Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Symmetry

Guiding Questions: How does examining the symmetry of form and content in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight illuminate its meaning for the modern reader? What

do Gawain’s adventures reveal about knightly virtues?

IMPORTANT NOTE : For this module, you must be using the translation by Burton Raffel in our class library (or one of the verse translations online). Verse translations look more like poems and have line numbers in the margins. You cannot use the prose translation (paragraphs instead of poetry; no line numbers) by Jessie L. Weston in our library or any other prose translation. Overview King Arthur, Camelot, Gawain, a bold challenge, a perilous journey, a beheading, an enchantment, and a shape­shifter are the ingredients of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight . For the modern reader, Sir Gawain's tale is riveting even without understanding its symmetry or cultural and historical context. Viewed through the lens of the medieval thinker, reading this Arthurian tale becomes a rich, multi­layered experience.

Gawain and the Green Knight , written in Middle English in the late 1300s, combines two stories familiar to contemporary audiences under the overarching story of Arthur's round table and his feud with his half­sister Morgan le Fay. The first is a beheading tale, which becomes the impetus behind Gawain's quest and

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frames the second tale, Bertilak's test of Gawain's honor. As Gawain completes his adventures and returns home, the audience is led to consider the true measure of a hero.

These activities explore symmetry in the structure and themes of Gawain , delving into the antagonist's representation of the "duality of nature." In examining knightly virtues, you will measure Gawain's strength as the poem's hero. The activities explain background information that every medieval thinker listening to a performance of the poem would know, in an effort to put the you into the mind­set of the medieval audience, providing a deeper appreciation and understanding of the work.

Learning Objectives Identify the bob­and­wheel poetic form Understand the symmetry within the poem Explore color symbolism in the Green Knight Connect the cyclical shape of the pentangle with other cyclical aspects of the poem Understand the symbolism of Medieval Animals Compare Bertilak’s hunts to Gawain’s temptations Explore the poem’s approach to the concept of knightly virtue

SECTION 1 (5 pts) The Poetic Form

Gawain, written in Middle English in the late 1300s, is considered part of the alliterative revival in British literature. Although, because so few manuscripts survive from the time, it is equally likely that the alliterative tradition continued unbroken, complicating the notion of a “revival.” Alliteration is the repetition of the first consonant sound in a series of words ("Pat picks a piece of pie"), a practice in Medieval verse that gained renewed popularity in poems such as Gawain. In alliterative verse, each line of a poem usually contains three or four stressed syllables that repeat the same consonant sound. Here's an example from Gawain in modern English:

The battlements broken down and burnt to brands and ashes.” (Fitt 1, Line 2)

More specifically, lines in alliterative verse are usually divided into two halves. The first half of each line usually contains one or two stressed syllables that repeat the same sound. These two sounds match the first sound in the second half of the line plus that of another stressed syllable. In the example above:

The first half of the line is: “The battlements broken down and.” The second half of the line is: “burnt to brands and ashes.”

The “ b ” is alliterated. In the first half of the line it appears twice in two stressed syllables (battlements, broken). In the second half of the line, it appears in the initial, stressed syllable (burnt) and in another stressed syllable (brands). Besides alliteration, Gawain and the Green Knight uses a poetic form called the “bob and wheel.” The main

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stanza concludes with five lines that rhyme ABABA . The first line, called the "bob," is usually only two syllables; the "bob" serves as the bridge between the long series of alliterative lines and the concluding four rhyming lines, which are the "wheel." The bob maintains both the alliteration of the previous lines while it also begins the rhyme scheme of the concluding "bob and wheel." Review the sample passage from Gawain below, which is annotated to highlight the "bob and wheel" structure.

The bob­and­wheel is a structural device common in the Pearl Poet's poetry. The example below comes from the first stanza of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The bob appears in red , and the wheel appears in blue . Alliterative components are in bold print, and rhyming components are in italic print.

S ithen the s ege and the a ss ut was s e s ed at Troye, The b o r gh br ittened and br ent to br ondes and askes, The t ulk that the t rammes of t resoun ther wroght Was tr ied for his tr icherie, the tr ewest on erthe­­ H it was E nnias the a thel and h ighe kynde, That sithen de pr eced pr ovinces and p at r ounes bicome We lneghe of al the we le in the we st iles. Fro r iche R omulus to R ome r icchis hym swythe, With gret b o bb aunce that b urghe he b iges upon fyrst, And n evenes hit his au n e n ome, as hit n ow hat. T icius to T uskan and t eldes bigynnes, L angaberde in L umbardie l yftes up homes, And f er over the Fr ench f lod F elix Brutus On mony b onkkes ful b rode B retayn he settes with wynne , W here w erre and w rake and w onder Bi s ythe s ha s wont therinne , And oft b othe b lysse and b lunder Ful s kete has s kyfted s ynne .

The final five rhymes­­ wynne , wonder , therinne , blunder , synne ­­have an ABABA rhyme pattern. The phrase with wynne is the bob ; it bridges the alliterative section and moves the poem into the final rhyming section in each stanza. The bob­and­wheel structure is not common in the poetry of Chaucer, though even he uses it for parody in Sir Thopas .

Directions : Practice your knowledge by annotating the passage from Gawain in the Bob and Wheel handout. Mark examples of alliteration, the bob, and the wheel, including the rhyme scheme.

SECTION 2 (5 pts)

Characterization Directions : Examine the descriptions of characters and situations in the first 29 stanzas of the poem and answer the following questions (remember that a stanza is a group of lines forming the basic recurring metrical unit in a work of poetry).

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1. What physical descriptions are provided for the characters and their surroundings? 2. How do the characters behave? 3. How is King Arthur described? 4. How is Gawain described? 5. Does the poet appear to endorse Arthur’s behavior and the behavior of his court?

SECTION 3 (10 pts)

Why Is The Green Knight Green? The beheading game the Green Knight proposes has a longstanding place in the oral tradition of the day. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight uses this tale in conjunction with another known tale that appears in later sections—that of sexual pursuit. For now, answer the following questions:

6. What game does the Green Knight propose? 7. How does he goad the knights into considering playing? How does Arthur react? 8. Why is Gawain chosen to administer the blow? 9. What other actions or options might the knights have considered? 10. What are the final results of the game?

Reread Part One, Stanzas 7 through 10 (lines 130 through 231) and consider how the Green Knight is described. The symbolism of the Green Knight's clothing is an example of balance in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight . In the Middle Ages, people would understand the color symbolism and its ties to the duality of nature. The duality of the Green Knight is also evident in the items he holds in each hand.

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11. How many lines in stanzas 7 through 10 (lines 130 through 231), are devoted to describing the Green Knight's physical size, physical appearance, hair, clothing, saddle, horse, horse's mane, clothing he is NOT wearing, and what he's holding in his hands?

12. Why do you think the poet chose to have the Green Knight hold the two different items in his hands in stanza 10? What does each one represent?

13. Why do you think the poet spends so much time describing the Green Knight? 14. Why is so little time devoted to describing King Arthur and his Knights? 15. Consider in stanzas 7 through 10 (lines 130 through 231) the description of various destructive

and regenerative forces in nature and society. Does the Green Knight present some semblance of symmetry?

SECTION 4 (10 pts)

The Pentangle as the Endless Cycle The pentangle is a star­shape that, like a Celtic Knot, can be drawn without lifting your pen from the paper. When completed it has no beginning and no end, representing an endless cycle.

The poem describes the perfection of the pentangle and how it is a perfect emblem for Gawain's shield:

Right well and worthily it went with the knight And why the pentangle is proper to that prince so noble I intend now to tell you, though it may tarry my story… for it is a figure that in it five points holdeth, and each line overlaps and is linked with another and every way it is endless; and the English, I hear, everywhere name it the Endless Knot." (Stanza 27)

The formal structure of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight represents an endless cycle. The poem is composed of 101 stanzas. The poem begins in the first stanza with the Fall of Troy and ends in poem's "extra" stanza (Stanza 101) with the Fall of Troy, establishing an endless cycle—a closed shape like the pentangle. The poem also begins in Stanza 1 at a Yuletide celebration. The passing of the next three seasons occurs rather quickly at the opening of Fitt 2. The poem then returns to the Yuletide season, which is where it ends in the last stanza, representing the passage of a full year, plus a day, again creating a closed shape, a complete and endless cycle.

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As he gets ready to fulfill his promise to find the Green Knight, the poems pays a great deal of attention to Gawain's preparations and attire. The pentangle is an important shape in the poem, representing both the "endless knot" as well as "five fives"—five points of five where Gawain excels—another example of symmetry within the work. Read the description of Gawain and his shield in lines 619­669 and complete The Shield Worksheet. A space is provided for you to list the " five fives" for each point, which represents Gawain's aspirations for balance and symmetry as a true knight. Gawain aspires to all the secular virtues and the virtues of knighthood. Consider everyone's behavior to this point in light of the knightly virtues as described through the description of Gawain's shield. How have they behaved, or not behaved, in light of these mandates? Keep these issues in mind as you continue with the poem.

SECTION 5 (6 pts) Medieval Symbolism of Animals

As you read Part Three, explore the Aberdeen Bestiary, a collection of short descriptions about all sorts of animals, real and imaginary. The editors of the Bestiary describe the work as follows:

A Bestiary is a collection of short descriptions about all sorts of animals, real and imaginary, birds and even rocks, accompanied by a moralising explanation. Although it deals with the natural world it was never meant to be a scientific text and should not be read as such. Some observations may be quite accurate but they are given the same weight as totally fabulous accounts. The Bestiary appeared in its present form in England in the twelfth century, as a compilation of many earlier sources, principally the Physiologus. A great deal of its charm comes from the humour and imagination of the illustrations, painted partly for pleasure but justified as a didactic tool “to improve the minds of ordinary people, in such a way that the soul will at least perceive physically things which it has difficulty grasping mentally: that what they have difficulty comprehending with their ears, they will perceive with their eyes” (Aberdeen MS 24, f25v).

The online version of the Aberdeen Bestiary shows illustrations of the animals and offers translations of the accompanying text. Knowing what to expect from each animal will help you see the parallel between the actions of the hunted animals (deer, boar, fox) and Gawain's actions when the Lady pursues him. The symbolism of animals is important to understanding the third section of the poem, in which Bertilak proposes a game to Gawain. The two men exchange the winnings each man yields: Bertilak in his hunt for "game" outdoors and Gawain in his pursuit of rest indoors. The poet juxtaposes the scenes of the hunt outdoors with scenes of Gawain's temptations by the beautiful lady, Bertilak's wife. Gawain's adherence to courtesy and the rules of courtly love, his devotion to the Madonna, and his oath of knighthood are all tested. The behavior of the animals and the people in the literal and metaphorical "hunts" are presented symmetrically. Do a close reading of Section 45 for the rules of the exchange of the winnings and all of Part 3 (Sections 46­79) for the complete account of the three hunts, the three temptations, and the three exchanges of winnings. Complete the Hunt Comparison worksheet while reading this section.

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Of deer The word cervi (deer) comes from ceraton, 'horns', for horns are called cerata in Greek. Deer are the enemies of snakes; when they feel weighed down with weakness, they draw snakes from their holes with the breath of their noses and, overcoming the fatal nature of their venom, eat them and are restored. They have shown the value of the herb dittany, for after feeding on it, they shake out the arrows which have lodged in them. Deer are the enemies of snakes; when they feel weighed down with weakness, they draw snakes from their holes with the breath of their noses and, overcoming the fatal nature of their venom, eat them and are restored. They have revealed the secret of the herb dittany, for after

feeding on it, they shake out the arrows which have lodged in them. Deer marvel at the sound of the pipes; their hearing is keen when their ears are pricked but they hear nothing when their ears are lowered. Deer have this characteristic also, that they change their feeding­ground for love of another country, and in doing so, they support each other. When they cross great rivers or large long stretches of water, they place their head on the hindquarters of the deer in front and, following one on the other, do not feel impeded by their weight. When they find such places, they cross them quickly, to avoid sinking in the mire. They have another characteristic, that after eating a snake they run to a spring and, drinking from it, shed their long coats and all signs of old age. The members of the holy Church seem to have a mentality corresponding to that of deer, because while they change their homeland, that is, the world, for love of the heavenly homeland, they carry each other, that is, the more perfect bring on and sustain the less perfect by their example and their good works. And if they find a place of sin, they leap over it at once, and after the incarnation of the Devil, that is, after committing a sin, they run, by their confession, to Christ, the true spring; drinking in his commandments, they are renewed, shedding their sin like old age. Stags, when it is time to rut, rage with the madness of lust. Does, although they may been inseminated earlier, do not conceive before the star Arcturus appears. They do not rear their young just anywhere but hide them with tender care, concealed deep in bushes or grass, and they make them stay out of sight with a tap of the hoof. When the young grow strong enough to take flight, the deer train them to run and to leap great distances. When deer hear the dogs barking, they move upwind taking their scent with them. They are scared rigid by everything, which makes them an easier mark for archers. Of their horns, the right­hand one is better for medical purposes. If you want to frighten off snakes, you should burn either. If deer have few or no teeth, it shows that they are old. In order to tell their age, Alexander the Great ringed a number of deer; when they were recaptured a century later they showed no sign of old age. The offspring of the deer are called hinnuli, fawns, from innuere, 'to nod', because at a nod from their mother, they vanish from sight.

The boar gets its name, aper , from its wildness, a feritate , the letter f being replaced by a p; for the same reason, it is called by the Greeks suagros , meaning wild. For everything which is untamed and savage we call, loosely, agreste , wild.

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Of the fox The word vulpis, fox, is, so to say, volupis. For it is fleet­footed and never runs in a straight line but twists and turns. It is a clever, crafty animal. When it is hungry and can find nothing to eat, it rolls itself in red earth so that it seems to be stained with blood, lies on the ground and holds it breath, so that it seems scarcely alive. When birds see that it is not breathing, that it is flecked with blood and that its tongue is sticking out of its mouth, they think that it is dead and descend to perch on it. Thus it seizes them and devours them. The Devil is of a similar nature. For to all who live by the flesh he represents himself as dead until he has them in his gullet and punishes them. But to spiritual men, living in the faith, he is truly dead and reduced to nothing. Those who wish to do the Devil's work will die, as the apostle says: 'For if ye live after the flesh, ye

shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.' (Romans, 8:13) And David says: 'They shall go into the lower parts of the earth: they shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.' (Psalms, 63:9­10)

SECTION 6 (4 pts) A Hero’s Journey?

The fourth part of Gawain's tale follows the knight as he fulfills his promise to appear at the Green Chapel within a "twelvemonth and a day." Leaving Bertilak's home, Gawain travels to the Chapel, where he once again encounters the Green Knight.

Use the worksheet The Beheading Game as you examine the game in light of Gawain's earlier test. Then answer the following questions regarding the reactions of the various participants to the outcome of Gawain’s quest.

16. How does Gawain himself evaluate his performance? 17. How does this compare to the reactions of Bertilak and of Arthur and his court?

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18. In your consideration of these questions, recall Gawain's shield and the five points of chivalry. Which of these does Gawain adhere to and which of these does Gawain fail?

19. What does the girdle symbolize for Gawain both before and after he completes his test?

SECTION 7 (10 pts) Comprehensive Essay

Write a two­page, double­spaced essay examining Gawain as a hero. Did he succeed or fail? What does the test reveal about Gawain, Arthur, and Arthur's court?

Your essay must be typed in 12pt Times New Roman font. Cite at least two passages from the text (in MLA format) that provide evidence

for your claim. Provide one additional example outside the text that also strengthens your

claim. Include a “works cited” page. Your essay must receive at least three peer edits before it is turned in or it is not

acceptable.

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