Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is an anonymous poem written in England in the second half of the 14th century. It narrates about the adventures of one of the most popular characters of medieval literature (Smith, 2018). While the poem proclaims the chivalric ideals, its plot is based on the realities of human experiences and actions though. Although the text was considered controversial, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight has become an increasingly influential text due to the author’s selection of communicative elements.
To begin with, the structure of the poem has affected its plot. The entire text is divided into three large sections with each heading corresponding to its actions. The author meant to create symmetrical narration, presuming that the story ends and begins at the same place. For instance, the actions of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight commence and finish in the chosen setting – Camelot (Smith, 2018). In addition, it is vivid that there are some parallels between the characters presented in the story. For example, one may observe striking contrast in the behavior of Arthur and the Green Knight, Morgan and the Lady, and some others. What is more, some differences can be traced in the themes: death and recovery, the natural and artificial. Such contradistinctions justify the symmetry and prove that the poem’s plot is balanced.
On the other hand, the text structure can also be referred to as circular since one action signifies the beginning of the other. For example, one storyline starts and finishes in winter – the change of the year presumes new characters and actions. The other significant historical instance contributing to the idea that the poem is circular is that of the empire’s transition from Troy to Rome (Smith, 2018). Then it was passed to Britain in the time of Arthur and from that moment to the poet’s native England. This pattern of going back and forth keeps the text well-maintained and helps the author solve the issues raised.
Another noteworthy aspect is the author’s choice of historical frames which serve as a foundation for the characters’ actions. For example, one of the poem’s frames is historical because it makes references to the myth of the origin of Britain, mentioning Brutus and the ancient city of Troy (Smith, 2018). These allusions root deeply in the tradition of epic literature, older and more sublime than the tradition of court literature. In this part, the author refers to many prominent people, used formal language to transmit the customs of ancient Rome.
Moreover, the author communicates the main ideas of the story via characters. The juxtaposition in their tempers provides balance in the narrative. For instance, there is a striking contrast between the mentioned pair – Arthur and the Green Knight. The latter is the tall and robust villain, while the former is described as a youthful and brave person (Smith, 2018). These differences in characters coincide with the main themes, making the plot consistent.
In conclusion, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is one of the most prominent works of art that dramatically impacted literature. The author’s choice of making the plot symmetrical contributed to the balanced thematic composition. In addition, the structure of the poems makes the text logical and helps the readers find a logical connection between the events. In general, the selection of proper structure, linguistic means, and historical background make the poem logical.
Reference
Smith, M. (Ed.). (2018). Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Unbound.