Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

1
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

• Cultural and character backgrounds

2
The Author

• The author of the poem is known only as The
  Pearl Poet.
• Written in northwestern England around 1370
• The language and topics indicate that the author
  was most likely familiar with French, Latin, the
  aristocracy, and the medieval romance genre.

3
Medieval Romance Characteristics

• embody the ideals of chivalry
• set in a remote time or place
• emphasize rank and social distinctions
• convey sense of supernatural
• hero engaged in pure adventure
• include love-courtly love
• feature spontaneous fighting

4
Stages of a Medieval Romance

1. Undertaking of a dangerous quest
2. Facing a test of honor or courage
3. A return to the point from which the quest began

5
Poetic Devices

• Heavy alliteration
• Bob and Wheel verse each section ends with a
  short line called a bob, followed by the wheel,
  which are longer lines that rhyme.

6
Theme Topics

• Tests of character
• The power of nature to revive or destroy man
• Games to prove worthiness
• Male/female opposition

7
Characters

• Sir Gawain A young knight ready for challenge
• The Green Knight A mysterious figure who
  proposes a quest
• Lord Bercilak Allows Gawain to stay at his
  castle during his quest
• Lady Bercilak Tempts Gawain
• King Arthur Leader of Camelot

8
Sir Gawain

• Sir Gawain is a Knight of the Round Table in the
  legends of King Arthur.
• He is depicted as both a ruthless warrior and a
  noble and courageous man.
• As a knight, Sir Gawain would have had to uphold
  the code of chivalry.

9
Code for Knights

• Sir Gawain would have been expected to adhere to
  physical and nonphysical ideals.
• Physical ideals for knights
• - strength
• - skill at arms
• - horsemanship
• Nonphysical ideals for knights
• - courage
• - humility
• - courtesy
• - loyalty

10
Theories on the Meaning of the Color Green

• fertility and rebirth
• love

• the devil or evil (from early English folklore)
• death

All are seen in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,
which could suggest a focus on the cycle of life
or the transitions from good to evil.