The Meaning of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

The Meaning of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight [It is] somewhat surprising to discover that the bulk of Arthurian criticism which has been directed to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight has largely overlooked the real source of its extraordinary appeal. Early and late scholars have sought to establish Gawain's origin among the ranks of primitive Celtic gods and to suggest, it would seem, that Gawain's success might perhaps be best accounted for because he is not to be taken for the representation of an ordinary human being, but because he is, on the contrary, either a superhuman or supernatural being. Some critics have been concerned with the Green Knight himself, finding him to be, according to [a 1949 article in Scrutiny by John Speirs], an unmistakable relation to the Green Manthe Jack in the Green or the wild man of the village festivals of England and Europe, or, in another accounting [H. Brady's, in a 1952 article in Modern Language Notes], a figure modeled on a person who actually lived in the fourteenth century. Other scholars have turned their attention to the sources and provenience of the varied subject matter of the romance. The results of this criticism have been, first, to make of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight something of a mythological poem, or else a nature rite, second, to suggest that its hero and antagonist are godlike beings; and, third, to coax the

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'It is clear...that Chaucer used the couple relationship as a kind of open field on which a number of battles might be fought

'It is clear...that Chaucer used the couple relationship as a kind of open field on which a number of battles might be fought: experience versus authority, rebellion versus submission, impetuosity versus prudence, determinism versus free will, passivity versus moral action, as well as conflicts centring on money, possessive jealousy or utopianism'. (Sheila Delany). Discuss this statement in relation to TWO OR MORE of the following texts. ('The Miller's Tale' and 'The Wife of Bath') The narrative and structure of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales reflects the couple relationship clearly. By centring on themes central to life both then and now, the coupling of issues, often diametrically opposed, makes the tales seem perpetually relevant. Overall, the unfinished sequence takes the reader on a journey which is itself a 'pilgrimage' where encounters are made and difficulties addressed upon a broad canvass which encapsulates the primary directives of the human condition. By his use of coupling, Chaucer invites the reader to compare and contrast these directives and ultimately achieve a disparate, complex yet cohesive connective. By close examination of two of Chaucer's tales, 'The Miller's Tale' and 'The Wife of Bath's Tale', it is hoped that the use of the couple relationship will be made manifest. Scholars have long argued about the sequence of the tales which is seemingly so

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  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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The fame shame warrior ethic was extremely important to ancient civilizations. It was how a man was supposed to act in order to become a hero and appreciated in the society.

Sean Schaefer The fame shame warrior ethic was extremely important to ancient civilizations. It was how a man was supposed to act in order to become a hero and appreciated in the society. One was not to run away during a war or battle. It was better to them to die fighting and not running away. To retreat would be an ultimate embarrassment. A man would much rather die fighting than to face the humiliation of defeat or weakness. To be known as a hero is the ultimate goal of a man. It is the only way for them to become immortal, and have their legacy live on forever. We see the fame shame warrior ethic in both "Beowulf" and "The Song of Roland" in similar and contrasting values. In "Beowulf" the warrior fame shame ethic is very evident with the main character Beowulf himself. Beowulf is the strongest and most fearless warrior known. Beowulf is called upon to kill a dragon named Grendel who is terrorizing a city. Beowulf expresses his warrior ethic and strength by saying in a speech he will defeat the dragon with his bare hands and not use a sword or any other weapons. "I do not consider myself to be a fighter inferior either in strength or in experience to Grendel himself; so I shall not kill him with the sword. Although I could do it in that way, that is not how I propose to rid him of his life. He knows nothing of the art of cutting and thrusting, although his

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Beowulf and Grendel

Megan Crawford August 14, 2000 Pre-IB English Ms. Pruett Grendel Beowulf and Grendel are two tales that share subject matter, plot, and setting. They tell of the exact same events, but however, Beowulf and Grendel have two entirely different themes. Beowulf is an epic poem about the honesty, bravery, and humility that defined the ideal Dane. John Gardner's Grendel, a retelling of Beowulf, is an entirely different outlook on the story. In it, Grendel becomes the hero and Beowulf the villain. The book depicts Grendel in a new light, as opposed to the horrific and senseless monster the poem portrays him to be. Gardner adds depth to Grendel's character and most of the book is about him searching for the reasons behind the existence and reasoning behind most everything he sees. Gardner's perspective of the monster makes the reader question the Anglo-Saxon concept of good verses evil that is presented in Beowulf. For instance, the Shaper states, "The incitement to violence depends upon total transvaluation of the ordinary values. By a single stroke, the most criminal acts may be converted to heroic and meritorious deeds." (Gardner 117). Meaning, that the only difference between acts of violence and heroic deeds is a matter of who commits them, and what might be appropriate for a king would be unheard of by a peasant. This view makes one consider just how heroic the "hero's"

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  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Chaucer's Depiction of the Corrupt Church in the Canterbury Tales

Southerland Kirby Southerland English 2010 Section 101 September 11, 2012 The Corrupt Church in the Canterbury Tales The Canterbury Tales is a famously satirical piece written by Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century. Though there are many theories of what Chaucer was criticizing, he mainly was questioning the motives of the church. Chaucer used important figures in the church as characters in the story who go on a journey to Canterbury although the characters do not match the typical ideals of those who would be attributed with the church. Historically, according to the feudal system, the king was to give twenty-five percent of his wealth to the church, which proves the church had plenty of money to use in ways that would not agree with the typical morals of the church. Chaucer is making social commentary by highlighting on the religious hypocrisy and the church as it relates to money. Chaucer begins with his criticism in “The Prologue” by immediately characterizing those who are affiliated with the church in order of their social status, showing that there are many aspects of the church that fall short morally. For example, the Knight, though he is a nobleman and not a religiously affiliated character, is the most virtuous; he comes at the top of the hierarchy in terms of social status. Chaucer has nothing but good things to say about the Knight,

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  • Level: University Degree
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Beowulf vs. James Bond

Cristina Hall September 26, 2002 Beowulf vs. James Bond The epic tale of Beowulf has survived for many generations and undergone numerous translations, just as the movie series "James Bond" has been around since 1962 and has captured the hearts of those who view the films. Like the character Beowulf, James Bond projects "good" as agent 007, travels to hundreds of places, and his missions almost always affect the outcome of a nation. Roving to far and distant places, James Bond and Beowulf have the element of travel in common, for they voyage long distances to accomplish their tasks. Beowulf travels a long distance to help a nation win their war, "To anyone in Denmark. All of Beowulf's; Band had jumped from their beds, Ancestral; Swords raised and ready" (Beowulf, lines 316-318). Beowulf wants to show all of Denmark the good in his heart and loyalty to the race of men. Because their fate rests in Beowulf's hands, the people of Denmark trust his decisions. Likewise, James Bond, an agent working for the British secret service, has traveled to almost every nation and on a constant basis saves the world from destruction, "When a Soviet Lektor decoding machine is stolen, both the British and the evil organization known as S.P.E.C.T.R.E. are both out to retrieve it and it's up to James Bond to get it first" (Alan, Resident James Bond Scholar; allwatchers.com). James Bond

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  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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The Morals of a Knight, An Essay on "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight".

The Morals of a Knight An Essay on "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" By: Carly Young For: D. Laird Course: Engl. 211 Due: Sept. 25, 2003 Carly Young English 211 D. Laird Due: Sept. 25, 2003 The Morals of a Knight An Essay on "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" To be covetousness is to have a great desire for wealth and possessions, either of your own or belonging to someone else. In the poem "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," "Gawain, bound to chivalry, is torn between his knightly edicts, his courtly obligations, and his mortal thoughts of self preservation" (2). Thus, a main theme of covetousness versus being a noble and honorable knight is developed as Gawain moves through northwest Britain in search of the Green Knight. The idea of "temptation is an ancient Celtic theme, and retains its purpose to test the worth of the Christian knight" (1). This conflict becomes very evident when Gawain is given three tests by Bertilak (the Green Knight). Bertilak gives these tests to Gawain in accordance with him staying: Within a moat, on a mound, bright amid boughs Of many a tree great of girth that grew by the water - A castle as comely as a knight could own, On grounds fair and green, in a goodly park. (ll. 765-769) At this castle, Morgan le Fay (the host's lady) tries to tempt Gawain with her "bosom all but bare" (ll. 1741) in order to "fool him into actions

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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Cultural clashes in Gawain and the Green Knight.

Cultural clashes in Gawain and the Green Knight An understanding of the various cultural clashes operating in Gawain is useful not only to get a better impression of the poem's world, but can even work to explain some of the behaviour of the characters. The blending of the supernatural and the real allows the narrative to function at once as a piece of Arthurian romance and as a story with a definite placing in a distinct and wholly realistic setting. This allows for contrasting depictions of a courtly tradition with its Anglo Saxon ancestor, and finally of human behaviour within these systems: specifically, courtesy clashing with humanity. The arrival of the Green Knight at Camelot marks the first and most distinctive cultural clash in the poem. He is at once of this world and not of it: he is human, like the seated court, but perhaps like no other human even the heroes present have encountered before: 'þe most on þe molde on mesure hyghe' (137). Enjoying the successes of early campaigns, Arthur's court is appropriately decked in beautiful tapestries, the food is rich and succulent and the women are handsomely arrayed: When Guenore ful gay grayþed in þe myddes, Dressed on þe dere des, dubbed al aboute: Smal sendal bisides, a selure hir ouer Of tryed tolouse, of tars tapites innoghe Þat were enbrawded and beten wyth þe best gemmes (74 - 9) They therefore

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  • Level: University Degree
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Weapons in the Anglo-Saxon Society

Weapons in the Anglo-Saxon Society In the Anglo-Saxon society, weapons and treasure show power and wealth, and in Beowulf the loss of the importance of weapons and treasure parallels the downfall of the Anglo- Saxon society. Throughout the poem, the scops tell of the giving of treasures and ancient weapons to warriors as part of the comitatus code. The comitatus code is the giving of gifts from a king to his warriors for the good deeds they do. Hrothgar promises to give Beowulf much treasure if he defeats Grendel, saying that he will make sure Beowulf's ship is filled with treasure when he leaves for the land of the Geats, and again he promises to reward Beowulf if he defeats Grendel's Mother. Hrothgar gives Beowulf many gifts after Beowulf defeats Grendel. He receives treasure and ancient weaponry from Hrothgar including Hrothgar's own helmet, which he uses against Grendel's Mother. Beowulf also displays the comitatus code. As Beowulf returns to his ship to head home he rewards to Danish soldier who watches his ship with a golden handled sword. This shows that Beowulf learns from Hrothgar the importance of giving gifts and treasures. The first evidence of the importance of treasure is in the prologue, as the scop tells the story of Shild and Beo. After the time of his passing, Shild's men place his body on a ship with all of his treasures piled around him. In

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Chaucers presentation of Troilus and Criseydes love reflects the insurmountable influences of the conventional social ideologies in a patriarchy. Although the poem has a pre-Christian setting, many argue that Chaucer draws a message of Christian mo

Discuss the treatment of one of the following themes in any of the texts you have studied on this course: a) fate and predestination; b) love; c) honour and reputation. Quod Love, 'I shal telle thee, this lesson to lerne. Myne owne trewe servaunt, the nobel philosophical poete in Englissh, whiche evermore him bisieth and travayleth right sore my name to encrese...' from Testament of Love by Thomas Usk, Book 3 Chapter 4 Chaucer's contemporaries considered him a love poet, a 'true servant' of Venus, exploring all aspects of love: the courtly love tradition, sexual love, friendship, Christian love and divine power.1 For the purposes of this essay, I intend to explore his treatment of love in Troilus and Criseyde, undoubtedly one of his greatest works. Chaucer's poem couples his overriding focus on the universal theme of love with an important moral and philosophical viewpoint, addressed mainly through his narrator. At first the story appears to be a classical setting negotiating the trials of love and war during the siege of Troy; closer reading reveals that it is representative of medieval court romance as it presents a chivalric view. The setting may be the great Trojan war of antiquity but through Chaucer's representation the characters are medieval knights and ladies. Their seemingly 'courtly' behaviour arises out of the contemporary tradition of medieval romance

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  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Linguistics, Classics and related subjects
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