Sir Gawain

Introduction

Written by the Pearl-Poet (also known as the Gawain-Poet), Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is perhaps the finest Arthurian romance in English literature.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, while overtly an exciting and humorous romance, is at heart a deeply religious work. Through the series of tests and games in the poem, the poet demonstrates Gawain's growth as a human being. Like most humans, Gawain does not understand the real purpose of the tests to which he is subjected until after they are over. It is only in retrospect that he can understand that it is not his honor that is being tested, but his humility; not his lovemaking, but his truthfulness; and not his courage, but his faith in God. (Tolkien 10-12)

Discussion

The poem is both subtle and sophisticated as it presents the difficult choices that confront Gawain: He must choose, over and over, among the codes of chivalry, courtesy, and Christianity, codes that are often in conflict with each other. When he leaps to chop off the Green Knight's head, he believes that he is demonstrating chivalric courage; what he demonstrates is rashness and a lack of Christian charity. When he allows Lady Bertilak into his bed, he believes that he is honoring the code of courtesy; he violates, however, the chivalric response to the hospitality of his host. When he accepts the green girdle, he believes he is saving his own life; but the gift marks his fear of death and his lack of faith. Finally, when he does not give the green girdle to Bertilak at the end of the day, he breaks his promise.

Critical Evaluation

Camelot, described as the hallmark of courtesy and chivalry, is ablaze with the New Year's festivities as the poem begins. The festive atmosphere is abruptly broken by the entrance into King Arthur's hall of a gigantic green knight, who derides Arthur's knights as mere boys and challenges anyone to trade blows with him. He will take the first blow, but in a year and a day the assailant must receive a blow in return. The only knight to accept the challenge is Gawain. With one blow, Gawain decapitates the Green Knight, but the headless knight picks up his head, adjures Gawain to find his way to the Green Chapel to receive his blow as agreed upon or be disgraced, and rides out of the hall, holding his head aloft.

After a perilous journey, Gawain happens upon a beautiful castle ...