SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT

English II Pre-AP

I. TIMELINE

1066—William the Norman invades and

conquers England

Bayeux Tapestry 1077

410—Romans retreat from

England

991—Battle of Maldon

Viking/Anglo-Saxon Rule 410-1066 Norman Rule 1066-1154

Medieval Period 1154-1485

1347—Black Death kills 50% of the population

1154—An English King

(Henry II) back on the

throne

a little context

II. MEDIEVAL LITERATURE & POETIC FORM• Alliterative Revival• Bob-and-Wheel: a two- or three-syllable

“bob” followed by a quatrain (the “wheel”)• Bob is the bridge between long series of

alliterative lines and the wheel• Bob’s stress is on the last syllable• Wheel usually contains three stressed

syllables per line• Rhyme scheme (beginning with bob) is

ABABA

III. THE MANUSCRIPT

III. THE MANUSCRIPT

• Exists only in one 14th-century manuscript

• Manuscript containing Gawain also contains three other poems, including Pearl

• Manuscript’s name = Cotton Nero A.x. (Hmmm… does this sound familiar?)

• Author = the “Pearl Poet;” clearly familiar with life of the nobiility

III. ROMANCE

• Romance: An adventure tale that recounts the heroic deeds of knights and celebrates their chivalric way of life. They convey medieval values of loyalty and Christian faith

• Common Characteristics:• Opens with a feast• Involves a challenge• Tells adventures of a young, nearly perfect hero• Involves supernatural elements• Teaches the hero a moral lesson• Includes women as temptation• Shows cyclical qualities of nature

IV. EPICS VS. ROMANCES

Long narrative poem Long narrative poemAbout the exploits of a single hero who is usually the savior/protector of his people

The hero fights for an ideal, not to save his tribe. Usually goes on a quest.

Exists in a warrior/shame culture (don’t shame your family name!)

Exists in a courtly culture, where courtesy and reverence for women is as important as fighting skill

Realistic setting (even if fantastic elements exist, such as dragons). The places, people, and economic conditions are often real.

Idealization of places and people. Not meant to be realistic.

Ends in death of the hero (Glorious and Honorable!)

Happy ending! (almost always)

V. CODE OF CHIVALRY

• Chivalry: the code that guides the behavior of knights in romance literature. It requires a knight to…• Swear allegiance to his lord• Fight to uphold Christianity• Seek to redress all wrongs• Honor truth by word and deed• Be faithful to one lady• Act with bravery, courtesy, and modesty

VI. COURTLY LOVE• Courtly love: comes from “rules” the were developed to

regulate the behavior of lovers• Love songs and poems tell of a man’s unrequited love for a

woman• Lovelorn hero feels inferior to the woman and flatters her in

song and verse• Man does everything he can to refine himself to become

worthy of her love• Man desires to serve the woman and be rewarded with love• To love her is exquisite pain, yet it gives him great joy (a

paradox!)• The woman can A) advance the affair and reward him, OR

B) reject and spurn him.

VII. PLOT STRUCTURE• Interweaving narratives

• Beheading game• Quest• Seduction tale

• Beheading Game – common in oral poetry1. Outsider comes to court and challenges.2. Hero accepts challenge.3. Hero gives outsider a blow, cutting off his head.4. Hero journey to the court of the outsider.5. Outsider tests the hero .6. Hero accepts the return blow and returns to court.

VIII. WHAT DO I LOOK FOR?

• Archetypes• Use of the bob-and-wheel• Traits of Romances (and contrasts to what

might happen in an epic)• Structure – great deal of structural unity

• Use of parallels and balance• Use of contrast and antithesis