Comparing Wedding Of Sir Gawain And Dame Ragnell

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The Character of Sir Gawain in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell

In the Authorain legend, Sir Gawain has great nobility, honesty, loyalty and chivalry. Sir Gawain is the nephew of King Arthur and a member of the king's elite Round Table. In the texts of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and "The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell," Gawain is portrayed as a hero who exemplifies the characteristics of an honorable knight. He is viewed by many in King Arthur's court as a noble man who is loyal to the king, and who will sacrifice his own life to protect his lord. Sir Gawain represents an ideal knight of the fourteenth century.

Sir Gawain's inner values and character are tested to the fullest and are clearly defined in the text of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The unknown author describes Gawain and the other knights as "Many good knights" (Norton 159), and he is referred to as one of the "most noble knights" (Norton 159) in King Arthur's land. This claim by the author is solidified by a challenge presented by the evil Green Knight, who enters the court of King Arthur and asks him to partake in a …show more content…

In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Gawain expresses his traits of honor, nobility, chivalry and honesty in faceing the Green Knight while withstanding the temptations and seduction of the lady. If Gawain had fallen into the trap of the lord and slept with the lady then I am sure Gawain would have had to endure a greater punishment than just a scratch on his neck; he would have lost his head. In "The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell," Gawain's traits of friendship, loyalty, helpfulness and nobility are futher revealed. It is clear that Sir Gawain will go to extremes to help his lord, no matter the consequence. Sir Gawain, however, because he is a brave knight and marries such a hideous dame, is rewarded for his valiant, loyal

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