Green Knight

In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight translated by Simon Armitage, there are multiple dilemmas presented to the reader, one being a matter of conscience. According to William Lyons’s Conscience—An Essay in Moral Psychology, there are three different definitions of conscience: a Christian definition, a Freudian definition, and a personal integrity definition. Throughout the poem, there is strong evidence to support that the Christian definition of conscience is being used. To begin to analyze…

have been subject to the swarthy shackles of patriarchy throughout the vast majority of history, Anglo-Saxon literature suggests that they actually occupied roles extending beyond those relative to subservience. Both Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight demonstrate the extended importance of women. Such characters are crucial when it comes to maintaining the overall stability of Anglo-Saxon society, and, moreover, showcase far more power than many tend to give them credit for. Scholars…

The Canterbury Tales, including “The Wife of Bath’s Tale”, was written by Geoffrey Chaucer during the late middle ages, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a middle English chivalric romance set in the mythical Arthurian court that is thought to be written by the “Pearl Poet”. They both present women who defy expectations and standards by being strong, independent, and, in some ways, manipulative. Societal views of all sorts experienced drastic shifts in English culture after the Norman…

Misogyny is defined as the dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women, and has been experienced by women around the world. In medieval times, misogyny enabled men to have the dominion over their wives, which gave them the control over the land, money, house, and more importantly, their wife. Male dominance was acquired through money and the undoubted belief that they were superior to their wives. In fact, there were even laws that allowed husbands to beat their wives;…

In the poem, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, parallels are persistent. The poet often has two or more completely different ideas in order to be able to contrast. Some things that are often contrasted in the poem are symbols. What the certain symbols represent has been highly debated throughout the years by many greats of literature. Such is the case with Donald R. Howard. Howard has his own set of ideas on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and demonstrates them in his article, “Structure and…

In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the Green Knight is Bertilak of Hautdesert, the lord of the house in which Gawain lodges in the story, and his purpose was to challenge to the Knights of the Round Table in order to test their mettle. In the story, the Green Knight comes to Camelot with a challenge for the knights of the Round Table. One of them must take his axe and cut off his head, and if they cannot, they must meet him in a year and let him try and cut of their head. King Arthur rises to…

ruled over by a young King Arthur, a strange green Knight appears before Arthur and his knights. This odd giant of a man commands one knight to come fourth and attempt to behead himself (the green Knight), in exchange that the green knight be allowed to return the courtesy. Furthermore, Arthur stands up, somewhat insulted, and volunteers for the challenge laid fourth by the green knight, however, fearing for the life of his young King, another knight; whom goes by the name of ‘Gawain’ takes up…

Chivalry, brave knights, quests, and swordfights are some of the first things that come to mind when people think of Medieval Romance literature. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight personifies many of these characteristics especially chivalry and the knightly code of conduct. Greek playwright Sophocles once said, “all men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong and repairs the evil.” Sir Gawain faces many tribulations throughout his journey to find the Green Knight.…

According to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, being a good knight is made difficult by the strong pull of earthly and bodily desire coupled with pride. Sir Gawain is not just tempted because of the loveliness of Sir Bertilak's wife; he is tempted by his own desire to live above all else. Although Gawain constantly refers to duty and to the need to render his fate to God, he does not put his trust completely in his faith because he takes the girdle out of fear that he will not actually be…

lessons while on a dare? In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, we see Sir Gawain go through just that. While on a journey to keep his word, we witness Gawain be faced with countless trials without his knowing. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight was created back in the late 14th century. We witness much of the culture that was featured during that time, in this story such as knights, kings, magic etc. In this story we witness a self-depreciating knight of the round table embark on a journey to keep…