Sir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

The book begins with a brief history of the founding of Britain. After the fall of Troy, the heroes set out to build new cities, Romulus founded Rome, Ticius founded Tuscany and Brutus founded Britain. Then the author introduces the great King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table and states he will share a story of a great adventure.

His story begins in Camelot and King Arthur and his people have been celebrating and enjoying great feasts and games for 15 days. On New Years Day the festivities continue and as the feast begins King Arthur declares he will not eat until he has heard a good story. As everyone eats King Arthur sits, still awaiting a worthy story when an unknown green knight abruptly enters the hall on horseback. The knight is carrying a huge gold axe and he and his horse are described as being very large and completely green, decorated in gold. The Green Knight demands to speak with the person in charge and King Arthur steps forward and invites the knight to join them at their feast. The Green Knight refuses and instead insists that someone step forward to play a game with him. The Green Knight tells the court he will give his axe to any man who will step forward and take one swing at his neck and in return the Green Knight would be allowed to take one swing at their neck in a year and a day. After nobody steps forward, King Arthur accepts the knights challenge but as Arthur is about to swing the axe his nephew Gawain steps forward and urges the king to allow him to accept the green knights challenge instead, insisting that it is his duty and he will not be missed. King Arthur accepts his nephews request and Gawain takes the axe from his king. Before Gawain swings the axe he confirms the deal with the Green Knight and asks who he is and where he can be found but the Green Knight refuses to answer his questions. Then Gawain swings the axe cutting off the head of the Green Knight which rolls onto the floor. Then the body of the Green Knight goes over and picks up the severed head and turns it towards the kings court. The head of the Green Knight declares that he is the Knight of the Green Chapel and reminds Gawain that he must seek him out in a year and a day or be called a coward. Then the Green Knight rides out of the castle and the festivities continue.

The seasons pass and in the fall, on the Day of all Saints, Gawain prepares to embark on his quest. Gawain puts on all his shining armor and prepares his horse Gringolet for their journey to find the Green Chapel. Along his journey Gawain faces brutal weather, fights off wild animals and is tormented by nightmares of failure and his impending doom. When Christmas Eve arrives Gawain is worn down and low on hope. A desperate Gawain decides to pray to Mary, mother of Jesus, and when he looks up he sees a beautiful castle. Gawain approaches the castle and introduces himself to the guard who allows him to enter.

Gawain is warmly accepted into the castle by the people and his host, who is a big man with a thick black beard. The host welcomes Gawain to a feast where he introduces two women to Gawain, his beautiful young wife and an old unattractive woman. After 3 days of similar festivities, Gawain begins to worry if he will be able to complete his task and find the Green Chapel. After Gawain refuses the hosts invitation to stay longer by explaining he is running out of time to find the green chapel, the host assures Gawain that the Green Chapel is nearby so Gawain decides to accept his invitation to stay. The host then proposes a deal to Gawain, for the next three days he would go hunt during the day and share his winnings for the day with Gawain and in return Gawain would give his host any gifts he received during the day while staying at the castle. Gawain accepts his deal and the men go to bed.

The next day the host leaves for his hunt as Gawain remains in bed when the wife sneaks into his bed chamber and tries to seduce him. Gawain is flattered and polite but remains guarded of her passes and asks her to leave so he can dress. Before the wife leaves however she asks Gawain for one kiss, and Gawain being a knight obliges her. When the host returns he offers Gawain his fresh deer meat that he has hunted that day as his gift and in return Gawain gives his host one kiss, the only gift that Gawain has received that day, as their deal requires. Gawain and the host then agree to repeat the agreement the next day.

The second day the host again leaves for to hunt as Gawain remains in bed. For the second straight day the hosts wife sneaks into Gawain bedroom and again tries to seduce Gawain. On this day the wife gives Gawain two kisses before she leaves. The host returns from the hunt with boar for Gawain and in exchange Gawain gives his host two kisses.

On the third day the host again leaves for the hunt and his wife again sneaks into Gawains bedchamber. This time she gives Gawain three kisses and asks him for a love token. Gawain explains that he can not because he has nothing to give. The lady then offers him a ring and Gawain refuses to take it. Then the wife offers a green girdle that she claims has magical powers that will protect the life of any man who wears it. Gawain realizing he must face the Green Knight accepts the green girdle. When the host comes home he offers Gawain his fox skins and Gawain gives the host three kisses, but does not mention anything of the green girdle as their deal required. The host throws Gawain a farewell party and Gawain goes to bed with the realization he must face the Green Knight the next day.

New Years day has arrived and Gawain prepares to leave to face the Green Knight. Gawain puts on all his armor and his green girdle and prepares Gringolet to ride. The host provides Gawain with a guide to lead him to the Green Chapel and Gawain is appreciative and says a prayer for his host and the castle. Then Gawain and his guide set off into the wilderness. Along the way the guide tries to persuade Gawain to turn back and tells Gawain that facing the green knight would be certain death and that he would not tell anyone if Gawain decided not to face him. Gawain explains to his guide that he refuses to be a coward and insists that he must go face the Green Knight. The guide informs Gawain that he will go no further because he is afraid and Gawain thanks him and continues on. As Gawain continues he sees a cave and he investigates to see what it is. As he gets closer he can hear the sound of a weapon being sharpened against a stone. Gawain realizes this must be the Green Chapel and calls for the Green Knight to come out. When the Green Knight emerges he is holding his giant axe. The Green Knight praises Gawain for his punctuality and courage and tells Gawain it is time for his repayment. Despite being overwhelmed with fear Gawain reveals his bare neck to the Green Knight to receive his fate. The Green Knight lifts his axe and drops it, stopping just short of Gawains neck causing Gawain to flinch. The Green Knight mocks Gawain for flinching and questions his courage. Gawain assures the Green Knight it will not happen again then for a second time the Green Knight lifts the axe and swings down stopping just short of Gawains neck. This time however Gawain does not flinch and the Green Knight congratulates him but declares the next one he will not stop short and Gawain insists the Green Knight get it over with. The Green Knight again raises the axe up and swings down on Gawains neck but it only causes a little scratch. Gawain then jumps up and declares to the Green Knight that he has fulfilled his side of the deal and challenges the Green Knight to a battle but the Green Knight laughs and tells Gawain that he will not fight him and that he has spared Gawains life. The Green Knight reveals he was Gawains host and that the first two swings were for being true to the deal he made and exchanging gifts like they agreed and the third swing was a punishment for not revealing his girdle as a gift to his host on the third day. The Green Knight praises Gawains courage and tells him he is the greatest of all King Arthurs knights. Gawain realizing now that the Green Knight was his host curses the girdle and begs his host for forgiveness. The Green Knight forgives Gawain and invites him to stay longer and celebrate the New Year. Gawain thanks the Green Knight but declines his invitation to stay longer. Before he leaves, Gawain asks the Green Knight what his true identity is. The Green Knight reveals that his name is Bertilak de Hautdesert and that he is the servant of the old lady at the castle Morgan le Faye who turns out is also King Arthurs half sister and that he was sent as by her in disguise as the Green Knight to scare Queen Guinevere.

Gawain returns to the Camelot wearing the green girdle on his right shoulder. He tells his story and explains that he will wear the green girdle as a symbol of his sin and failure. Arthur and his court decide that they will all wear green girdles as a sign of their unity and support.

I found Sir Gawain and the Green Knight to be interesting and humorous but overall kind of disappointing. It started out great with the Green Knight barging his way into the middle of their feast on horseback and issuing this crazy challenge. I was really curious how this story would end after Gawain cut off the head of the Green Knight and the body walked over and picked the head up and rode off. At this point I assume that Gawain will face certain doom or a great battle between the two men was certain. And then Gawain goes off in search of the Green Chapel and comes across a castle after praying. When Gawain gets to this castle and you start to suspect that the host is probably the Green Knight and I started to get even more curious how this may end. Then Gawain and his host agree to a really great deal for Gawain, where the host agrees to hunt all day while Gawain gets to stay home with his wife even furthering my curiosity of how this will end. Then when the wife starts sneaking into Gawains bedchambers trying to seduce and tie him to bed which really began to spark my curiosity about how this may end. Is Gawain going to give into her? Will the host/Green Knight find out and be angry and a great battle will be the end? Nope, she gives him kisses which Gawain then gives to the host for his food. I found this to be very disappointing and quite humorous. And then when Gawain goes to face the Green Knight the Green Knight just kind of plays or jokes with Gawain by swinging the axe and coming short of his neck to see if he would flinch. And then you find out that the whole deal they made was a setup to test Gawains loyalty and honesty and all he gets was a cut on the neck for being dishonest. Then the Green Knight and Gawain are friends and you find out that the Green Knight is the servant of Margan le Faye, the half sister of King Arthur, and that she only sent him to scare Queen Guinevere. I guess I was expecting a different ending but I found this story to be disappointing. The best part in my opinion is when Gawain blames his dishonesty and sin on the deceitfulness of women and decides to wear the green girdle as a reminder.