Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
9/15/2008 & 9/17/2008
Subject: Brit lit
Standards: STRAND 3 Literature and Culture (3.1, 3.2, 3.3)
STRAND 2 Reading, Listening, and Viewing (2.2, 2.3)
Topic: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Objective: Students will be able to examine color symbolism in a medieval romance
critically.
Also, students will be able to decide whether or not Gawain is a hero.
Materials:
1) Sir Gawain and the Green Knight text
2) Map of England
3) Pictures of King Arthur and the round table
4) Video clip on Sir Gawain from www.unitedstreaming.com
5) Knight Poster
6) Sir Gawain quiz
7) Colored pencils
Assessment: I will know that students will be able to examine color symbolism in a
medieval romance critically when they complete the Knight Poster assignment. Also, I
will know that they will be able to decide whether or not Gawain is a hero when we
debate in class.
Instruction: *Start up on Chivalry using Quote
*Background information on story notes
*Start reading story
*Assign rest of reading for next day
*Before the quiz give 10-15min. for kids to review text
*Give quiz on reading to check if they read
* Show video on Gawain)
* Debate whether or not Gawain is a hero (write down in groups)
* Discuss reading (questions below) {Also use Color Symbolism Chart}
*”What Color Knight are you?” activity
Questions to ask:
-Why Does the Green Knight issue the challenge?
-What do you think the Green Sash represents? (why)
-Explain what the Green Knight gains from this “game”
-Is Gawain a bad person for accepting the sash?
-Why might Gawain be the most Chivalrous Knight in the round table?
-Examine why the author uses Green as a symbol throughout the story.
-Is Gawain’s flaw of cherishing his own life more than his honesty honorable? (takes sash to
save life instead of just accepting his faith)
Notes:
Color Symbolism
-Green can represent nature, the environment, good luck, youth, vigor, jealousy, envy,
and misfortune.
According to Henry Dreyfus, green, midori is regarded as the color of eternal life, as seen
in evergreens which never change their color from season to season. In the word midori,
both trees and vegetation are implied. One characteristic of Japanese culture can be found
in the fusion of life and nature.
-In English folklore and literature, green was traditionally used to symbolise nature and
its associated attributes: fertility and rebirth. Stories of the medieval period also used it to
allude to love and the base desires of man.
-The green sash is a smaller symbol in the story, yet serves quite a large purpose. The
green color signifies Gawain's cowardice, and the fact that he was going to encounter the
green knight the next day. The sash, supposedly able to keep him alive, was not the
reason his life was spared, for the whole story was a test. The host's wife untied it from
around her waist and tied it around his, and he accepted it. This sexual innuendo and
symbol of courtly love ended up causing his downfall. He ended up keeping the sash as a
reminder of this "year and a day," and the test he was given. All of the other knights of
the Round Table also started wearing green sashes in order to remind them of the lesson
learned by Gawain.
- Gawain curses the girdle as representing cowardice and an excessive love of mortal life.
He wears it from then on as a badge of his sinfulness. To show their support, Arthur and
his followers wear green silk baldrics that look just like Gawain's girdle.
Chivalry Theme
-The ideals of Christian morality and knightly chivalry are brought together in Gawain's
symbolic shield. The pentangle represents the five virtues of knights: friendship,
generosity, chastity, courtesy, and piety
-Not only Gawain’s chivalry is being tested but the entire Arthurian court and chivalric
system.
-Chivalry provides a valuable set of ideals toward which to strive, but a person must
above all remain conscious of his or her own mortality and weakness. Gawain's time in
the wilderness, his flinching at the Green Knight's axe, and his acceptance of the lady's
offering of the green girdle teach him that though he may be the most chivalrous knight
in the land, he is nevertheless human and capable of error
End
The knight agrees and reveals himself as Bertilak de Hautdesert, servant of Morgan le
Faye, who is the old woman in the castle. Le Faye is also Gawain's aunt and Arthur's half
sister, as well as Merlin's mistress; she sometimes helps and sometimes makes trouble for
Arthur. Bertilak reveals that Le Faye sent him in disguise as the Green Knight to Camelot
in order to scare Queen Guinevere to death.
Activity:
*Color Knight whatever color you think represents you as a person.
*Next to the picture write an explanation of why you chose the color and what it
represents.
*Compare and contrast you as knight with Gawain. (How are you like or dislike him?)
-Do you have an honorable flaw?
-Are you brave?