Preview

Integrity In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
359 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Integrity In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight
Do you think in the romance, “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”, Gawain had integrity?Did the Green Knight show integrity? Do you show integrity ? Well, do you know what it means to have or show integrity? The Green Knight tested Gawain’s integrity, by giving him three major test. The three major test that determined Gawain’s integrity were seducing, listening, and persuading. The first major test was to see if he could easily be tricked by the Green Knight’s wife. Gawain passed this test by not letting his wife seduce him. The Green Knight’s wife sneaks into Gawain’s room trying to seduce him. However, Gawain puts her off. Unfortunately, she steals a kiss from Gawain before she leaves. Gawain was left in shock. Until, she steals a kiss

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    When autumn arrives, Sir Gawain departs on his journey to seek out the Green Knight. Around Christmastime, after spending several months in the woods, he discovers a castle. The lord of the castle welcomes him to stay through the holidays. For sport, the host and Sir Gawain strike a deal: the host and his men will go hunting for three days and each day they will bring back whatever they catch and give it to Sir Gawain in return for what Sir Gawain gains while staying in the castle. On the first day, the host and his men catch a doe and Sir Gawain receives a kiss from the lady of the host when tries to seduce him. On the second day, the host and his men catch a wild boar and Sir Gawain receives two kisses from the lady of the host. On the third day, the host and his men catch a fox and Sir Gawain receives not only three kisses, but also the lady’s green girdle. He does not mention that he received her girdle to the host –he only kisses him three times…

    • 1649 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In her collection of sources and analogues, Elisabeth Brewer states, “To read the sources and analogues of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is not only to be aware of the poet’s skill in handling traditional episodes, but also to realize how much he added,” she continues, “the bringing together of many different elements and blending them into a new story, above all, the fusing of the beheading-temptation-exchange-of-winnings themes, illustrate the Gawain poet’s astonishing capacity for structuring his material” (3). The Gawain poet intertwines common elements in an elaborate way to emphasize the importance of the values outlined by the chivalric code. Brewer states, “The Gawain poet makes the story hang together and intensifies the meaning of everything that he uses. He makes more sense of the incidents: they have an inevitability, a credibility, they create an illusion of reality” (Brewer 4). Sir Gawain beings the poem as a modest knight who strives to uphold the five points of chivalry. In his test of temptation, Gawain is able to exercise sexual restraint and uphold the laws of courtly love, but he fails to resist the instict to save his own life and jeopoardizes his integrity in lying about the green girdle. Without each other, neither the temptation episode nor the beheading game would have such a strong impact on the story’s outcome or it’s readers. The framework at the beginning and end of the of the story combined with the structure used throughout the poem deepen and emphasize what it is to be Gawain, and what it is to be human (Brewer 4). Any possible sources and analogues of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight pale in comparison to the brillance of the original. Although influenced by former medieval works, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight remains an outstanding and unique piece of…

    • 2416 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight written by the Pearl Poet, Sir Gawain is proven to be a true knight. The Pearl Poet proves Sir Gawain’s true knightmenship in many different ways. Sir Gawain succeeds in earning the title “true knight” by passing the Green Knight’s test and proving the valor of King Arthur’s knights, but he makes mistakes in the process because he is human, like everyone else.…

    • 526 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The green knight then proceeds to laugh at him so he bares his neck one final time and the green knight strikes. However the knight barely cuts his neck, simply saying a strike is a strike. Gawain however shows why he is a near perfect hero, during the game with the king, he was given a magic belt that would prevent death, failing to give the belt to the king as agreed by his wager. This is a great example of a near perfect hero because he does everything right expect for one thing.…

    • 1163 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The theme of Sir Gawain and The Green Knight is Chivalry. This was written in dialect and said to be written by a monk, but author remains unknown. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, The Green Knight was a creation by Arthur’s half-sister, Morgan le Fay, the ruler of mysterious Avalon, to embarrass the knights of his court. The Green Knight approaches the court offering beheading games and the winnings game while holding a holly-bundle and an axe in his hands. The holly-bundle symbolizes peace. Sir Gawain speaks up saying that he’s the weakest and should participate because he’d be the least loss to King Arthur’s (governor of Camelot) court. This all takes place around New Year’s Day and they call it Christmas-tide. A description of the Green Knight: All green except for his eyes. They were red. Sir Gawain was supposed to leave on November 1st, All Saints Day. This is a special day for praying to the saints. This day would have been better for Sir Gawain to leave, but he leaves on the 2nd, named All Souls Day. All Souls Day are prayers for deceased held in a place to speed to heaven. Sir Gawain is undergoing a test to prove he’s a Chivalric knight. The castle he visits represents heaven on earth and the guy Porter represents Peter. Gawain was given beautiful clothes as well as food to eat. He comes to the realization that he made a bargain and he has to deal with it. The woman he spoke to at the castle told him if he valued his life he would wear a sash, he was also told it would save his life. A servant accompanying Gawain to the games told him he wouldn’t tell if he chickened. Sir Gawain goes into the Wild West and hears a sound. It’s dark humor, the sound of the Green Knight sharpening his axe. In line 2214, he says he’s leaving, but a voice yells for him to stay. Sir Gawain looks up only to find the Green Knight standing over him and in that moment he knew he would be…

    • 598 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gawain demonstrates chivalry by honoring the king and taking his place when cutting off the Green Knight’s head. He also shows justice when he makes a deal with Bertilak of Hautdesert, that with whatever Gawain received while in the castle he would have to give to Bertilak and whatever Bertilak received in the woods, would belong to Gawain. Gawain also showed justice by keeping his promise to the Green Knight by showing up to the Green Chapel in exactly…

    • 373 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is without doubt one of the best known works of medieval English literature. Medieval England poetry was best known for its medieval romance, religious views, alliterative form and its chivalry nature. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is one of the best works of medieval poetry because it criticizes the fact that chivalric courtesy often displaces true Christian ethics. Sir Gawain a character in the poem was known for his chivalry, honor, and Christian faith. Medieval romance tales deal with the quests and challenges of Arthur and his knights. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Gawain as one of King Arthur’s knight’s gets sent on a quest to meet the Green Knight. Another characteristic…

    • 1012 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “The motto of chivalry is also the motto of wisdom; to serve all, but love only one.” (Honore de Balzac). The Chivalric code is a clutter of rules that contradict each other and challenge normal human behavior. These rules of chivalry are predominantly concerned with courage, honor and gentlemen- like- behavior, which play an important role in proving one’s faithfulness to the King. In the poem, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Gawain proves to be a hero because he continually struggles against his human flaws to act in a heroic manner. Sir Gawain is acknowledged as a chivalric human because he is a courageous man who perseveres through difficult events and faces both human temptation and terror.…

    • 1149 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Chivalry has countless values that are interpreted in numerous ways in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight depending on which court you look at. This is because the nature of chivalry allows an individual to interpret these meanings in a way that reflects their beliefs and values. When looking at King Arthur's court you find a very lavish court fixed on appearances and relying heavily on the chivalric virtue of courteous speech and action, which leaves little room for speaking the truth. Yet a chivalric virtue is upheld when Sir Gawain speaks the truth about the girdle he acquired and the green knight in turn states by confessing your failings you are free from blame (2391). There are also various symbols found in King Arthur's court like the…

    • 247 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sir Gawain is more than just a brave knight; he's a normal man, if placed in the current time period. A knight is seen as someone who is perfect at all he does, a person who doesn’t give in to sin, somebody who is godly. Sir Gawain is somebody who makes mistakes and accepts sins like an everyman. (QOUTE HERE) By the end of Gawain’s journey…

    • 758 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Sir Gawain is known as the honorable Knight for being brave enough to agree to the Green…

    • 439 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    It all starts with the game presented by the Green Knight; "You will grant me gladly the little game that I ask as my right"(Poet 56). Being a king, Arthur cannot express fear because he is the protector of the society. Therefore, the King accepts the challenge but Gawain steps forward to take the king's place; "Let this game be mine"(24). As the game progresses, one can identify that the game was a test to see how true Gawain is to his code of chivalry. The game was not fair for Gawain because the Green Knight held superpowers(167). As it stated,"He held his head by the hair, high, in his hand; and the stranger sat there as steadily in his saddle"(167-168). The Green Knight had the ability to live without his head attached to his body. Even though he knows that he will die if he pursues the Green Knight, "Sir Gawain sets off on his quest to find the Green Knight and fulfill his part of the challenge"(183). Gawain went to face the Green Knight because of his Knight's code of chivalry. In addition, for a second time, Gawain holds his truth to the code in the game inside the castle. As Poet states, "determined not to deceive his host or violate the agreement, Gawain accepts only two kisses from the lady, which he (tells) to the lord at night"(p 183). Gawain could take advantage of the situation by committing adultery. Although tempted, he holds…

    • 1169 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Generosity In Beowulf

    • 892 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In this exchange, Gawain exudes chivalry and charm. He treats both Bertilak's wife and her attendant with reverence, despite the fact that the latter is described to be a sorrowful sight to behold. A pinnacle of courtesy, Gawain is faced by a veritable moral dilemma when Bertilak's wife puts him to the test to see if he will choice between being discourteous to her or disloyal to her husband.…

    • 892 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sir Gawain is deemed as a very honest and loyal knight, the most chivalrous in the Kingdom of Camelot. When he makes a deal with the Green Knight to find him in one year to receive a strike on his head, Gawain agrees. He sets of on his journey to find the Green Knight one year later as he agreed and comes across a castle. Gawain stays at this castle for three days, making a deal with the Lord of the castle that he would exchange his winnings every day. He does as he is told, exchanging the Lady of the castles kisses and gifts as she comes to visit him in his room every night. On his final night, she offers him her green girdle and states that upon wearing it, he cannot be hurt. Sir Gawain hides it for himself and finds out from the Green Knight that it was a test of his honesty and he failed. “… but you failed a little, lost good faith - Not for a beautiful belt, or in lust, but for love of your life.” Upon arriving back to Camelot, he wears the green girdle to represent his sin and dishonesty as well do the other knights to honor their fellow friend. This shows that even monsters can be within the best of people. It may be small or even slightly large, but everyone shows their monster at some point. There is no denying it even within the most wonderful people of the…

    • 999 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the poem, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, many people believe that Sir Gawain does not abide by his principles, and he lets go of what he values most. He is so proud of his values that he depicts them on his shield, which he carries around everywhere. People do not contend about his first four sets of virtues since the book mentions,…

    • 776 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics