ELEMENTS OF THE MEDIEVAL ROMANCE
Sir Thomas Malory’s tale (King Arthur) and the story of Gawain are romances, a form of literature
popular throughout Europe during the Middle Ages. Certain features characterize the medieval
romance:
 A romance is about the adventures of knights and the institution of chivalry. Romances are
concerned with the exploits of kings, queens, and knights – not with the common, ordinary
people.
 A romance does not take place in a realistic setting, but in idealized worlds – in imaginary
castles, gardens, and forests. (No one in a romance has to worry about the price of potatoes
or catching a cold.)
 A romance contains mysterious, magical, and supernatural events.
 A romance hero or heroine is braver, nobler, and more honorable than an ordinary human.
Often the hero or heroine has the use of magic or other extraordinary powers.
 A romance hero or heroine will often put on a lowly disguise to conceal his or her true identity.
 A romance hero or heroine is often motivated by romantic love.
 A romance pits the forces of good against the forces of evil.
 Nearly every medieval romance ends in slaughter, death, failure, or disappointment.
THE PENTANGLE KNIGHT
 The pentangle is a star-shape that has no beginning and no end,
representing an endless cycle.
 The pentangle also stands for perfection and balance
 The pentangle is called a "token of truth"
 Gawain’s shield has the pentangle on it because he is to be a
model of knightly perfection.

What the Gawain’s pentangle symbolizes:
o Faultless in his Five Senses – free of sin
 sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste
o In his Five Fingers he failed at no time
 he is dexterous and able in combat
o Faith in the Five Wounds Christ received on the cross
 one in each limb and the spear wound in the abdomen
o Five Joys the Virgin Mary had in Jesus
 These are not listed in the poem, but are offered as background: Annunciation,
Nativity, Resurrection, Ascension, and Assumption
o The Five Knightly Virtues
 generosity, brotherly love/fellowship, purity, chivalry/courtesy, compassion/piety
The poet insists on elaborating on Gawain’s model of perfection.
Could the poet be insinuating that these goals are impossible to maintain?