Sir Gawain and the Green Poet Flashcards
physical ideals of knights?
strength, skills at arms, horsemanship
non-physical ideals of knights?
courage, humility, courtesy, loyalty
what is courtly love and how did it develop as an idea?
Developed partly out of the cult of Mary; elevated women; object of love was to be worshipped from afar as an ideal; only noble people were worthy of love
what is its poetic structure?
alliteration, usually on stresses
what genre does it belong to?
Arthurian romance
What are the sections divided into?
four fitts
what is a bob and wheel?
structure of poetry used in Sir Gawain; short, usually two-syllable line, followed by longer lines with internal rhyme
the wheel (three stressed in line but with end rhymes, closing quatrain AB AB)
Sir Gawain
a knight; Arthur’s nephew; never portrayed as Christian; alienated from other knights; courteous and chivalric; flaw is that he lacks loyalty; accepts the challenge of the Green Knight, whom he must behead, then seek out next year
when was it written
late 14th century
what type of poem is it?
alliterative
how is it conventional?
- Set in the past, king authors court
- Royal and aristocratic characters
- Individual knight takes part in quest/adventure
- Clear engagement with the supernatural
What is the history of it?
Only one manuscript survived - restricted circulation, few copies, or copies were damaged, l destroyed or deteriorated over time
as an alliterative poem, what does this mean for literature at the time?
Iliterate verse, closely related to old English and Anglo Saxon poetry, Northern England and West Midlands, rethinking of these forms for a modern audience.
Alliterative revival - around 1350 - shifted English poetry away from the dominance of rhyme toward a focus on alliteration as a primary structural element. This change allowed poets to explore themes rooted in Anglo-Saxon traditions while creating a distinct rhythmic quality. Writers rekindled the ancient tradition of using repeated consonant sounds, reviving the rich and rhythmic structure.
form of the poem?
Shaping and sound of each line, not organised by syllable count out stressed unstressed syllables, no organised by end rhymes, no rhyming couplets etc.
Based on regular number of stresses in each line, linked by iterating sounds.
Each line split into two - A verse and B verse - primary part of narrative in A, commentary or reflection in B Operates in one long line mostly
Four stresses in each line, Iteration tends to come on the opening letter of significant words (nouns and adjectives, some verbs)
Unstressed syllables varies BUT stressed syllables usually consistent
Fitt 1
Takes place entirely at Camelot, in a single evening
Plot moved on by place of location
Literate representation of round table, community and feasting
A lot of the text is about Governance and control
Ideas of exile is worst possible punishment
Fitt 2
Camelot - wilderness - Hautdesert
Move from warmth and hospitality of Athurt’s court to hardship of long journey in harsh landscape with no clear direction or end destination, finds castle
Harshness of natural world and welcoming of castle
Defense to imprisonment
A lot of chimneys = a lot of private rooms = intimate conversations can take place
Fitt 3
The hunt, the bedchamber, exchange of winnings
Host is pulling him away into different settings and conversations, who can see and hear those behaviours, host is controlling him
Fitt 4
Hautdesert, Green Chapel, Camelot
Wants to return back to Camelot
Poem ends physically and geographically of where it engines
Chapel is disorienting and disappointing
Deep sense of shame of being found out for his dishonesty, can’t continue to accept hospitality, must face what he’s done and take accountability in Camelot.
What are the five virtues of Sir Gawain?
Fraunchise (generosity)
Felawschype (friendship, companionship)
Courtaysye (social grace)
Pyty (compassion, pity)
Cleanness (Chastity)
What does chastity mean?
Chastity does not mean abstaining from sex but sexual acts to remain in the conventions of the time ie. within marriage, at certain points and times, restricted by the church in the week and year.
