Preview

Allegorical Connections Between Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
758 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Allegorical Connections Between Sir Gawain And The Green Knight
After reading W.A. Neilson’s translation of Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, one could find allegorical connections with the characters. Each of the main characters represents represents three main concepts that one could compare to the life in the twenty-first century. Sir Gawain, a honored knight, can be compared to everyday day people. The Green Knight can be seen as a Godly figure. Lastly the fair lady seen as a sin. When comparing the main characters of the poem, one could find allergy connects with them to everyday perceptions.
Sir Gawain is more than just a brave knight; he's a normal man, if placed in the current time period. A knight is seen as someone who is perfect at all he does, a person who doesn’t give in to sin, somebody who is godly. Sir Gawain is somebody who makes mistakes and accepts sins like an everyman. (QOUTE HERE) By the end of Gawain’s journey
…show more content…
A main connection is found when looking at a normal everyday man, God, and sin. Sir Gawain was tested in a way where only God himself would be able to tell him if he’s sins and journey was honorable enough. The Green Knight is a God all in his own, he’s the only person who truly tested Gawain and his faith. The Fair Lady portrays sin, she made Gawain think that he was being tested in lust when really she’s testing his faith. All of the events happened because the Green Knight demanded it. He set up trails while Sir Gawain went on his merry way, to the Green Palace, which he thought was where his true challenge was. These roadblocks are like a man's’ own. A man who went through his own sins just to face God and discover that God himself set up his trails; all to test one’s faith. All the above reasonings prove that the three main characters are the fundamental allegorical connections out of the whole book, Sir Gawain, the Green Knight, and the Fair Lady, sets the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The theme of Sir Gawain and The Green Knight is Chivalry. This was written in dialect and said to be written by a monk, but author remains unknown. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, The Green Knight was a creation by Arthur’s half-sister, Morgan le Fay, the ruler of mysterious Avalon, to embarrass the knights of his court. The Green Knight approaches the court offering beheading games and the winnings game while holding a holly-bundle and an axe in his hands. The holly-bundle symbolizes peace. Sir Gawain speaks up saying that he’s the weakest and should participate because he’d be the least loss to King Arthur’s (governor of Camelot) court. This all takes place around New Year’s Day and they call it Christmas-tide. A description of the Green Knight: All green except for his eyes. They were red. Sir Gawain was supposed to leave on November 1st, All Saints Day. This is a special day for praying to the saints. This day would have been better for Sir Gawain to leave, but he leaves on the 2nd, named All Souls Day. All Souls Day are prayers for deceased held in a place to speed to heaven. Sir Gawain is undergoing a test to prove he’s a Chivalric knight. The castle he visits represents heaven on earth and the guy Porter represents Peter. Gawain was given beautiful clothes as well as food to eat. He comes to the realization that he made a bargain and he has to deal with it. The woman he spoke to at the castle told him if he valued his life he would wear a sash, he was also told it would save his life. A servant accompanying Gawain to the games told him he wouldn’t tell if he chickened. Sir Gawain goes into the Wild West and hears a sound. It’s dark humor, the sound of the Green Knight sharpening his axe. In line 2214, he says he’s leaving, but a voice yells for him to stay. Sir Gawain looks up only to find the Green Knight standing over him and in that moment he knew he would be…

    • 598 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    One would have to complete an in depth study to find all the direct and indirect references to chivalry. Never refuse a challenge from an equal was addressed when the Green Knight appeared at King Arthur’s court. “So at Christmas in this court I lay down a challenge” (Puchner et.al., 2012, p. 733). Gawain accepts the challenge in place of King Arthur, also displaying chivalry as it is described to serve the liege lord. There are frequent references to fear God and maintain his church including “Yet for all that metal he still made it to mass, honored the Almighty before the high altar” (Puchner et.al., 2012, p. 379). Also when he was making his perilous venture in pursuit of the Green Knight the author states “Then at the time of tiding he prayed to highest heaven. Let Mother Mary guide him towards some house or haven” (Puchner et.al., 2012, p. 743). Respecting women was a very important code for knights. Reference of respect is made when Gawain happened upon shelter and met the ladies of the castle. He saluted the elder woman with a long bow and then kissed the younger respectfully and spoke to them with courtesy. In addition, after the queen of the court visited Gawain’s bedroom the second time, she made outward glances and smiles in a public forum toward Gawain, which he described would anger a man. Due to respect towards women, Gawain did not address her behavior as indicated by Puchner (2012), “but his…

    • 2042 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Views of woman in the book Sir Gawain and the Green Knight are often talked about in this poem. Sex is expressed very openly by each character in the story, as Bertilak’s wife often tries to seduce Sir Gawain. The portrayal of woman and the power they wield through sex shows how they can ruin one person. She makes it seem that sex is easily related to hunting or even a game. We see how the poet has structured the bedroom scene as the conflicting demands of spiritual and courtly love.…

    • 1121 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    As being a young knight their curtesy of boasting was the way of showing of their “skills” they acquire but being so his knowledge is young. As Diane Andrews HenningFeld States, “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”. What he Does not realize that he has to complete it as being a normal person, Through the Romance era which where this was written for which medieval times are Series of feudalism. One’s (a knight) soul would offer his life into battle for exchange to be part of with the king. Which many during these times were outcast and even faced because they cannot could not keep with their…

    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    There are many elements relayed to Christianity mythology and magic in sir Gawain and the green knight. Sir Gawain continuously finds guidance from god. On element of Christianity from the story is the image of the Virgin Mary on the inside of his shield. Another element of Christianity is when sir Gawain held off the temptations of the married women lady bestial. The story also shows us that they celebrated Christmas in Camelot, in which Christmas is a religious holiday…

    • 211 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and The Canterbury Tales were both remarkable pieces of literature that are key to the development of society. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a tale that represents the chivalric code, order, Christian virtues and respect. The Canterbury Tales, however, somewhat poke fun at the church and mock its workers, and is filled with lust and cockiness. Both of the works were written in the same time period. While they were written in the same time period, the two stories are remarkably different from one another, for Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is much more respectful and chivalric, while The Canterbury Tales is dirty, humorous, and satirical.…

    • 812 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Theme of both poem is woman duty that reflects the society of that time. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight woman under control man . For example, in the story " I sent her to test you, and truly I think you the most faultless man that was ever foot. This show that the lord's wife obey the lord who is owner the castle to seduce Gawin.…

    • 263 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    He has integrity and bravery to fulfill the Green Knight’s challenge. Gawain could have run away and not faced the Green Knight. He shows up anyhow, knowing it will be his death. The challenge was to give one blow to the Green Knight, and the same for Gawain. The Green Knight, however, has three blows to give Gawain. Gawain stays strong and allows the Green Knight to do what he must. He passes this public test for showing up and allowing two extra strikes at his head.…

    • 534 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    There is only one assumption: Everything in this world is flawed. Everything else comes from that assumption. This presumption is definitely not an exception in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, where imperfection is a central notion. Many people in the poem appear ideal, such as the beautiful wife of Bertilak, or the chivalrous knight Sir Gawain, but sooner or later their imperfections are brought to light. This happens several times throughout the story, such as when Bertilak’s wife tries to seduce Gawain, Sir Gawain accepts the green girdle from Bertilak’s wife but confesses nothing to his host, and when the Green Knight appears in King Arthur’s court. The poet uses the two symbols, the pentangle of perfection, and the green girdle of temptation, to show that even the best knight will have flaws.…

    • 931 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    By analyzing “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” within the framework of the Ecocriticism theory, we hope to gain a more profound understanding of the relationship between man and nature in the French Arthurian literature. In the Anthropocene world of the Arthurian court, there was a defined line dividing the agrarian civilization and the natural world. However, Sir Gawain journeys beyond the border of his built environment into the realm of a supernatural wilderness. It is here that the boundary between the natural and unnatural become blurred. The classification of what is considered natural or unnatural loses definition as Sir Gawain undergoes his journey and builds his relationship with the Green Knight. Sir Gawain must wrestle with losing…

    • 280 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sir Gawain is ultimately the quintessential knight, including every characteristic a true knight should. However, it is Gawain’s mastery of courtly conduct and culture, which truly exemplify his knighthood. The first, his mastery and application of his knowledge of courtly love are exhibited in this poem. On the first day, the Lord sets off hunting and concurrently, the Lady of the castle tempts Gawain. Originally, the young knight hears the Lady enter his chambers and, "embarrassed, [decides to l]ay flat with fine adroitness and feign sleep" (Longman 248). Gawain understands that any promiscuous behavior would insult the Lord of the castle, who has…

    • 691 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    When analyzing how Sir Gawain and the Green Knight can be seen as a social criticism of medieval…

    • 1321 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    sir gawain

    • 445 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a poem that enlightens readers by being well written, usage of language, and by giving glimpses of a more illumining reality. As the story unfolds I came to realize there is an ongoing symbolic death and re-birth of Sir Gawain. His symbolic death and re-birth is used to provide meaning to the writing beyond what is actually being described and to enhance the poem.…

    • 445 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    2. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Sixth Edition, Volume One. General Ed. M.H. Abrams. New York: Norton, 1993.…

    • 1547 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    There are three women characters in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,” and each one differs from one another. Queen Guinevere is the first woman introduced to the readers. Her character represents the ideal woman of the time period. Men yearned for beauty and silence in a woman to serve their sex drive and allow them to exert their power over them.…

    • 651 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays