SIR GAWAIN

SETTING/CHARACTERS

• 14th century
• Camelot
• Christmas Time

THEMES

• Man in the natural world
• Principles/ Rules
• Honor
• Supernatural

CHARACTERS

• Sir Gawain
• The Green Knight/Lord Bertilak
• Lady of the Castle
• King Arthur

ANAYLSIS

• SIR GAWAIN is a Knight of the Round Table
• He is very honorable and loyal to King Arthur
• Very skilled as a knight
• Had strong character until he was tempted
• Can be compared to the animals Bertilak hunted

LORD BERTILAK/ GREEN KNIGHT

• The Lord of the castle
• He is changed into the Green Giant through magic
• He challenges Sir Gawain to a game both as The Lord and Giant
• He gets headed by Sir Gawain
• Green Giant is Lord Bertalik's wild/natural side

LADY OF THE CASTLE

• Wife of Lord Bertilak
• Tempts Sir Gawain
• She is a skilled conversationalist
• Gives Sir Gawain kisses and the girdle
• Makes him lose trust in woman

KING ARTHUR

• Little of him is said in the story
• Ideal king with loyal knights
• Gets challenged by the Green Knight

SUMMARY:

• The giant arrives into King Arthur's New Years Celebration
• He challenges King Arthur to a challenge of a fight
• Sir Gawain takes the challenge instead of King Arthur
• Sir Gawain chops of the Giant's head
• The Giant reminds him that he will go to Green Chapel in a year and a day

LORD BERTILAK'S CASTLE

• A year later:
• Sir Gawain endures challenges on his way to Green Chapel
• He mets lord Bertilak who allows him to stay in his castle
• He proposes a game of exchanges things they won that day
• The lady of the castle seduces him every day for three days

CONT.

• She gives Sir Gawain her green girdle on the last day
• The lady says it has powers to protect the user
• Sir Gawain does not give the lord the girdle
• He goes on his way to fight the Green Giant

THE ENDING

• Sir Gawain meets the green giant and prepares
• The green giant hits twice
• Sees that Sir Gawain flinches and calls him out
• Explains the story of how he is lord b. and his plan
• Sir Gawain returns home feeling dishonorable