Author – Anonymous
(or the “Pearl Poet”)
ca. 1380
Medieval (Middle Ages)
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
“Pearl Poet” or the “Gawain Poet”

Authorship for SGGK is typically considered
anonymous, or it is attributed to a mysterious, unknown
poet since named “The Pearl Poet.”
This poet wrote an alliterative poem titled The Pearl, and
a similar dialect and style is present in several other
works, including SGGK.
He was certainly English and spoke and wrote in
Middle English.
This poet is sometimes referred to as the “Gawain Poet.”
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Time Period

Medieval (Middle Ages) ca. 476 A.D. – 1453 A.D. This is
the time between antiquity (Classical Greece, the Roman
Empire, etc.) and the Renaissance.
More specifically, 476 A.D. marks the fall of the Western
Roman Empire and 1453 A.D. marks the fall of the
Eastern Roman Empire and a rebirth of the cultural
movements of antiquity.
The Middle Ages stretches the period “between,” and
encompasses a great deal of literature of both secular
and religious works, including “adventure narratives.”
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Adventure Narratives of the Middle Ages

Adventure narratives in this time period were
dominated by stories from three areas or “matters”:
The Matter of Rome: stories of ancient Roman heroes
involved in exciting adventure, physical or involving
love – “Romance”
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Adventure Narratives of the Middle Ages

The Matter of France: stories involving the French hero
Roland (Orlando in Italian).
The Matter of Britain: stories involving chivalry,
especially that of King Arthur and the Knights of the
Round Table (Camelot) or Arthurian Legend.
The Arthurian Legend – The Past and Present
Arthurian Legend

Somehow the Arthurian legends actually developed
in the ancient world, probably with the Celts who
would eventually make up Britain.
 Basic elements of the Arthurian legend were first
introduced into the literary world by Geoffrey of
Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain (ca. 1139)
 Poetic translation of Roman de Brut by Layamon
introduced the legends of Excalibur (famous sword)
 French author Chretien de Troyes introduced Lancelot
 The English Knight Sir Thomas Malory codified the
Arthur legends in Morte D’Arthur (1485)
The Arthurian Legend – The Past and Present
Arthurian Legend Today

*Arthurian legends even last to today with pop culture
taking on the Matter of Britain (e.g., Disney’s The Sword
in the Stone, Broadway’s Camelot, First Knight, and in
satire, Monty Python’s Holy Grail)
Arthurian Legend and Chivalry
Chivalric Ideal: The Knights of the Round Table were
the most famous for this behavior in the Middle Ages.

 The classic definition of chivalry:
men were brave, had honor, and
showed gallantry towards women;
Christian values in warfare (rules of
engagement because “the enemy is
my brother”); usually a good lover;
courtesy to all people is key—being
a gentleman in all situations is
important; willing to sacrifice
yourself for your lord and ladies (for the weak).
Arthurian Legend
Courtly Love

Courtly Love: the love a knight
has for a woman who is generally
not his wife. It is a love from “afar”
and it is usually very superficial
(it is often explained, for example,
with a knight who is struck by
cupid’s arrow as he sees a beautiful
maiden walking out of a castle.
Arthurian Legend
Courtly Love

Courtly Love is also generally unattainable (at most,
the knight may get a kiss, but that is all). Often the
maiden is married to the King (e.g., Arthur &
Guinevere and then Lancelot comes into the picture).
Courtly Love creates a situation where the knight
seeks to impress the lady from afar by doing brave
deeds and being the perfect gentleman (showing great
chivalry).
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Elements of the Legends and This Story

 Medieval romances (adventures) were frequently episodic
as is the case with the Arthurian legends.
 The best of these stories are carefully constructed (not at
random) and the details tend to “count.”
 SGGK is an example of this because it combines two
distinct sort of adventures (the beheading contest and the
events at Bercilak’s castle) .
 Gawain’s trouthe (his real character) is repeatedly tested in
this as well as his loyalty: to Arthur and to the chivalric
code.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Elements of the Legends and This Story

 Christian themes are major themes in the story, because
not only is the poet a Christian, but the knights are as well.
 It’s important to understand that the poet may not always
be agreeing with the chivalric code.
 Strangely, however, there are pagan Celtic themes as well,
especially in dealing with nature and “magical” elements.
 What is particularly important is the nature of Gawain’s
“trouthe” or his “true character,” symbolized by the star
on his shield or “Pentangle.”
The Pentangle in SGGK
What the Pentangle symbolizes:





1. Five Senses Faultless
2. Five Fingers That Never Failed
3. Five Wounds of Christ
4. Five Joys of Mary:
A. Annunciation
B. Nativity
C. Resurrection
D. Ascension
E. Assumption
 5. Gawain’s Virtues (boundless beneficence (being kind and
charitable), brotherly love, pure mind, manners, & compassion)