Source: Burrows, J.a. A: Reading Of Sir Gawain And The Green Knight. New York: Barnes And Noble, 1966

Source: Burrows, J.A. A Reading of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. New York: Barnes and Noble, 1966.

The Character 

Courageous and brave

Flawless

example of Christian

chivalry Flawed

everyman

Element of Romance Set in a remote place and time Incorporates the marvelous and miracles Hero is superior to other men and his environment May involve “Testing Plot”

Testing Plot Tester is unrealistic and remote Test is extreme Hero follows the higher of conflicting virtues Tester relents and allows hero to fulfill lower virtue

Departs from Romance Calendar time/ real places Hero is one of us, not superior Tester is split: Morgan and Bercilak Gawain fails the test because he is human and sinful Mixture of romance and realism

Main Characters  Arthur: King of Camelot Sir Gawain: Representative, not elect Green Knight: Ambiguous nature Green body-supernatural Green and gold equipment-courtly youth Holly bob-life and peace Axe-war

The Game Governed by rules Tests important knightly virtues Involves seemingly inevitable death

Code of Chivalry Posses faith in God Loyal to people, principles, and promises Without deceit Upright and Virtuous

The Five Virtues Generosity Companionableness Courtesy Pure mind Compassion

Recognition The

Green Knight

The

exchange game was the real test

Confession Shame and mortification Statement of Sin: Gawain admits cowardice, covetousness, and untruth Request for penance

Condemnation Gawain

did sin Sin was from love of life, not malice Problem of shifting blame to women

Thematic Points Openness

and ambiguity Combination of romance and realism Gawain is human/sinful

Sir Gawain’s “human experience” Social

living Alienation Self-discovery Desolation Recovery and Restoration