SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT
ANONYMOUS (14th century) Part of the 14th centu-
ry’s ALLITERATIVE REVIVAL, Sir Gawain and the Green
Knight is perhaps the best-known and most studied
Arthurian ROMANCE. It is the last poem in the manu-
script MS Cotton Nero A.x in London’s British Library.
It is preceded by three other alliterative poems: PEARL,
CLEANNESS (Purity), and PATIENCE. All of these poems
are written in the same scribal hand, in the Northwest
Midlands dialect of Middle English, leading to the
speculation that they share a common author, known
as the GAWAIN-POET or the PEARL-POET. This manuscript
is lavishly illuminated (decorated), with four-color
drawings corresponding with each poem. Many schol-
ars agree that evidence points to a Cheshire author, but
that assumption has been challenged in recent scholar-
ship. Internal evidence further points to composition
during the reign of Richard II (1377–99).
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight totals 2,530 long allit-
erative lines divided into 101 STANZAs. There is no uni-
formity in stanza length; however, each ends with a
BOB-AND-WHEEL structure. The long alliterative line is
descended directly from Old English poetry, particularly
in carrying the stress within the fi rst half of the line.
However, Middle English alliterative poems, and Sir
Gawain in particular, tend to incorporate other ele-
ments—such as ASSONANCE, consonance (repetition of
consonant sounds), and binding repetition (linked
words)—into the rhyme scheme, too, which alleviate
alliterative tensions caused by syntactical changes within
the language. Further, although Sir Gawain relies pri-
marily on rising rhythm (initial unstressed syllables), a
number of initial stress lines show deliberate variation.
The poem opens with a reference to the mythical
founding of Britain by Brutus, a descendent of Aeneas,
thus assuring Britain’s dominance. The true story opens
at King ARTHUR’s court during the Christmas season,
where lords and ladies are dancing, singing, feasting,
and playing games. Gawain, Morgan le Fey’s son and
Arthur’s nephew, is one of the knights at the table.
Arthur oversees all the activities, though he petulantly
craves more excitement. This soon arrives in the per-
son of the Green Knight, who is huge, powerful, and
completely green. A number of lines are devoted to the
particulars of the Green Knight’s appearance, detailing
not only his unusual coloring but also his large size,
oddly coupled with a slim waist and delicate features.
He is dressed in green (with a few gold pieces) and has
green hair and green skin, although his eyes are red.
Even his horse is green. He is not wearing war gear—
he has no helmet or hauberk (chain mail tunic)—and
bears a holly branch (a Celtic peace symbol) in one
hand and an enormous axe in the other.
Speaking directly to Arthur, the Green Knight claims
to have heard of the Round Table’s fame, which he
now, looking around at “beardless children” (l. 280),
doubts. Despite this lack of confi dence, the Green
Knight requests a Christmas game: He will lend his axe
to any knight brave enough to accept his challenge and
allow him to take the fi rst blow. The Green Knight will
not fl inch from the swing and will quitclaim (release
unconditionally) his claim on the axe, provided the
chosen knight agrees to seek him out at the Green
Chapel in a year and a day (the standard duration of a
medieval contract) in order to receive a blow in
exchange. The stunned court sits in silence, until, pro-
voked by the Green Knight’s taunts, Arthur feels com-
pelled to accept the challenge himself. Gawain,
however, cannot sit idly by and allow his king and
uncle to accept such an undertaking. Claiming to be
the most unworthy member of the court, and courte-
ously requesting Queen Guinevere’s permission,
Gawain rises and accepts the challenge. The Green
Knight reviews the terms with him and gives directions
to his abode. Grasping the axe, Gawain deals a mighty
blow to the unfl inching Green Knight’s neck, striking
off his head. To the surprise of everyone, the Green
Knight picks up his head, reminds Gawain not to be a
coward, gets on his horse, and rides away. Gawain,
though amazed, returns to the party.
The next several months, which pass in two stanzas,
witness Gawain enjoying courtly life, not preparing for
his journey spiritually or mentally or even determining
the location of the castle. On Michaelmas (September
29), Gawain suddenly realizes that he will soon have to
undertake his quest or risk damaging his reputation.
However, he remains in the court, still without prepara-
tions, until All Saint’s Day (November 1), before request-
ing leave of Arthur. The king and court mournfully
agree that he must leave, and the following morning,SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT 409