Jesse Castellanos

January 14, 2008

Accelerated English III
Mr. Martin
Period 6

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Intro. Info

King Arthur’s life was probably based on a Celtic warrior who fought the Anglo-Saxon
invaders and became a symbol of the fight against oppression. By the time these tales
became popular, the threat was defeated and it bolstered the heroism of the knights. The
selection begins at the start of the New Year’s Feast at Camelot (King Arthur’s Court). A
Green Knight appears in the hall with an axe.

1-5
A horseman comes hurtling in and asks where the host is.
6-10
He swaggered through the hall searching for this person.
11-15
All marveled at him, and he peculiar green hue fused onto gold of the knight in question.
16-20
All watched him closely and wondered what he might do. He didn’t give an answer to
inquires as to why he was here, casting a mysterious air.
21-25
His words were bold and stunned all in the hall.
26-30
Arthur hailed upon this mysterious character that he was welcome to be there.
31-35
Arthur asks if the knight would like to stay. The Green Knight declines saying that is not
his business.
36-40
The Green Knight goes on to praise Arthur and his court for being “stout” and “worthy”.

41-45
The Green Knight is impressed with the courtesy, and he adds that he came to seek him
in peace because of a “combat bent”.
46-50
This knight has an impressive weapon collection, but he has never used them because he
has willed no wars.
51-55
Challenging Arthur, The Green Knight says that if he is as bold as men believe, he will
accept the game he proposes. Arthur responds “if contest here you crave/ You shall not
fail to fight.
56-60
The Green Knight declines, saying that he wouldn’t want a wargame against “beardless
children”, whose might is puny. He calls for a Christmas game.
61-65
He says that if is anyone is bold enough, they will strike one another one blow for one
blow with the gisarme(or battle axe) being the prize.
66-70
He will allow the other the first blow and immediately cede the weapon.
71-75
In return he will do the same to the person in 366 days.
76-80
As The Green Knight rolled about the entire hall was still.
81-85
He wagged his beard and brow, and cleared his throat and screamed wondering if this
was the house of Arthur.
86-90
The Knight asked for the valor and pride of Arthur’s men, along with the revelry of the
Round Table. He couldn’t believe how overwhelming one man’s speech was.
91-95
Arthur was ashamed and his face flushed red.
96-100
He retorts saying that no guest is really afoul of those words.
101-105
He asks to have the axe, and he takes it from the knight.
106-110
The stranger stood erect, and menacingly took off his coat.
111-115
Gawain, the youngest of these knights, took up the challege.
116-125
As Gawain gets up he announces that he doesn’t care about his board and weather his
liege lady liked it or not and even if Arthur took up the challenge.
126-130
He praises his brothers and continues that because he is young his life would be the least
of those lost.
131-135
Gawain’s body is a “barren of worth” for the king who he fights for.
136-140
The court allowed him to do this and Arthur ordered Gawain up to him.
141-145
Arthur blessed his knight and told him to keep what he cut that day.
146-150
Arthur assures him that he will be ok and the knight approaches the Green Knight with
Gisarme in hand.
151-155
The Green Knight asks Gawain to remember the contract and state his name.
155-160
The Green Knight is content that “this blow shall drive”
161-165
He asks that Gawain make sure he stay true to the contract and has discussed it with his
lord.
166-170
The Green Knight makes sure Gawain seeks him out wherever he may be, despite
Gawain asking where he resided.
171-175
Gawain asks where the Green Knight’s home is and what his name was. He says he
swears he will find him under oath.
176-180
The Green Knight says that is enough and he will tell him everything he needs to know
after a hearty blow.
181-185
The Green Knight says if he is unable to speak afterwards then there will be no need for
him to know afterwards he invites him to take his best shot.
186-190
Gawain takes up this offer gladly as the knight presents his head.
191-195
Gawain brought the axe down upon the Green Knight’s bear neck.
196-200
The head of The Green Knight fell onto the floor and blood gushed onto the floor.
201-205
The Green Knight was not dead he picked up his head and went to his steed.
206-210
He held his head by the hair as he sat in the saddle of the horse.
211-215
The body bled and all were shocked as the head turned to Gawain
216-220
The Green Knight said to seek him as he agreed in the company of proud knights.
221-225
He says that he is the Knight of the Green Chapel who resides in his namesake. He says
he will give him the same knock that he was dealt on New Year’s morning.
226-230
He said to come unless he was a “recreant”(cowardly) Knight. With that he dashed off
nobody knowing where left for.
231-235
Some say Arthur and Gawain were cheerful but some say otherwise.
236-240
Arthur proceeded with the celebration.
241-245
Their was food, dance and song at this occasion.
246-250
Arthur had Gawain put up his axe and join him at his table.
251-255
The two feasted together and the day was filled with happiness.
256-258
Arthur praised how his courage “wax not cold When he must turn again to his enterprise
fortold”
Interlude
Next November Gawain set out to fufill his promise to The Green Knight. He travels
through the woods of North Wales and on Christmas Eve he comes upon shelter. Their
the king promises him a guide on New Year’s day to the nearby Green Chapel. The
castle’s lord and he promise to exchange whatever they may receive. Gawain fulfills this
until his 3rd day there where he keeps a magic green girdle that will protect him from
harm from the Lady of the castle. His guide urges him not to do it, but he feels he must
do so wearing the girdle.
259-260
Gawain rides into a grove.
261-265
With this he rode down into a rock cliff-hewn valley.
266-270
The skies were scored by scowling peaks and he dismounted and looked about for the
green chapel, he couldn’t view anything at first but then he caught site of what looked
like a mound.
271-275
It was a Hillock right by the water.
276-280
This was covered by grass.
281-285
He stared in disbelief wondering if this could be the legendary hall.
286-290
Gawain remarks how a man like the green knight could hold his prayers in such a hellish
place.
291-295
Gawain thinks that the church is accursed and proceeds towards it with lance in hand.
296-300
As he approached he heard a thunderous sound which sounded somewhat like a scythe.
301-305
Gawain was nervous but unshaken he theorized this noise and his arrival were not
coincidental.
306-310
Gawain called out asking for “who has power in this place?”
311-315
From above The Green Knight said he will give to him what he promised so long ago.
321-325
The Green Knight was carrying a fearsome broad blade. This was amplified by his lordly
appearance.
326-330
He strided over a cold stream.
331-335
The Knight was impressed that Gawain held his promise.
336-340
Sir Gawain took what was his now the Knight must do the same.
341-345
The Knight comments upon how they are secluded with nobody in the area. He instructs
Gawain to take off his helmet and accept the same kind of blow that was done unto him.
346-350
He protests that but still offers his neck to the blade.
351-360
Gawain feigned a happy face pretending to not look scared as he saw the blade of the
warrior coming down upon him.
361-370
Abrubtly The Green Knight stopped bemoaning Gawain’s frightened demeanor,
criticizing him for his cowardice in the moment of truth unlike himself.
371-380
Gawain strikes back saying there is no fixing him when he gets his head cut off
exemplifying knighthood. He commands him to till his axe until it hits him.
381-390
The Green Knight does the same thing but this time Gawain actually stays still.
391-400
Gawain calls the knight a tyrant and The Green Knight agrees to finish his business
pulling back his axe.
401-410
The third time the axe comes upon him softly and he only receives a small scar on his
neck, he immediately retrieves his equipment.
411-420
Gawain says that the blow he was dealt was enough and met the conditions of what was
agreed upon.
431-440
The Green Knight says he should be happy with this and he was impressed he followed
through showing his nobility.
441-450
The knight reveals himself to be the lord of that local manor he stayed in recognizing the
girdle given as his. 441-443 express how Gawain was tender with the wife of the lord.
451-460
After hearing it was all a game, he became extremely angry.
461-470
Realzing the girdle was a falsehood, he threw it in anger that he had been made to look
like a coward.
471-480
Gawain feels guilty about wearing it now and asks how he could undo his misdeed.
481-490
Gawain wears the girdle as a badge from now on.

Review and Assess

1. Considering how strongly imbedded the idea of pride was in Medieval society, I
would have let Gawain accept the Knight’s challenge, in the medieval world
reputation was everything and I would not let my reputation slide.
2. At first all in the hall are totally silent and do not respond to the challenge put
forth. (b). The Knight laughs at their reponse because it is King Arthur’s court
which is supposed to be the cream of the crop. (c.) Arthur reacts by promising
The Green Knight a fight showing that honor and chivalry is important in his
court.
3. (a) Gawain offers to take up this challege. (b.) Gawain says that because he is the
youngest his life matters the least. (c.) The offer of serving his lord and doing it in
a humble manner were important because Knight’s were expected to be humble
chivalrous and obedient towards their lords.
4. Sir Gawain feels guilty about what he had done by using the girdle. (b) Sir
Gawain has learned that he should heed more warning and be more cautious.
5. In my opinion, he has not failed to live up to his knightly ideals. Technically he
was only supposed to receive a blow to the back of the neck so by getting a means
of protection for his mortality that was never a breach of trust. The Green
Knight’s ability to live without his head and challenging someone to such a
contest if anything was unfair.
6. It is more important to achieve one’s goals. When, we acquire new understanding
and vantage points from our mistakes, we use them to reach our goals. Learning
from one’s mistakes is just one part of the process of achievement.