her advances. He keeps, however, her gift of a green sash which, she promises, “charms are woven within,” and he wraps it around his neck.

After leaving the castle, Gawain faces the Green Knight. The Knight raises brings his axe down upon Gawain, thus fulfilling the pact; but Gawain’s neck is only nicked. The Green Knight explains that he himself had been Gawain’s host at the castle and had arranged for his wife to test Gawain’s honor.