Sir Gawain And The Green Knight Symbolism

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Sir Gawain and the green knight Sir Gawain is a poem of heroism, chivalry, brave knights and even romance. The story itself is so engaging that all too easily the reader may miss many of the symbols present within. Here we will consider the symbolism and importance of the hunting scenes and how they help develop and enhance the plot. J.R.R. Tolkien's translation of the fourteenth-century anonymous narrative poem effectively preserves the alliterative verse of the original. Sir Gawain is a young knight who must prove his valor, piety and courtesy when confronted with a succession of temptations. Key Facts Author - Anonymous; referred to as the Gawain-poet or the Pearl-poet Type of work - Alliterative poem Genre - Romance, Arthurian …show more content…

Once he has found the castle of a host who promises to show him the way to the Green Chapel, he struggles to protect and maintain his knightly virtues while remaining courteous to his host's wife, and he struggles to keep his pacts with the Green Knight and his host, despite his fear of death. Rising action Gawain accepts the Green Knight's covenant and chops off the Green Knight's head, but he survives the blow. Two months before he is due to meet the knight for his own decapitation, Gawain sets out through the wilderness in search of the Green Chapel. He happens upon a castle, where he stays until he must leave for his challenge. At the castle, Gawain's courtesy, chastity, and honesty are all tempted. Gawain then journeys to confront the Green Knight at the Green Chapel. Climax Gawain's encounters the Green Knight at the Green Chapel. After feinting with his axe twice, the Green Knight strikes Gawain on the third swing, but only nicks his neck. The Green Knight's reveals that he is also Bertilak, the host, and that he works for Morgan le Fay. Falling action The Green Knight explains all the mysteries of the story. He and Gawain's host at the castle are the same man, named …show more content…

Morgan le Fay, the old woman at the castle, is actually behind all the events of the story. Gawain admits his breach of contract in having kept the green girdle and promises to wear the girdle as a banner of his weakness. Foreshadowing The Green Knight's reiteration of Gawain's promise as he leaves Camelot foreshadows Gawain's eventual encounter with the knight. The description of the changing seasons at the beginning of Part 2 foreshadows Gawain's emotional development in the following parts. The strange, hallucinatory appearance of Bertilak's castle foreshadows the untrustworthy nature of its inhabitants. The lady's offer of a green girdle foreshadows Gawain's ability to cheat death. References http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/0261102591/ref=pd_sim_dp_4/028-2030628-7385325 (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight / Pearl / Sir Orfeo) http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/gawain/facts.html (Spark notes) Sir gawain and the green knight http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0345277600/103-9688142-2957451?vi=glance (Amazon.com) http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Hall/1170/gawain.html The Meaning and Symbolism of the Hunting Scenes in Sir Gawain and The Green Knight) by Guinevere Shaw dated,

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