Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Genre: RomanceElements of Romantic Literature:• First, be cautioned—the word

“romance” does not mean a love story

• Adventure involving a knight on a quest

• Some fantasy and magic are present• Could be dragons and/or monsters• Mysterious places• Begins at a noble court

The Romantic HeroThe Romantic Hero typically follows these criteria:• Strict code of knightly conduct• Absolute loyalty to his king• Extremely generous• Never breaks an oath• Defends the helpless

Sub-Genre: The Testing Plot

A Testing Plot usually has…• A strong main character– Pushed to compromising high ideals– Character wavers on making decision

because there is not an easy choice to be made• The decision usually looks like choosing

between the “wrong thing” to do or loosing money or social position

Major Characters

Sir GawainThe story’s protagonist. A loyal knight

to King Arthur, as well as his nephew. Gawain goes on his quest to meet the Green Knight in order to uphold his knightly values.

The Green Knight Sir Gawain’s main opposition in the

story. He is a richly decorated knight, who has green skin and hair.

King ArthurThe king of Camelot. Uncle of Sir

Gawain. It is at his celebration feast that the Green Knight challenges the court to a game.

Bertilak de HautdesertThe Lord of the castle at which Gawain

spends his time before meeting the Green Knight. We learn his true identity at the end of the story.

Minor Characters• Bertilak’s wife- During the competition

between Gawain and her husband, she tests Gawain’s integrity and honesty

• Morgan le Faye (The old lady)- Powerful sorceress trained by Merlin. Assists Lady Bertilak in testing Gawain

• Guinevere- King Arthur’s wife and Queen. Seated next to Gawain during the court’s feast.

Settings

Camelot

The Holiday celebrations take place at King Arthur’s castle in Camelot. It is here that the Green Knight challenges Gawain to exchange blows with him.

Bertilak’s HomeOn his quest to meet the Green Knight,

Gawain stays here for a short period of time.

The Green Chapel The supposed home of the Green

Knight. Gawain is sent here to keep his end of the bargain which he made with the Green Knight at Arthur’s holiday celebration a year prior

Anticipation Guide1. Men often act macho to try to impress women.2. Women are impressed when men act macho.3. There are many double standards in society regarding men

and women.4. Women should be treated equally to men in all aspects of

life.5. The expectations for the ability of women should be equal

to that of men in every career.6. Chivalry is dead.7. If a married man/woman is unhappy he/she should seek

companionship elsewhere.8. The lives of kings are worth more than the lives of

peasants.9. Most people try to live their lives by proper morals and

virtues.10. It is worth it to die to save one’s honor.

Major Conflict

• Gawain’s struggle to decide between his duties as a knight and the worth of his own life.

Rising Action

• Gawain accepts the Green Knight’s challenge and cuts off his head. The Green Knight survives the blow and Gawain is then required to maintain his half of the challenge.

Climax

• Gawain meets the Green Knight at the Green Chapel. After faking his first two swings, the Green Knight nicks Gawain on his third swing, only slightly cutting his neck.

Falling Action

Confession• Shame and mortification• Statement of Sin: Gawain admits cowardice,

covetousness, and untruth• Request for penance

Examples of The Code of Chivalry

• Thou shalt defend the Church. • Thou shalt repect all weaknesses, and shalt

constitute thyself the defender of them. • Live to serve King and Country. • Live to defend Crown and Country and all it

holds dear. • Live one's life so that it is worthy of respect and

honor. • Live for freedom, justice and all that is good. • Never attack an unarmed foe.

Examples from The Laws of Courtly Love

• Thou shalt avoid avarice like the deadly pestilence and shalt embrace its opposite.

• Thou shalt keep thyself chaste for the sake of her whom thou lovest.

• Boys do not love until they reach the age of maturity. • When one lover dies, a widowhood of two years is

required of the survivor. • No one should be deprived of love without the very best

of reasons. • No one can love unless he is propelled by the persuasion

of love.

Motif

-a motif is the recurrence of an object, concept or idea within a piece of literature.

-one of the largest motifs presented in Sir Gawain is the use of color…how is this true?(record your answer on a piece of paper with your name on it and turn it in at the end of the period)

Links to YouTube video

Part 1http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t855W1rFYEo

Part 2http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgyTl9siqTE&feature=related

Part 3http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZuyWGr4stg