Topic Introduction
The topic chosen for the analysis is the reflection of Christianity in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,” a Middle English chivalric romance written in the 14th century by an unknown author. First, the essay will briefly provide its background to demonstrate that the story is deeply affected by a Christian worldview. Subsequently, the interconnection between the romance’s plot and religious principles will be described in detail.
Moreover, as “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” is characterized by its rich symbolism, the paper will reflect the meaning of its main symbols from a Christian perspective. The main themes addressed in the essay are salvation, the Lord’s mercy, forgiveness, the civilization’s apocalyptic end, the necessity to face challenges, and the weakness of human nature that leads to sin that should be remembered.
Annotated Bibliography
Anonymous. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Translated by Jessie L. Weston, Middle English Series Cambridge, Ontario, 1999.
This is the translation of a romance created in the 14th century. Based on French chivalric traditions in combination with English, Welsh, and Irish stories, “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” may be regarded as one of the most well-known Arthurian stories. It addresses the challenge of the Green Knight accepted by Sir Gawain, the Round Table’s knight. In the poem, the Green Knight should be viewed as a symbol of a pious Christian or even God who declares a coming doom for people.
In turn, Sir Gawain represents a believer who should pass several tests to assess his faith and learn about the significance of honor and honesty. From a biblical perspective, the story reflects the principles of confession, mercy, and forgiveness when Sir Gawain admits that he hid the lady’s green belt and that the lord’s agreement should return. Moreover, this belt may be interpreted as a symbol of sin in Christianity.
First of all, in the poem, Adam and Eve and their fall caused by seduction and the inability to resist are addressed when the Green Knight returns the bell to Gawain as a reminder of his cowardness and repentance at the same time. Moreover, similar to the cross that represents the weakness of human beings and their responsibility for Christ’s death, a green belt is used to remind knights about Gawain’s sin and the importance of honor.
Kaske, Robert E. “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.” Medieval and Renaissance Studies, vol. 10, 1979, pp. 24-44.
This chapter is dedicated to interpreting Sir Gawain’s story from a religious perspective. The rationale of this source for the essay is determined by the fact that it provides in-depth insight into the specific aspects of the poem, contributing to its better understanding. For instance, it describes the principles of Knights’ obligations within the framework of the chivalric code, the ideals of faithfulness and loyalty, and why their violation should be considered sin. Moreover, the source interprets the character’s faith using the examples of animals to refer to the freedom of choice in Christianity.
Fyfe, Daniel. “Beowulf, Sir Gawain, and the Christian Influence in Old and Medieval English Poetry.” Philologica Canariensia, 1995, pp. 77-91.
This source contains large amounts of data beneficial for understanding the poem’s background. In other words, art traditionally reflects reality. Therefore, when the Christian worldview is described in “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,” it is essential to assess social values and norms peculiar to the 14th century to see how they were transmitted in the romance. In particular, it addresses “the overarching significance of Britain’s development from a pagan heroic to a chivalric Christian culture” (Fyfe 81). Therefore, it pays particular attention to human nature and its peculiarities, showing that people may be weak and that their quest for chivalric ideals and perfection may fail.
Carrière, Jean Louise. “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight as a Christmas Poem.” Comitatus: A Journal of Medieval and Renaissance Studies, vol. 1, no. 1, 1970, pp. 25-42.
This article provides an innovative perspective by analyzing “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” as a Christmas poem. In particular, this analogy is based on the fact that Christmas poems describe a character’s challenges to improve, confess, and save. The same paradigm may be noticed in this poem, as the Green Knight is represented as a teacher who demonstrates the frailty of knights’ ideals and the significance of Christian morality.
Strite, Sheri Ann. “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: To Behead or Not to Behead—That is a Question.” Philological Quarterly, vol. 70, no.1, 1991, pp. 1-12.
This source investigates chivalric ideals and their accordance with the Christian norms of morality. Specifically, “in considering alternative actions available to Gawain, it is worthwhile to consider the different value systems offered in the poem: chivalry and Christianity” (Strite 4). While Gawain’s acceptance of the challenge proposed by the Green Knight corresponds with chivalric ideals, subsequent tests and challenges demonstrate their inconsistency. Moreover, the symbol of Christianity’s outperformance is a struggle between Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in the chapel.
Goodson, Ellen T. “Mysticism and Christianity in Early English Literature: Comparing” Beowulf” and” Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”.” Inquiries Journal, vol. 2, no. 7, 2010, p. 1.
This source is dedicated to the majority of symbols that uncover the religious message of the poem. In particular, the Green Knight represents the Lord, who makes an agreement between Himself and His followers to show unconditional love for loyalty, faithfulness, and honesty. Gawain’s traveling is a symbol of a spiritual pilgrimage that ends in God’s home with confession and forgiveness. Moreover, Lord Bertilak’s wife symbolizes temptation that leads to his sin, along with the knight’s fears.