How often do we think about where our family traditions started? It could be something our parents created or something that has been going on for many years. Some of the things we do might be cultural or are rooted from our religion. Hospitality is a tradition that has been shared around the world in the past and present. Part of the medieval Christian faith was to be hospitable because it was important to welcome strangers into your home. Gift giving was also a big part of the middle ages which helped manifest relationships between friends and family. Gift giving has also been a principle of medieval and modern Christianity. The texts of Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight support similarities between modern and medieval Christian
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When reading this poem, there is an immediate ultimatum when the Green Knight enters Camelot on horseback. He came with a strange offer in which anyone could take up an axe and deliver a blow to his neck while he bent over and stood still. In return, whomever agreed would have to suffer the same hit by the Green Knight in one years’ time. Arthur mocked the knight saying he was silly and offered to take the task. Gawain didn’t want to see his lord take on the task so he said to him “I am weakest of your warriors and feeblest of wit; loss of my life would be least lamented. Were I not your nephew my life would mean nothing; to be born of your blood is my body’s only claim” (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 354-7). Gawain presents himself and agrees to seek the knight himself in a years’ time. And so the daunting journey began. From the start of his endeavors to the moment he reaches the place of Bertilak, he faces a few obstacles on the way. Some parts of his journey were left out as well because he went through so much. Along the way he fought with animals from as small as a snake to as big as a bear. He also had encounters with wild men and giants which only his diligence and faith could help him prosper. One thing worse than those wars were the extremely cold storms he faced. He was nearly killed by sleet but his armor provided him enough insulation. When he came upon the high walls of the castle he was so relieved and thanked God for leading him there. A porter watching from the wall welcomed Gawain and very pleasantly said “it’ll be my pleasure, and I’ll warrant you’ll be welcome for as long as you wish” (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight ll. 813-14). When he got into the castle he was treated almost like a celebrity. Everyone was astounded by how fit and muscular he was and surprised also that he had survived out in the cold for so long. Several men dressed him in warm furs
When reading this poem, there is an immediate ultimatum when the Green Knight enters Camelot on horseback. He came with a strange offer in which anyone could take up an axe and deliver a blow to his neck while he bent over and stood still. In return, whomever agreed would have to suffer the same hit by the Green Knight in one years’ time. Arthur mocked the knight saying he was silly and offered to take the task. Gawain didn’t want to see his lord take on the task so he said to him “I am weakest of your warriors and feeblest of wit; loss of my life would be least lamented. Were I not your nephew my life would mean nothing; to be born of your blood is my body’s only claim” (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 354-7). Gawain presents himself and agrees to seek the knight himself in a years’ time. And so the daunting journey began. From the start of his endeavors to the moment he reaches the place of Bertilak, he faces a few obstacles on the way. Some parts of his journey were left out as well because he went through so much. Along the way he fought with animals from as small as a snake to as big as a bear. He also had encounters with wild men and giants which only his diligence and faith could help him prosper. One thing worse than those wars were the extremely cold storms he faced. He was nearly killed by sleet but his armor provided him enough insulation. When he came upon the high walls of the castle he was so relieved and thanked God for leading him there. A porter watching from the wall welcomed Gawain and very pleasantly said “it’ll be my pleasure, and I’ll warrant you’ll be welcome for as long as you wish” (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight ll. 813-14). When he got into the castle he was treated almost like a celebrity. Everyone was astounded by how fit and muscular he was and surprised also that he had survived out in the cold for so long. Several men dressed him in warm furs