Sir Gawain and the Sir Gawain and the Green KnightGreen KnightCultural and character backgroundsCultural and character backgrounds

The AuthorThe Author

The author of the poem is known only as The author of the poem is known only as “The Pearl Poet.”“The Pearl Poet.”

Written in northwestern England around Written in northwestern England around 13701370 The language and topics indicate that the The language and topics indicate that the

author was most likely familiar with author was most likely familiar with FrenchFrench, , LatinLatin, the , the aristocracy, and the medieval aristocracy, and the medieval romance genreromance genre. .

Medieval Romance Medieval Romance CharacteristicsCharacteristics

embody the ideals of chivalryembody the ideals of chivalry set in a remote time or placeset in a remote time or place emphasize rank and social distinctionsemphasize rank and social distinctions convey sense of supernaturalconvey sense of supernatural hero engaged in pure adventurehero engaged in pure adventure include love include love feature spontaneous fightingfeature spontaneous fighting

Stages of a Medieval Stages of a Medieval RomanceRomance

1.1. Undertaking a dangerous questUndertaking a dangerous quest

2.2. Facing a test of honor or courageFacing a test of honor or courage

3.3. A return to the point from which the A return to the point from which the quest beganquest began

Poetic DevicesPoetic Devices

Heavy Heavy alliterationalliteration Bob and wheel Bob and wheel verse: each section ends verse: each section ends

with a with a short line short line called a bob, followed called a bob, followed by the wheel, which are longer lines that by the wheel, which are longer lines that rhymerhyme..

ThemesThemes

TestsTests of character of character The power of The power of nature nature to revive or destroy to revive or destroy

manman GamesGames to prove worthiness to prove worthiness Male/femaleMale/female opposition opposition

CharactersCharacters Sir Gawain: A young knight ready for Sir Gawain: A young knight ready for

challengechallenge The Green Knight: A mysterious figure The Green Knight: A mysterious figure

who proposes a questwho proposes a quest Lord Bercilak: Allows Gawain to stay at his Lord Bercilak: Allows Gawain to stay at his

castle during his questcastle during his quest Lady Bercilak: Seduces GawainLady Bercilak: Seduces Gawain King Arthur: Leader of CamelotKing Arthur: Leader of Camelot

Sir GawainSir Gawain

Sir Gawain is a Knight of the Sir Gawain is a Knight of the Round Round Table Table in the legends of King in the legends of King ArthurArthur. .

He is depicted as both a He is depicted as both a ruthless ruthless warriorwarrior and a and a noble and courageousnoble and courageous man. man.

As a knight, Sir Gawain would have had As a knight, Sir Gawain would have had to uphold the code of to uphold the code of chivalrychivalry. .

Code for KnightsCode for Knights Sir Gawain would have been expected to adhere to physical and Sir Gawain would have been expected to adhere to physical and

nonphysical ideals.nonphysical ideals.

PhysicalPhysical ideals for knights: ideals for knights:

- strength- strength

- skill at arms- skill at arms

- horsemanship- horsemanship NonphysicalNonphysical ideals for knights: ideals for knights:

- courage- courage

- humility - humility

- courtesy- courtesy

- loyalty- loyalty

Theories on the Meaning of Theories on the Meaning of the Color Greenthe Color Green

fertility and rebirthfertility and rebirth lovelove

the devil or evil (from the devil or evil (from early English early English folklore)folklore)

deathdeath

All are seen in Sir Gawain and the Green All are seen in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, which could suggest a focus on the Knight, which could suggest a focus on the cycle of life or the transitions from good to cycle of life or the transitions from good to evil.evil.