Close Reading of Motifs in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” Final Draft PDF

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This is a close reading of the motifs within the story Sir Gawain and the Green Knight- Please do not plagiarize; for educational purposes only....

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Bailey Armistead Dr. David Muller World Literature II 20 March 2021 Close Reading of Motifs in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” is a narrative frame story constructed by Gawain Poet, in the medieval period of England; it is an anecdote of chivalry. During the age of this text, England was under the all-powerful rule of King Arthur, as it articulates in the Longman B anthology, “The king lay at Camelot'' (37), which then is revealed in the footnotes to most likely be located in Wales, United Kingdom. Many may declare that “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” served the purpose of emblazoning the utter importance of honesty and courage concealed by knights of this time period, however, there are much more rooted truths divulged between the lines. There are copious motifs implied in the text, however, an exclusive few stand out with great attention when considered carefully. Adjusting seasons; both physical and psychological challenges, the hue green, the number three, and lastly the pentangle; all of these elements hold mosaic motifs and symbolism when considered carefully. As the character Sir Gawain establishes within the story, he is oftentimes portrayed as enduring contrasting seasons and weather patterns. When investigated from a literary point of view, it is evident that the changing seasons go hand in hand with the changing psychological capacity of the character, Sir Gawain. The story begins with what seems to be balmy weather as it states through

Armistead 2 character activity in the Longman B anthology, “...voices by day, and dancing by night; all happiness at the highest…” (47.) This weather is coupled with the joyful celebration of the forthcoming birth of the Lord and the season of Christ. However, the aura quickly diminishes as Sir Gawain, King Arthur, and others within the hall are faced with the daunting arrival of the Green Knight, upon the King’s request of a story prior to feasting. As Sir Gawain is now faced with the emotional burden of having to feud the ruthless Knight the weather setting plummets to characters huddling in the “pain of the cold'' (747.) Sir Gawain’s expedition in search of the Green Chapel continues and the seasons pass from merciless winter to fruitful spring, then ultimately landing in the incandescence of summer. Good weather implies bringing Sir Gawain good fortune as he stumbles upon Lord and Lady Bertilak and their castle, which they invite him to bide in while he anticipates his reconciling with the Green Knight. As it is evident, there is a beeline parallel between the ecological weather and the psychological state of Sir Gawain. Green: ordinarily known as the color of the raw world, favorable luck, health, and enviousness. Abounding scholars have debated as to what the color green legitimately embodies in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.” Lawrence Basserman, Professor of English, at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem mentions that the color green of the knight represents, “dying and rising vegetation god” (ivy panda 2020.) When placing his claim into the context of this story it partially holds true; in medieval English green was often seen to represent rebirth, love, and lust (Wordpress 2012.) Taking into consideration that this tale has a religious undertone, taking place during Christmas and the birth of Jesus the son of God, it would be indisputable that green was to represent rebirth. However, with a further look into the plot of the story, the color green looks more so to represent lust than rebirth. “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight'' is a story of chivalry, sexual temptation, and lust placed upon the young Sir Gawain by Lady Bertilak. Green is seen throughout

Armistead 3 the narrative when in regards to lust, for example, the Green Knight- Lord Bertilak- and the green girdle gifted to Sir Gawain by the Lady. Most individuals recognize the saying that, “all good things come in threes.” All events must go well, as they tend to occur in groups of threes in the tale “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.” According to Grade Fixer, “The perfect number three's significance in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’ there is a “complex system of threes utilized” in the tale. The first way that this is displayed is through the narrative frame story setup of the tale. As anyone who has knowledge of “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”, they are aware of the three nights of temptation placed upon Sir Gawain by Lady Bertilak. These temptations also just so happen to occur in the third frame of the story. These are also paired with the Lord’s three hunts, and the gifting of three animals to Sir Gawain. Interpreted through the religious background, there is also a crucial part of Christmas that brings threes into the story through common knowledge. The King, Gawain, and the people of the town were celebrating the birth of Jesus. Christianity symbolizes the relationship between The Father God, The Son--Jesus-, and The Holy Spirit. Another undoubtedly intentional pairing of threes within the text. Still again another essential number makes its way into “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”five. The figure five goes to illustrate the pentangle placed upon Sir Gawain’s shield. This pentangle is symbolic as it represents the five momentous aspects of the story’s main idea: chivalry. It states in the Longman B anthology, “First faultless was he found in his five senses, and next in his five fingers he failed at no time, and firmly on the Five Wounds his faith was set that Christ received on the cross…”(640-643.) The pentangle on Gawain’s shield represents the five rules to keep in mind when in regards to chivalry; each point represents a way that Gawain should live. These points represent friendship, generosity, chastity, courtesy, and piety.

Armistead 4 From an anterior glimpse, “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” suggests being simply as it is, a story of a courageous knight who challenged a horrid beast. However, as certain scholars conclude, the tale is loaded to the brink with symbolism and motifs that date considerably before its young fourteenth century time. With close reading and literary analysis, it is evident that this tale perseveres stories upon stories between its exquisite print lines. Acknowledgments of lust, psychology, religion Christianity-, numerical riddles, and even color patterns take “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” to a level that any scholar could dive headfirst into, yet never quite reach the solid bottom.

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Works Cited “A Close Reading Of The Sir Gawain And The Green Knight | Bartleby.” Bartleby, www.bartleby.com/essay/A-Close-Reading-Of-The-Sir-Gawain-PKXJ8E9NLBWQ. Anonymous. “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory.” Shmoop, www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/sir-gawain-green-knight/analysis/symbolism -imagery-allegory. ---. “The Color Green Symbol in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.” LitCharts, www.litcharts.com/lit/sir-gawain-and-the-green-knight/symbols/the-color-green. Crane, Joseph. “The Winter Solstice Season and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight | The Astrology Institute.” Astrology Institute, www.astrologyinstitute.com/articleprofile/articles/2016/the-winter-solstice-season-and -sir-gawain-and-the-green-knight. Johnson, Brandon. “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - the Significance of 3 | FreebookSummary.” Study Guides and Book Summaries, 25 Apr. 2017, freebooksummary.com/sir-gawain-and-the-green-knight-the-significance-of-3-38162. “Motifs In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight - 753 Words | Bartleby.” Bartleby, www.bartleby.com/essay/Motifs-In-Sir-Gawain-And-The-Green-PSVJSAGMRQR.

Armistead 6 “Seasons in Sir Gawain and The Green Knight | English12-2017.” Freeforums, english12-2017.freeforums.net/thread/59/seasons-sir-gawain-green-knight. “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - Close Reading of Lines 130-202.” Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, csis.pace.edu/grendel/projs3f/proj2.html. “Sir Gawain and The Green Knight Close Reading Guide.” Studylib.Net, 12 Feb. 2018, studylib.net/doc/15248640/sir-gawain-and-the-green-knight-close-reading-guide. “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: Motifs.” SparkNotes, www.sparknotes.com/lit/gawain/motifs. “Use of Symbols in ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’ - 1700 Words | Research Paper Example.” Free Essays, 7 July 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/use-of-symbols-in-sir-gawain-and-the-green-knight....