. In “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” the Green Knight challenges Sir Gawain by presenting him with trials that test his ability to follow the code of chivalry. Sir Gawain ultimately fails to abide by the code because humans cannot achieve perfection. However, Sir Gawain grows as character because of his failure. In the poem “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” the author uses supernatural elements to test Sir Gawain’s strengths and weaknesses, illuminating the hero’s progression towards maturity.
The Green Knight tests Sir Gawain’s ability to adhere by the code of chivalry, and throughout those tests, Sir Gawain learns the impossibility of the code. The Green Knight comes to the castle with the sole purpose of testing the knights of King Arthur’s …show more content…
He is a giant nonhuman-like creature who glows green. The Green Knight presents Sir Gawain with his first task. The Green Knight asks one of Arthur’s knights to strike him with an axe, and then in a year and a day, he will strike them with an axe. Sir Gawain is the noble knight who steps forward, and he is seen as a hero who defends his Lords and his Kingdom. When Sir Gawain strikes the Knight, “his blood gleams red on green skin,” and he “does not stagger or fall” (Lines 429-431). He simply “claims his lovely head” and “carries it to his horse” (Lines 433-434). The Green Knight does not die when Sir Gawain chops his head off. He nonchalantly picks his head up and mounts his horse. By participating in the game, Sir Gawain shows his loyalty and honor. He would rather die than have King Arthur attempt the challenge and risk his life. However, the code of chivalry teaches Sir Gawain to put his Lord’s life above his at all times. He must put his fear aside, even in the event that he faces death. According to literary critic Cornelius, Sir Gawain’s “code of chivalry is nearly impossible to live by.” Sir Gawain’s code of conduct sets him up for failure. The code asks the …show more content…
After the beheading game, Sir Gawain travels for a year to find the Green Knight. Along his journey, Gawain comes across the most beautiful castle he has ever seen. It’s stone walls glitter through the trees. Gawain meets the host, and they make a bargain. The host promises to give Gawain whatever he wins in the woods in exchange for whatever Gawain wins in the castle. Gawain holds up his end of the deal on every day except for the third. The lady of the castle gives Gawain a green girdle that will protect him against anything, and Gawain keeps it for himself instead of giving it to his host. Later, Gawain leaves the castle and meets the Green Knight. The Green Knight states, “I pretended one stroke, a threat, a joke, But left you whole; I had the right, Because of our other agreement, in my castle; You kept it faithfully, performed like an honest man . . . But still, on the third day, there In my castle, you failed- and you felt that, here. ‘That belt your wearing: it’s mine’” (Lines 2345-2359). When Sir Gawain finds the Green Knight at the end of the story, he turns out to be the host who he made the deal with. The Green Knight is able to turn from a glistening green giant to a normal man. The Green Knight tests Sir Gawain’s honesty by having him stay at the castle. Sir Gawain does not uphold the deal that he stated he will give the host everything he received in the
The Green Knight tests Sir Gawain’s ability to adhere by the code of chivalry, and throughout those tests, Sir Gawain learns the impossibility of the code. The Green Knight comes to the castle with the sole purpose of testing the knights of King Arthur’s …show more content…
He is a giant nonhuman-like creature who glows green. The Green Knight presents Sir Gawain with his first task. The Green Knight asks one of Arthur’s knights to strike him with an axe, and then in a year and a day, he will strike them with an axe. Sir Gawain is the noble knight who steps forward, and he is seen as a hero who defends his Lords and his Kingdom. When Sir Gawain strikes the Knight, “his blood gleams red on green skin,” and he “does not stagger or fall” (Lines 429-431). He simply “claims his lovely head” and “carries it to his horse” (Lines 433-434). The Green Knight does not die when Sir Gawain chops his head off. He nonchalantly picks his head up and mounts his horse. By participating in the game, Sir Gawain shows his loyalty and honor. He would rather die than have King Arthur attempt the challenge and risk his life. However, the code of chivalry teaches Sir Gawain to put his Lord’s life above his at all times. He must put his fear aside, even in the event that he faces death. According to literary critic Cornelius, Sir Gawain’s “code of chivalry is nearly impossible to live by.” Sir Gawain’s code of conduct sets him up for failure. The code asks the …show more content…
After the beheading game, Sir Gawain travels for a year to find the Green Knight. Along his journey, Gawain comes across the most beautiful castle he has ever seen. It’s stone walls glitter through the trees. Gawain meets the host, and they make a bargain. The host promises to give Gawain whatever he wins in the woods in exchange for whatever Gawain wins in the castle. Gawain holds up his end of the deal on every day except for the third. The lady of the castle gives Gawain a green girdle that will protect him against anything, and Gawain keeps it for himself instead of giving it to his host. Later, Gawain leaves the castle and meets the Green Knight. The Green Knight states, “I pretended one stroke, a threat, a joke, But left you whole; I had the right, Because of our other agreement, in my castle; You kept it faithfully, performed like an honest man . . . But still, on the third day, there In my castle, you failed- and you felt that, here. ‘That belt your wearing: it’s mine’” (Lines 2345-2359). When Sir Gawain finds the Green Knight at the end of the story, he turns out to be the host who he made the deal with. The Green Knight is able to turn from a glistening green giant to a normal man. The Green Knight tests Sir Gawain’s honesty by having him stay at the castle. Sir Gawain does not uphold the deal that he stated he will give the host everything he received in the