An Epic Hero in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a Poem...

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a poem by the Pearl Poet, sends an epic hero on a journey to discover his flaw. In his journey of figuring out his flaw, Sir Gawain encounters a Green Knight that holds a holly and axe in his hands. On a Christmas dinner, the Green knight rides into King Arthur’s hall proposing a game. Any knight willing to cut off the his head is able to keep the axe, but only if he agrees to let the Green Knight return the blow at a later time. The Green knight was described as one who was plantlike and had a giant body structure, leading to the assumption that he was a certain type of vegetation god. The knight also held a holly in one hand and an axe in another, possibly representing the necessity of plants to die in the cooler climates in order for them to grow again when it summer returns. The Green Knight, playing an important role for plant life and crops, is still a mysterious character. His odd characteristics with his supernatural powers make it evi dent that the Green Knight has some connection with crops and vegetation. The Green Knight’s physical features are clearly described in the story. He was described to have green skin and a huge build: â€Å"greater than any on earth; from neck to loin so strong and thickly made, and with limbs so long and so great that he seemed even as a giant†¦ For he was clad all in green† This indicates that the knight’s sturdy build and green color is like that of a healthy plant. The knight’s long limbsShow MoreRelatedFate And Fate In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight741 Words   |  3 Pagespositive or negative effect. In the epic poem Beowulf, the hero battles many enemies and at the same time discovering his destinies. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain must be able to meet his fate as he faces the Green Knight. In the tragedy Macbeth, Macbeth finds ways to try and alter his fate. Fate is portrayed in the epic poem Beowulf as he discovers his heroic destiny, in the epic poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight as Gawain is determined seek the Green Knight, and in the Shakespearian tragedyRead MoreComparing Beowulf And Sir Gawain And The Green Knight1338 Words   |  6 Pagesreally love it called â€Å"Beowulf† and â€Å"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.† Both of this story illustrated between these women s always try to overcome with all the mission in life and show their responsibility to achieve successfully in life. Thus, the poet shows that the women s role in British literature is a very good central point, they always face with all these conflicts about the protagonist male throughout the poem. Besides that, Beowulf and Sir Gawain always challenge with all the women inRead MoreThe Noble Chivalric Code And The Middle Class1489 Words   |  6 Pagessix very different pieces written by six very different authors, who represented very different ideas of class division based on the timeframe in which they lived. Fro m chivalry as a knight to ideals of the middle class, this theme is presented thoughout. Chivalry was an ambition, an alluring ideal to which young knights might aspire. â€Å"While Chivalry definitely existed, there was no exact â€Å"Code of Chivalry.† Like a lovely dream, it had many interpretations. Because of this, the definition of chivalryRead More17th Century Literature Throughout Europe1973 Words   |  8 Pages14th Century Literature in Europe The 14th century consisted of many different events, which then lead to a rise in literary movements and influential writers. The writers and poets of medieval Europe created their own tropes and themes throughout the entire history of the century. 14th century literature is greatly impacted by many factors: historical, religious, aesthetic. The 14th century also contained a mass of literary movements, often times coexisting with the aforementioned factors. HistoricalRead MoreLiterary Group in British Poetry5631 Words   |  23 PagesThe history of English poetry stretches from the middle of the 7th century to the present day. Over this period, English poets have written some of the most enduring poems in Western culture, and the language and its poetry have spread around the globe. Consequently, the term English poetry is unavoidably ambiguous. It can mean poetry written in England, or poetry written in the English language. The earliest surviving poetry was likely transmitted orally and then written down in versions that do