Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

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Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
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I. Introduction

• Backgroundmanuscript discovered in 1839
• AuthorUnknown The Pearl Poet
• 1.
• 2.
• 3.
• 4.

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I. Introduction

• Plot sources
• 1.
• 2.
• The Medieval Romance
• Five Qualities
• 1.
• 2.

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D. Medieval Romance (five qualities)

• 3.
• 4.
• 5.

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Major Themes

• Civilization vs. Nature
• Use of setting
• Camelot and Bertilaks Green Chapel
• Castle

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Major Themes (continued)

• Moral Theme The Power of Nature over Morality
  (Chivalry)
• 3. PsychologicalSelf Knowledge
• learned through
• failure (she knowstheres no
• success like failure / And failure is
• no success at all Bob Dylan)
• a. Journey of _____

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Major Themes (continued)

• b. Life is a journey into humilitythe
• losses
• Courtesy fails him
• Martial abilities fail him
• Faith fails him (green
• belt)

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Major Themes (continued)

• 4. Religious Themes
• a. Christianity vs Paganism
• b. What does God want?
• c. Fall from innocence

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III. Characters

1. Sir Gawain
2. The Green Knight

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III. Characters (continued)

• Lady Bertilak
• Temptation (Eve
• character in fall)
• Morgan le Fay (Old Lady)
• evil inspiration behind the beheading game (hope
  to shock Guenivere to death)

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IV. Symbolism

1. The journey
2. The Green Knight
3. The Green Chapel
4. The green belt

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IV. Symbolism (continued)

• 5. the pentangle
• charity
• Generosity fellowship
• Courtesy pity