Study Notes for Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Introduction to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

  • Date: Circa 1375-1400
  • Significance: One of the finest examples of Arthurian romance in English, surviving only in a single manuscript.

Manuscript and Authors

  • Content of the Manuscript:

    • Contains three religious poems: Pearl, Patience, and Purity.
    • These religious poems are generally attributed to the same poet as Sir Gawain.

  • Author's Background:

    • Little is known about the author apart from insights derived from the works.
    • The dialect indicates that the author is from a remote area in the northwest Midlands, specifically between Cheshire and Staffordshire.
    • Demonstrates familiarity with the local geography in Sir Gawain's journey.

  • Cultural Context:

    • While the author and audience might be provincial, the works indicate a high level of sophistication and knowledge of both medieval culture and ancient insular traditions.

Literary Context: Alliterative Revival

  • Definition:

    • The Alliterative Revival refers to the resurgence of alliterative verse in Middle English literature after the Norman Conquest.

  • Preservation of Alliterative Verse:

    • Oral poets continued to recite alliterative verse.
    • The poet presents Sir Gawain as an oral poem by inviting the audience to “listen” to a story they have “heard.”
    • Notable works from earlier times include Layamon's Brut.

  • Late Fourteenth Century Revival:

    • There was a renewed flowering of alliterative poetry in northern and western Britain, exemplified by works like Piers Plowman and The Alliterative Morte Darthur.

Audience Reception and Poetic Style

  • Audience Preferences:

    • The audience valued a certain style of alliterative verse which was humorously criticized by Chaucer’s Parson.
    • They understood archaic diction, such as:
    • Athel (noble)
    • Words of Scandinavian origin: skete (quickly) and skifted (alternated).

  • Familiarity with Arthurian Traditions:

    • The audience was knowledgeable about French Arthurian romances and the latest trends in clothing, armor, and castle architecture.

The Position of Sir Gawain

  • Chevalry:

    • Sir Gawain, as Arthur's sister's son, is portrayed as the leading knight of the Round Table, exemplifying the early chivalric virtues.
    • His character represents the early flourishing of chivalry within King Arthur's court.

  • Contrast with French Romances:

    • Previous thirteenth-century French romances favored Sir Lancelot as the main knight, featuring his affair with Queen Guinevere as a significant narrative arc.
    • In contrast, in Sir Gawain, Lancelot is merely one of the many knights, and Arthur is portrayed as youthful, indicating a court in its prime.

Plot Overview: The Beheading Game

  • Main Conflict:

    • The overarching plot of Sir Gawain revolves around the “Beheading Game,” a challenge where a supernatural figure allows himself to be beheaded, provided he can return the blow in a year.
    • The oldest written occurrence of this motif exists in the Middle Irish tale of Bricriu's Feast.

  • Deviation from Tradition:

    • Unlike Bricriu's Feast, where success relies solely on the hero's bravery, the Gawain poet introduces a series of tests that connect the beheading challenge with Gawain’s truthfulness.
    • The symbol of Gawain's truth is represented by the pentangle, which is a five-pointed star displayed prominently on his coat of arms.

Symbolism: The Pentangle

  • Description of the Pentangle:
    • The pentangle serves as an emblem of Gawain’s truth.
    • Symbolizes multiple virtues associated with knighthood, such as truth, loyalty, and courage.