Sir Gawain and the Green Night

 

Plot summary

 

An account of the adventures of a romance from King Arthur’s court. Arthur’s court at Camelot is well-established, but KA fears knights may be getting soft and forget valor. So he says he won’t eat Christmas feast until a tale of valor is told. A gigantic green knight (sent by a sorcerer) enters the hall and challenges the knights to a “game” of trading blow for blow with an axe. Lets a knight have the first shot. Sir Gawain, the youngest knight, accepts and then decapitates the green knight. GK puts head back on and challenges SG on the following Christmas. Next Christmas, SG seeks out GK. Along the way he encounters many temptations (adultery), which he overcomes. But SG breaks agreement with host and doesn’t exchange green girdle that would supposedly protect him from physical harm. But because he sins, he gets wounded in the arm (although not beheaded). Keeps green girdle as a reminder of his sinfulness. Upon return to Camelot, his fellow knights also wear green girdles as part of new official garb.

 

Two parts: (1) the challenge to Sir Gawain’s bravery through the beheading incident and the compact with the Green Knight; and (2) the test of his honor and chastity through the wife of his host at the castle.

 

Author

 

-         Probably Chaucer’s contemporary

-         c. 1380-1400 A.D.

 

Historical Background

 

-         In 1002 A.D. the King of England marries daughter of duke of Normandy

-         The son of this union, Edward the Confessor

o       30 years in Norman Court before becoming king, learning French language and customs

o       Becomes King of England in 1042 A.D. and welcomes Norman culture in his court

o       Dies w/o heir in January 1066

o       Crown claimed by two men: an Englishman, choice of king’s council, and William, duke of Normandy

-         Norman Conquest in 1066 A.D.

o       Sep. 28: William arrives with 4,000-7,000 men, Norman nobles, and other adventurers and builds castle at Hastings

o       English King Harold faces off against William, dying in the process

o       After conquest, most A-S nobility killed off and lands redistributed to 180 of his followers in exchange for oath of loyalty to him and promise of military service

o       Thefore all landowners in England become vassals (tenents) of the king

§         Beginning of feudalism

§         Beginning of knight, the mounted warrior who became the chief symbol of the code of chivalry

·        An aristocratic worldview

·        Chivalry softens some of the harshness of medieval life

o       Code of honor

o       Devlops in earnest in 12th century

§         Period of Crusades and Arthurian legends

o       Raises status of women and gave her larger role in life and literature

-         Higher education begins under Normans

o       Oxford founded by 1117

-         Norman literature

o       Bible stories

o       Sermons

o       Popular ballads composed during this period (French origin)

 

 

Themes

 

-         Exaltation of courtesy (imitation of Christ’s humility)

-         Dedication of knight to the honor and service of others

-         How all people can practice heroic virtue

-         Temptations of success

-         Importance of tempation to strengthening virtue

-         Image of Mary on Sir Gawain’s shield

-         How we can get “soft” in life

-         How Green Knight represents manifestation of evil in society

-         Sir Gawain’s treatment of women (esp. the married noblewoman)

-         Consequences of sin (lack of faithfulness to a promise)

-         Habits of faith versus habits of sin

-         Better to serve, even at risk of error/sin, than not to serve at all

-         Others?