Sir Gawain And The Green Knight Research Paper

When I think of the medieval era, I think of knights, castles, and jousting. Medieval culture had a significant effect on the text we had read this year. Most of these stories have all had one thing in common; the use of knights. More specifically these stories all have chivalry, or the chivalric code. These stories also based off of some historical or famous figures and their adventures. The knights in the society and the way they live has a major effect on the medieval text we have read in class. Knights are the protectors of this time period, and it is because of them that most of these stories have a plot line. As a knight, you swear to follow and abide by a code, the chivalric code. This code states that they are to be loyal to their king, protect the widows and orphans, seek justice, and ever back down. Sir Gawain is a great example of a knight who follows this. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Gawain steps up and takes the Green Knights challenge instead of allowing King Arthur do it himself. “Would you grant me the grace… to be gone from this bench and stand by you there, if I without discourtesy might quit this board…” (117) It is seen very

The color green often represents the cycle of life, or a growing experience. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight the color green is very prominent. Sir Gawain severs head off, thinking it will kill him, but a surprise to all, the Green Knight gets up and walks away. We later see in the story a growing experience in the Green Knight when he reveals his true identity to Sir Gawain, “For that is my belt about you, that same braided girdler” (448). The Green knight grows from the menacing headless knight, to the knight who wants to teach a lesson. The color green represents a cycle, and we see that cycle in the story, just like the people of medieval times see in the same cycle in the nature around