Symbolism In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

The story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight follows the quest of one King Arthur’s many knights: Sir Gawain. The story deals with topics such as chivalry and temptation and is written in a poetic verse. As with many works of medieval literature, symbolism is a major factor in the storyline of the tale as well as in the morals it gives. Some of the more visible symbols are the Green Knight, Sir Gawain's Shield, and the Green Sash.
First, one of the more obvious symbols, the Green Knight does indeed hold significance in the story. The way he depicts himself to Arthur and his court is slightly confusing. On one hand, he seems a respectable, friendly knight. On the other, there seems to be an ominous air about him. When he first appears,

he is carrying symbols of both peace and war, further adding to the confusion. The Green Knight’s challenge doesn’t help clear anything up either. The whole ordeal Sir Gawain goes through ends up being a test meant to teach both Arthur and Gawain a lesson. The Green Knight is a confusing and paradoxical symbol.
One of the most detailed symbols in the story is Sir Gawain’s shield. While the shield has obvious protective qualities, it also symbolizes moral defense. Emblazoned on the front of the shield is the pentangle, and on the reverse is a depiction of the Virgin Mary. These are both important religious symbols, but they also had strong chivalric meaning. This strongly shows Gawain’s beliefs, both moral and religious. The shield is a very symbolic device in this tale.
The final symbol is that of the green girdle. When Gawain receives the belt, he is told that it will make him invincible. To Gawain (who is about to go and face the green knight) then, the girdle represents life where he should have death. By keeping the girdle instead of giving it over to the lord of the castle, Gawain breaks his code of honor to save himself. In this way, the girdle represents cowardice. When Gawain returned to King Arthur’s court, all the rest of the Knights of the Round Table took up wearing green sashes and belts. This transformed the symbol of cowardice into a symbol of honor as well as a reminder of Sir Gawain’s failure and the lesson he learned.
The medieval tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a captivating story. Throughout the piece, symbols can be easily found. This paper covered a few of the most obvious symbols, but many more can be found buried in the words of the story. Many times, a story will be good, but symbolism can shape a good story into a great one while leaving readers with the feeling that more can be learned by reading for a second time.