Sir Gawain
Green Knight
and the
T
he story of Sir Gawain tells
of a mysterious “Green
Knight” who comes to
Camelot and challenges any knight there
to strike him with his axe—if that
knight would take a return blow in a
year and a day. Gawain accepts and
beheads the Green Knight with a
mighty single blow. To the surprise of
all, the Green Knight then rises, picks
up his head and leaves—but not before
reminding Gawain of their next agreed
meeting. As he struggles to keep his
bargain, Gawain undergoes tests of
chivalry and loyalty.
T
his picture from the original 14th
century manuscript shows Gawain (top
left in red shirt ) asking Arthur for the
honor to accept the Green Knight’s challenge.
Gawain then stands stunned (below) as the
Green Knight picks up his severed head.
A
rthurian legends portray Gawain as a
formidable and courteous knight, but he also
acts rashly while standing fiercely loyal to
his king. He befriends young knights and defends
the poor and helpless, especially women.
I
n English folklore, green traditionally
symbolizes Nature, especially fertility and
rebirth. It also represents the supernatural
or spiritual world. On the other hand, green
also has signified witchcraft, the devil and
evil.
T
he pentangle on Sir Gawain’s shield is a power
symbol in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
The Gawain poet uses more than 46 lines to
describe the meaning of the pentangle, or pentagram.
The pentangle, a symbol of faithfulness, signifies
Gawain’s perfection and power over evil. (Other cultures
assign different meanings—Satanists have a field day—
but that’s for some other time.)
Medieval number theory noted that every pentangle contains a pentagon that can hold
another pentangle, and that smaller pentangle holds a smaller pentagon that allows the
drawing of another pentangle, and so on. Thus, by reproducing the number five,
which in medieval number symbolism signified incorruptibility, Gawain's pentangle
represents his eternal incorruptibility.
S
ir Gawain and the Green Knight follows the paradigm of the Hero’s
Journey. You may remember the seven steps from freshman year:
All Heroes’ Journeys start with—(1) The Call to Adventure—which the Hero
accepts whether willingly or not. The Hero often receives—(II) Supernatural
Aid—that may come in the form of help from a god or powerful object. The
Hero the leaves his home and crosses—(III) the First Threshold—into the realm
of the adventure. At some point the Hero will experience—(IV) the Belly of the
Whale—which will be the darkest trial. During the quest, Heroes will face—(V)
the Road of Trials—which will test their mettle and teach them valuable lessons
in preparation for—(VI) the Final Battle. Many Heroes do not survive this final
test, but if they do, they become —(VII) the Master of Two Worlds. These
Heroes return to their homes with knowledge of the wider world not held by
those they left at the beginning of the adventure. What these Heroes do with this
hard-won knowledge reflects their character and ultimate worthiness.