Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Character

A quest for perfection

Sir Gawain and the Green KnightKeep a list of character traits for

Gawain:

1. Appearance2. Speech3. Thoughts4. Actions5. Opinion of others6. Habits or mannerisms

Sir Gawain and the Green KnightThe Pearl Poet

◦The identity of the Pearl Poet remains a mystery. “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the last of the Pearl Poet’s poems is acknowledged by virtually all critics to be the masterpiece of the manuscript.” Critical Survey of Short Fiction, Vol. 6, pg.

2075

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

tells of the artist-hero’s successful war within himself against such sensuality and epitomizes his spiritual salvation after having confronted nature and experience without evasion or submission.”◦Contemporary Literary Criticism, Vol.

32, pg 467

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight“Gawain believes that his

chastity and his courtesy are being tested, when what is actually being tested is his ultimate commitment to both the Christian and heroic codes.”◦Critical Survey of Short Fiction, Vol.

6, pg. 2076

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight“Nor, again would he be worthy

of honour if he were bad; for honour is the prize of virtue, and it is to the good that it is rendered.”◦ “Niconian Ethics”, Great Books of

the Western World, Aristotle, pg. 370