What Is The Parody In Monty Python And The Holy Grail
British Literature Midterm Exam The scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail with Sir Galahad and the nurses seems to be a parody of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight—specifically a parody on the portrayal of the seductive tendencies of women in medieval romance. Sir Galahad experiences the seduction and untrustworthiness of women in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. In the provided clip, women that claim to be doctors and insist on caring for him ambush Sir Galahad with intentions of providing sexual favors. I am not familiar with the context of this clip, but I am presuming he is injured. He immediately questions their credentials as doctors. One woman with little confidence replies, “Um…They have a basic medical training, yes.” The women “doctors” are then instructed to “practice their art” on Sir Galahad. The women proceed to undo his belt and insist that they “must examine [him]”. This is a parody of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight because it pokes fun and exaggerates the scene in which Lady Bertilak seduces
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May it be mine” (339-342). Gawain is given a “head start” by getting the first opportunity to use the heavy axe and swing at the Green Knight exposed skin without any fight back. “The sharp blade sheared through, shattering the bones, /sank deep in the sleek flesh, split it in two, / And the scintillating steel struck the ground” (423-425). This resulted in the decapitation of the Green Knight; his head “fell from the neck, struck the floor,/ And the people spurned as it rolled around./ Blood spurted from the body…” (427-429). The Green Knight is now headless, but not dead. He held his own head, mounted his horse, and reminded Sir Gawain of his promise the following year. Similar to the parody with the Black Knight, both knights are fatally injured by the sword yet are alive and
May it be mine” (339-342). Gawain is given a “head start” by getting the first opportunity to use the heavy axe and swing at the Green Knight exposed skin without any fight back. “The sharp blade sheared through, shattering the bones, /sank deep in the sleek flesh, split it in two, / And the scintillating steel struck the ground” (423-425). This resulted in the decapitation of the Green Knight; his head “fell from the neck, struck the floor,/ And the people spurned as it rolled around./ Blood spurted from the body…” (427-429). The Green Knight is now headless, but not dead. He held his own head, mounted his horse, and reminded Sir Gawain of his promise the following year. Similar to the parody with the Black Knight, both knights are fatally injured by the sword yet are alive and