Lesson
Done
Read online or in text Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
1. Define the following and give an example of each or use in a sentence.
1. Romance as applies to 13th century literature-
Literary form that developed in the aristocratic courts of mid-12th-century France and had its heyday in France and Germany between the mid-12th and mid-13th century in the works of such masters as Chrétien de Troyes and Gottfried von Strassburg. The staple subject matter is chivalric adventure (see chivalry), though love stories and religious allegories are sometimes interwoven. Most romances draw their plots from classical history and legend, Arthurian legend, and the adventures of Charlemagne and his knights. Written in the vernacular, they share a taste for the exotic, the remote, and the miraculous. Lingering echoes of the form can be found in later centuries, as in the Romanticism of the 18th–19th century and today's popular romantic novels.
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/romance
Example Sentence: The romance from the 13th century is similar to today's romance, although they vary from eachother as well.
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2. Scythe-
A tool with a long curved blade attached at a more or less right angle to a long handle with grips for both hands; used for cutting grass as well as grain and other crops.
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Scythe
Example Sentence: The man used a scythe to cut the grass.
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3. Allegory- in literature, symbolic story that serves as a disguised representation for meanings other than those indicated on the surface. The characters in an allegory often have no individual personality, but are embodiments of moral qualities and other abstractions. The allegory is closely related to the parable, fable, and metaphor, differing from them largely in intricacy and length. A great variety of literary forms have been used for allegories. The medieval morality play Everyman, personifying such abstractions as Fellowship and Good Deeds, recounts the death journey of Everyman. Although allegory is still used by some authors, its popularity as a literary form has declined in favor of a more personal form of symbolic expression
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Allegory
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4. Reproof
1. a. a small piece of cloth, such as one torn from a discarded garment, or such pieces of cloth collectively
b. (as modifier): a rag doll
2. Brit slang, esp naval a flag or ensign
Example Sentence: The reproof was thrown into the ocean.
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Reproof
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5. Staunch- –adjective, -er, -est.
1. firm or steadfast in principle, adherence, loyalty, etc., as a person: a staunch Republican; a staunch friend.
2. characterized by firmness, steadfastness, or loyalty
3. strong; substantial: a staunch little hut in the woods.
4. impervious to water or other liquids; watertight: a staunch vessel.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/staunch
Example Sentence: He delivered a staunch defense of the government.
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6. Scabbard–noun
1. a sheath for a sword or the like.
Example Sentence: He put away his sword in the scabbard.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Scabbard
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7. Girdle–noun
1. a lightweight undergarment, worn esp. by women, often partly or entirely of elastic or boned, for supporting and giving a slimmer appearance to the abdomen, hips, and buttocks.
Example Sentence: The older women prefered to wear girdles.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Girdle
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8. Elements of a romantic piece of literature
The four elements of Romanticism are
1. Love of nature
2. Importance of emotion/imagination
3. Rejection of classic art forms
4. Rebellion against society
Example Sentence: The elements of a romantic piece of literaure is usually of the same format as the originals.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_four_elements_of_romantic_literature
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2. Answer the questions.
1. Where does Gawain find the Green Knight, and what is the knight doing?
Gaiwan finds the Green Knight in the Green Chapel. The knight is sharping his weapon.
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2. What happens with the first and second strokes of the green Knight’s ax?
The Green Knight lifts the axe high and drops it. When the Green Knight sees Gawain flinch he stops his blade, mocking Gawain and questioning his reputation. Gawain tells him he will not flinch again, and the Green Knight lifts the axe a second time. Gawain doesn’t flinch as the axe comes down, and the Green Knight holds the blade again, this time congratulating Gawain’s courage. He then threatens Gawain, saying that the next blow will strike him. Angry, Gawain tells the knight to hurry up and strike, and the knight lifts his axe one last time.
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/gawain/section4.rhtml
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3. What happens the third time?
He brings it down hard, but causes Gawain no harm other than a slight cut on his neck.
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/gawain/section4.rhtml
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4. Who does the Green Knight turn out to be?
The Green Knight turns out to be Bertilak de Hautdesert.
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5. How does the Knight finally evaluate Gawain’s character?
The Knight evaluates Gaiwain's character as he make three attempts to behead Gaiwan. The Green Knight lifts the axe high and drops it. When the Green Knight sees Gawain flinch he stops his blade, mocking Gawain and questioning his reputation. Gawain tells him he will not flinch again, and the Green Knight lifts the axe a second time. Gawain doesn’t flinch as the axe comes down, and the Green Knight holds the blade again, this time congratulating Gawain’s courage
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/gawain/section4.rhtml
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6. In what ways is Sir Gawain in a superhuman romance hero?
Gawain's function, as medieval scholar Alan Markman says, "is the function of the romance hero … to stand as the champion of the human race, and by submitting to strange and severe tests, to demonstrate human capabilities for good or bad action."[64] Through Gawain's adventure, it becomes clear that he is merely human. The reader becomes attached to this human view in the midst of the poem’s romanticism, relating to Gawain’s humanity while respecting his knightly qualities. Gawain "shows us what moral conduct is. We shall probably not equal his behaviour, but we admire him for pointing out the way."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Gawain_and_the_Green_Knight#Green_Knight
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7. What images make the setting of the confrontation seem demonic? Is there any symbolism suggested by this setting? Explain.
Though Bertilak's castle appears as if by magic in answer to his prayer, still the castle's artificiality and Gawain's admittedly natural failure to recognize its connection with his quest emphasize the increasing isolation of the hero and, perhaps, his potential dehumanization as object of Bertilak's apparently light-hearted hunt--and one is reminded of Frye's remark that "in romance the paradisal is frequently a deceitful illusion that turns out to be demonic" (98).
http://faculty.uca.edu/jona/second/ggkdescent.htm
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8. Describe the writer’s tone in this story? Is he entirely serious, or do you find moments of humor? Support with evidence from the story.
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9. If this is an allegory, who would be the sinner and who would be the Christ figure? What would be the terms of salvation?
If this is an allegory, Gaiwan would be the sinner and The Green Knight would be Christ. To reach salvation Gaiwan repents his sins to the Green Knight and is able to stay alive and maintain his personal integrity.
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10. Compare the romantic triangle in this story with romantic triangles in contemporary fiction or movies.
The romantic triangle can compared to the trio from the movie New Moon. Gaiwan would be like Jacob, who is in somewhat of an affair with Bella, who can be seen as Lady Bertilak. Bertilak de Hautdesert can be seen as Edward; they both were oblivious to the affairs.
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