Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

As the poem begins, Arthur and his knights are gathered to celebrate Christmas and the new year with feasting and revelry. In the midst of their festivities, an enormous man—who is entirely green—bounds through the door.

	Were clipped off clean in a straight line over his elbows, And the upper half of each arm was hidden underneath As if covered by a king’s chaperon, closed round the neck. The mane of the marvelous horse was much the same, Well crisped and combed and carefully pranked with knots, Threads of gold interwoven with the glorious green, Now a thread of hair, now another thread of gold; The tail of the horse and the forelock were tricked the same way, And both were bound up with a band of brilliant green Adorned with glittering jewels the length of the dock, Then caught up tight with a thong in a criss-cross knot Where many a bell tinkled brightly, all burnished gold. So monstrous a mount, so mighty a man in the saddle Was never once encountered on all this earth till then; His eyes, like lightning, flashed, And it seemed to many a man, That any man who clashed With him would not long stand[64].   But the huge man came unarmed, without helmet or hauberk, No breastplate or gorget or iron cleats on his arms; He brought neither shield nor spearshaft to shove or to smite, But instead he held in one hand a bough of the holly That grows most green when all the groves are bare And held in the other an ax, immense and unwieldy, A pitiless battleblade terrible to tell of. ... King Arthur stared down at the stranger before the high dais And greeted him nobly, for nothing on earth frightened him. And he said to him, “Sir, you are welcome in this place; I am the head of this court. They call me Arthur. Get down from your horse, I beg you, and join us for dinner, And then whatever you seek we will gladly see to.” But the stranger said, “No, so help me God on high, My errand is hardly to sit at my ease in your castle! But friend, since your praises are sung so far and wide, Your castle the best ever built, people say, and your barons The stoutest men in steel armor that ever rode steeds, Most mighty and most worthy of all mortal men And tough devils to toy with in tournament games, And since courtesy is in flower in this court, they say, All these tales, in truth, have drawn me to you at this time. You may be assured by this holly branch I bear That I come to you in peace, not spoiling for battle. If I’d wanted to come in finery, fixed up for fighting, I have back at home both a helmet and a hauberk, A shield and a sharp spear that shines like fire, And other weapons that I know pretty well how to use. But since I don’t come here for battle, my clothes are mere cloth. Now if you are truly as bold as the people all say, You will grant me gladly the little game that I ask as my right.” Arthur gave him answer And said, “Sir noble knight, If it’s a duel you’re after, We’ll furnish you your fight.” “Good heavens, I want no such thing! I assure you, Sire, You’ve nothing but beardless babes about this bench! If I were hasped in my armor and high on my horse, You haven’t a man that could match me, your might is so feeble.   And so all I ask of this court is a Christmas game, For the Yule is here, and New Year’s, and here sit young men; If any man holds himself, here in this house, so hardy, So bold in his blood—and so brainless in his head— That he dares to stoutly exchange one stroke for another, I shall let him have as my present this lovely gisarme, This ax, as heavy as he’ll need, to handle as he likes, And I will abide the first blow, bare-necked as I sit. If anyone here has the daring to try what I’ve offered, Leap to me lightly, lad; lift up this weapon; I give you the thing forever—you may think it your own; And I will stand still for your stroke, steady on the floor, Provided you honor my right, when my inning comes, to repay. But let the respite be A twelvemonth and a day; Come now, my boys, let’s see What any here can say.”   If they were like stone before, they were stiller now, Every last lord in the hall, both the high and the low; The stranger on his destrier stirred in the saddle And ferociously his red eyes rolled around; He lowered his grisly eyebrows, glistening green, And waved his beard and waited for someone to rise; When no one answered, he coughed, as if embarrassed, And drew himself up straight and spoke again: “What! Can this be King Arthur’s court?” said the stranger, “Whose renown runs through many a realm, flung far and wide? What has become of your chivalry and your conquest, Your greatness-of-heart and your grimness and grand words? Behold the radiance and renown of the mighty Round Table Overwhelmed by a word out of one man’s mouth! You shiver and blanch before a blow’s been shown!”[65] And with that he laughed so loud that the lord was distressed; In chagrin, his blood shot up in his face and limbs so fair; More angry he was than the wind, And likewise each man there; And Arthur, bravest of men, Decided now to draw near.   And he said, “By heaven, sir, your request is strange; But since you have come here for folly, you may as well find it. I know no one here who’s aghast of your great words. Give me your gisarme, then, for the love of God, And gladly I’ll grant you the gift you have asked to be given.” Lightly the King leaped down and clutched it in his hand; Then quickly that other lord alighted on his feet. Arthur lay hold of the ax, he gripped it by the handle, And he swung it up over him sternly, as if to strike. The stranger stood before him, in stature higher By a head or more than any man here in the house; Sober and thoughtful he stood there and stroked his beard, And with patience like a priest’s he pulled down his collar, No more unmanned or dismayed by Arthur’s might Than he’d be if some baron on the bench had brought him a glass of wine. Then Gawain, at Guinevere’s side, Made to the King a sign: “I beseech you, Sire,” he said, “Let this game be mine.   “Now if you, my worthy lord,” said Gawain to the King, “Would command me to step from the dais and stand with you there, That I might without bad manners move down from my place (Though I couldn’t, of course, if my liege lady disliked it) I’d be deeply honored to advise you before all the court; For I think it unseemly, if I understand the matter, That challenges such as this churl has chosen to offer Be met by Your Majesty—much as it may amuse you— When so many bold-hearted barons sit about the bench: No men under Heaven, I am sure, are more hardy in will Or better in body on the fields where battles are fought; I myself am the weakest, of course, and in wit the most feeble; My life would be least missed, if we let out the truth. Only as you are my uncle have I any honor, For excepting your blood, I bear in my body slight virtue[66]. And since this affair that’s befallen us here is so foolish, And since I have asked for it first, let it fall to me. If I’ve reasoned incorrectly, let all the court say, without blame.” The nobles gather round And all advise the same: “Let the King step down And give Sir Gawain the game!” . . .	5burgeoning: growing   8chaperon: hood. 10pranked with knots:decorated with bows   . 13forelock:the part of a horse’s mane that falls between the ears. 15dock:the fleshy part of an animal’s tail. 24hauberk: a long shirt of chain mail worn as armor.   25breastplate or gorgetor iron cleats:armor for the chest, the throat, or the shoulders and elbows 31 dais: a raised platform where honored guests are seated   33this place:Camelot, Arthur’s favorite castle and the site of his court of the Round Table   43In medieval tournaments, knights on horseback fought one another for sport.   44courtesy is in flower:the high standards of behavior expected in a king’s court are currently flourishing.   47spoiling for:eager for 61hasped:fastened     68gisarme: a battle-ax with a long shaft and a two-edged blade   76–77let the respite … day:let the period of delay be a year and a day   102folly:dangerous and foolish activity 114unmanned:deprived of manly Courage     123liege lady:a lady to whom one owes loyalty and service; here used by Gawain to refer to Queen Guinevere   126churl:rude, uncouth person Literary History The Alliterative Revival Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a classic work of the “alliterative revival” in England during the latter portion of the 14th century. The poets of this movement preserved some features of Old English meter, especially the use of alliteration to link words within lines.
Arthur grants Gawain’s request to take on the Green Knight’s challenge. The Green Knight asks Gawain to identify himself, and the two agree on their pact. Gawain then prepares to strike his blow against the Green Knight.
	On the ground, the Green Knight got himself into position, His head bent forward a little, the bare flesh showing, His long and lovely locks laid over his crown So that any man there might note the naked neck. Sir Gawain laid hold of the ax and he hefted it high, His pivot foot thrown forward before him on the floor, And then, swiftly, he slashed at the naked neck; The sharp of the battleblade shattered asunder the bones And sank through the shining fat and slit it in two, And the bit of the bright steel buried itself in the ground. The fair head fell from the neck to the floor of the hall And the people all kicked it away as it came near their feet. The blood splashed up from the body and glistened on the green, But he never faltered or fell for all of that, But swiftly he started forth upon stout shanks And rushed to reach out, where the King’s retainers stood, Caught hold of the lovely head, and lifted it up, And leaped to his steed and snatched up the reins of the bridle, Stepped into stirrups of steel and, striding aloft, He held his head by the hair, high, in his hand; And the stranger sat there as steadily in his saddle As a man entirely unharmed, although he was headless on his steed. He turned his trunk about, That baleful body that bled, And many were faint with fright When all his say was said.   He held his head in his hand up high before him, Addressing the face to the dearest of all on the dais; And the eyelids lifted wide, and the eyes looked out, And the mouth said just this much, as you may now hear: “Look that you go, Sir Gawain, as good as your word, And seek till you find me, as loyally, my friend, As you’ve sworn in this hall to do, in the hearing of the knights[67]. Come to the Green Chapel, I charge you, and take A stroke the same as you’ve given, for well you deserve To be readily requited on New Year’s morn. Many men know me, the Knight of the Green Chapel; Therefore if you seek to find me, you shall not fail. Come or be counted a coward, as is fitting.” Then with a rough jerk he turned the reins And haled away through the hall-door, his head in his hand, And fire of the flint flew out from the hooves of the foal. To what kingdom he was carried no man there knew, No more than they knew what country it was he came from. What then? The King and Gawain there Laugh at the thing and grin; And yet, it was an affair Most marvelous to men[68].	149asunder:into pieces   156shanks:legs 157retainers:servants or attendants     165baleful:threatening evil; sinister.
As the end of the year approaches, Gawain leaves on his quest to find the Green Chapel and fulfill his pledge. After riding through wild country and encountering many dangers, he comes upon a splendid castle. The lord of the castle welcomes Gawain and invites him to stay with him and his lady for a few days. The lord proposes that he will go out to hunt each day while Gawain stays at the castle. At the end of the day, they will exchange what they have won. While the lord is out hunting, the lady attempts to seduce Gawain. Gawain resists her, however, and on the first two days accepts only kisses, which he gives to the lord at the end of each day in exchange for what the lord has gained in the hunt. On the third day Gawain continues to resist the lady, but she presses him to accept another gift.
	She held toward him a ring of the yellowest gold And, standing aloft on the band, a stone like a star From which flew splendid beams like the light of the sun; And mark you well, it was worth a rich king’s ransom. But right away he refused it, replying in haste, “My lady gay, I can hardly take gifts at the moment; Having nothing to give, I’d be wrong to take gifts in turn.” She implored him again, still more earnestly, but again He refused it and swore on his knighthood that he could take nothing. Grieved that he still would not take it, she told him then: “If taking my ring would be wrong on account of its worth, And being so much in my debt would be bothersome to you, I’ll give you merely this sash that’s of slighter value.” She swiftly unfastened the sash that encircled her waist, Tied around her fair tunic, inside her bright mantle; It was made of green silk and was marked of gleaming gold[69] Embroidered along the edges, ingeniously stitched. This too she held out to the knight, and she earnestly begged him To take it, trifling as it was, to remember her by. But again he said no, there was nothing at all he could take, Neither treasure nor token, until such time as the Lord Had granted him some end to his adventure. “And therefore, I pray you, do not be displeased, But give up, for I cannot grant it, however fair or right. I know your worth and price, And my debt’s by no means slight; I swear through fire and ice To be your humble knight.”[70]   “Do you lay aside this silk,” said the lady then, “Because it seems unworthy—as well it may? Listen. Little as it is, it seems less in value, But he who knew what charms are woven within it Might place a better price on it, perchance. For the man who goes to battle in this green lace, As long as he keeps it looped around him, No man under Heaven can hurt him, whoever may try, For nothing on earth, however uncanny, can kill him.” The knight cast about in distress, and it came to his heart This might be a treasure indeed when the time came to take The blow he had bargained to suffer beside the Green Chapel. If the gift meant remaining alive, it might well be worth it; So he listened in silence and suffered the lady to speak, And she pressed the sash upon him and begged him to take it, And Gawain did, and she gave him the gift with great pleasure And begged him, for her sake, to say not a word, And to keep it hidden from her lord. And he said he would, That except for themselves, this business would never be known to a man[71]. He thanked her earnestly, And boldly his heart now ran; And now a third time she Leaned down and kissed her man.	197 implored:begged 204tunic . . . mantle:shirtlike garment worn under a sleeveless cloak.
When the lord returns at the end of the third day, Gawain gives him a kiss but does not reveal the gift of the sash. On New Year’s Day Gawain must go to meet the Green Knight. Wearing the green sash, he sets out before dawn. Gawain arrives at a wild, rugged place, where he sees no chapel but hears the sound of a blade being sharpened. Gawain calls out, and the Green Knight appears with a huge ax. The Green Knight greets Gawain, who, with pounding heart, bows his head to take his blow.
	Quickly then the man in the green made ready, Grabbed up his keen-ground ax to strike Sir Gawain; With all the might in his body he bore it aloft And sharply brought it down as if to slay him; Had he made it fall with the force he first intended He would have stretched out the strongest man on earth. But Sir Gawain cast a side glance at the ax As it glided down to give him his Kingdom Come, And his shoulders jerked away from the iron a little, And the Green Knight caught the handle, holding it back, And mocked the prince with many a proud reproof: “You can’t be Gawain,” he said, “who’s thought so good, A man who’s never been daunted on hill or dale! For look how you flinch for fear before anything’s felt! I never heard tell that Sir Gawain was ever a coward! I never moved a muscle when you came down; In Arthur’s hall I never so much as winced. My head fell off at my feet, yet I never flickered; But you! You tremble at heart before you’re touched! I’m bound to be called a better man than you, then, my lord.” Said Gawain, “I shied once: No more. You have my word. But if my head falls to the stones It cannot be restored.   “But be brisk, man, by your faith, and come to the point! Deal out my doom if you can, and do it at once, For I’ll stand for one good stroke, and I’ll start no more Until your ax has hit—and that I swear.” “Here goes, then,” said the other, and heaves it aloft And stands there waiting, scowling like a madman; He swings down sharp, then suddenly stops again, Holds back the ax with his hand before it can hurt, And Gawain stands there stirring not even a nerve; He stood there still as a stone or the stock of a tree That’s wedged in rocky ground by a hundred roots[72]. O, merrily then he spoke, the man in green: “Good! You’ve got your heart back! Now I can hit you. May all that glory the good King Arthur gave you Prove efficacious now—if it ever can— And save your neck.” In rage Sir Gawain shouted, “Hit me, hero! I’m right up to here with your threats! Is it you that’s the cringing coward after all?” “Whoo!” said the man in green, “he’s wrathful, too! No pauses, then; I’ll pay up my pledge at once, I vow!” He takes his stride to strike And lifts his lip and brow; It’s not a thing Gawain can like, For nothing can save him now!   He raises that ax up lightly and flashes it down, And that blinding bit bites in at the knight’s bare neck— But hard as he hammered it down, it hurt him no more Than to nick the nape of his neck, so it split the skin; The sharp blade slit to the flesh through the shiny hide, And red blood shot to his shoulders and spattered the ground. And when Gawain saw his blood where it blinked in the snow He sprang from the man with a leap to the length of a spear; He snatched up his helmet swiftly and slapped it on, Shifted his shield into place with a jerk of his shoulders, And snapped his sword out faster than sight; said boldly— And, mortal born of his mother that he was, There was never on earth a man so happy by half— “No more strokes, my friend; you’ve had your swing! I’ve stood one swipe of your ax without resistance; If you offer me any more, I’ll repay you at once With all the force and fire I’ve got—as you will see. I take one stroke, that’s all, For that was the compact we Arranged in Arthur’s hall; But now, no more for me!”   The Green Knight remained where he stood, relaxing on his ax— Settled the shaft on the rocks and leaned on the sharp end— And studied the young man standing there, shoulders hunched, And considered that staunch and doughty stance he took, Undaunted yet, and in his heart he liked it; And then he said merrily, with a mighty voice— With a roar like rushing wind he reproved the knight— “Here, don’t be such an ogre on your ground! Nobody here has behaved with bad manners toward you Or done a thing except as the contract said. I owed you a stroke, and I’ve struck; consider yourself Well paid. And now I release you from all further duties. If I’d cared to hustle, it may be, perchance, that I might Have hit somewhat harder, and then you might well be cross! The first time I lifted my ax it was lighthearted sport, I merely feinted and made no mark, as was right, For you kept our pact of the first night with honor And abided by your word and held yourself true to me, Giving me all you owed as a good man should. I feinted a second time, friend, for the morning You kissed my pretty wife twice and returned me the kisses; And so for the first two days, mere feints, nothing more severe. A man who’s true to his word, There’s nothing he needs to fear; You failed me, though, on the third Exchange, so I’ve tapped you here.   “That sash you wear by your scabbard belongs to me; My own wife gave it to you, as I ought to know. I know, too, of your kisses and all your words And my wife’s advances, for I myself arranged them. It was I who sent her to test you. I’m convinced You’re the finest man that ever walked this earth. As a pearl is of greater price than dry white peas, So Gawain indeed stands out above all other knights. But you lacked a little, sir; you were less than loyal; But since it was not for the sash itself or for lust But because you loved your life, I blame you less.” Sir Gawain stood in a study a long, long while, So miserable with disgrace that he wept within, And all the blood of his chest went up to his face And he shrank away in shame from the man’s gentle words. The first words Gawain could find to say were these: “Cursed be cowardice and covetousness both, Villainy and vice that destroy all virtue!” He caught at the knots of the girdle and loosened them And fiercely flung the sash at the Green Knight. “There, there’s my fault! The foul fiend vex it! Foolish cowardice taught me, from fear of your stroke, To bargain, covetous, and abandon my kind, The selflessness and loyalty suitable in knights; Here I stand, faulty and false, much as I’ve feared them, Both of them, untruth and treachery; may they see sorrow and care! I can’t deny my guilt; My works shine none too fair! Give me your good will And henceforth I’ll beware.”[73]   At that, the Green Knight laughed, saying graciously, “Whatever harm I’ve had, I hold it amended Since now you’re confessed so clean, acknowledging sins And bearing the plain penance of my point; I consider you polished as white and as perfectly clean As if you had never fallen since first you were born. And I give you, sir, this gold-embroidered girdle, For the cloth is as green as my gown. Sir Gawain, think On this when you go forth among great princes; Remember our struggle here; recall to your mind This rich token. Remember the Green Chapel. And now, come on, let’s both go back to my castle And finish the New Year’s revels with feasting and joy, not strife, I beg you,” said the lord, And said, “As for my wife, She’ll be your friend, no more A threat against your life.”   “No, sir,” said the knight, and seized his helmet And quickly removed it, thanking the Green Knight, “I’ve reveled too well already; but fortune be with you; May He who gives all honors honor you well.” . . .   And so they embraced and kissed and commended each other To the Prince of Paradise, and parted then in the cold; Sir Gawain turned again To Camelot and his lord; And as for the man of green, He went wherever he would.	248his Kingdom Come:his death and entry into the afterlife; a reference to the sentence “Thy kingdom come” in the Lord’s Prayer.   259–260The Green Knight has proclaimed himself a better man than Gawain. Writer’s Technique Repetition The writer shows the Green Knight attempting to behead Gawain three times. Not only does the repetition of the beheading attempts add to the tension in the scene, but it also introduces the number three. In literature, three often refers to the Christian trinity. The wound that Sir Gawain acquires is thought to be a comparison to the wounds of Christ on the cross. Sir Gawain is wounded to illustrate that he broke his promise under duress; however, Christ was loyal.   307compact:binding agreement 313staunch: firm; doughty: brave 325feinted: pretended to attack   336scabbard: a sheath for a dagger or sword     354girdle:sash   356vex:harass; torment     367–371The Green Knight is saying that Gawain has paid for his fault by admitting it and offering his head to the ax.   369penance:punishment accepted by a person to show sorrow for wrongdoing; point:blade

After Reading

Comprehension: Recall and Interpret

1.In your own words, state the challenge that the Green Knight offers to the members of the Round Table.

2.Why does Sir Gawain feel he is the one best qualified to accept the Green Knight’s challenge? Why, do you think, does King Arthur allow Gawain to take up the challenge? Cite passages from the text to show how Sir Gawain demonstrates courage, humility, courtesy, and loyalty.

3.Why does Sir Gawain refuse the lady’s gift of a gold ring? Why does he accept her green silk girdle?

4.During the incident at the Green Chapel, what reasons does the Green Knight give for the three blows of the axe? Why does the Green Knight forgive Gawain?

5. Do you think the Green Knight is meant to be seen as evil? Use evidence from the text to support your opinion.

6. In the final line of the selection, the Green Knight claims that his wife was Sir Gawain’s “fierce foe.” In what ways might the lady be considered Gawain’s foe?

7. What was Gawain’s real test? Did he pass?

Literary Analysis: Evaluate and Connect

8. Examine Medieval RomanceIn medieval romances, there is often a character whose identity is hidden or mistaken. Explain how this characteristic affects the outcome of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

9. Analyze Character’s MotivesWhy does Gawain decline the Green Knight’s invitation to celebrate the new year together at the end of the poem?

10. Identify Situational IronySituational irony is a contrast between what is expected and what actually occurs. What is ironic about Sir Gawain’s acceptance of the sash from the lady of the castle?

11. Make InferencesReview the inference chart you created as you read. Which character shows greater courage, Sir Gawain or the Green Knight? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

12. Evaluate CharacterThe Green Knight and Gawain live by a code of honorcalled chivalry. Using examples from the poem as support, evaluate howwell Sir Gawain upholds these chivalric ideals:

• courage • loyalty to king

• honesty • gallantry toward women

Literary Criticism

13. Literary CriticismAuthor and literary critic J.R.R. Tolkien describes Sir Gawain and the Green Knight as “a fairy tale for adults.” Make a list of the elements from Sir Gawain that are similar to the elements of a fairy tale. Then discuss with a partner whether you would characterize the story as Tolkien did.

14. Social ContextIt is believed that the Gawain Poet wrote Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in the late 1300s, nearing the end of what is generallyconsidered the age of chivalry. Though legend has it that Gawain was oneof Arthur’s finest and most loyal knights, the Gawain Poet tells a story inwhich this hero is flawed. What might the poet’s intention have been todepict a fabled knight in this way as the age of chivalry was waning?

15. Writing About LiteratureThe author of Sir Gawain employs a time-honored literary device: color symbolism. Consider the author’s use of the color green. Think not only of the description of the Green Knight and the green sash, but of the setting and the time of year. What might the color green stand for? Write a few paragraphs that analyze its symbolic possibilities.

16. Creative WritingImagine that Sir Gawain’s adventures led to encounters with knights of various colors. Think of the type of character a knight of red, blue, or gold would be like. For example, a yellow knight could be used for a comic adventure. Use what you know about the symbolism of color to write a brief outline of what might occur in such a tale.

17. Internet ConnectionHere in CamelotUse the Internet to learn more about King Arthur, the knights of the Round Table, and the world of Camelot. Trace the origins of the Arthurian legend and determine for yourself just how “real” a figure Arthur was. You may also wish to find out about tales that do not depict Sir Gawain as the humble and noble soul of the Green Knight tale. Save your work for your portfolio.

Reading Focus VI. from Le Morte d’Arthur

KEY IDEA One of the most important components of the medieval code of chivalry was the requirement that a knight be loyal to his king and country. In Le Morte d’Arthur, Sir Launcelot, King Arthur’s most exemplary knight, falls in love with the king’s wife and faces a crisis of loyalty of epic proportions.

Date: 2016-03-03; view: 2689