Background: “Sir Gawain & the Green Knight”

1. Background:“Sir Gawain & the Green Knight” • Medieval Romance • People looked to religion and literature to help them live a virtuous life • Chivalric tales: stories of heroic knights & their adventures; focused on chivalry • Strict set of rules for gentlemanly behavior • Moral and behavioral code • Combination of Christian & military ideals • Chivalric values: faith, modesty, loyalty, courtesy, bravery & honor • Knights respected and defended the Church, king, country & victims of injustice

2. Background:“Sir Gawain & the Green Knight” • King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable • Set in an idealized world nothing like real medieval England • Arthurian world: • castles, heroes, magical spells • Courtly/gallant love • Modeled on feudal relationship between a knight and his lord • Knight serves lady with obedience and loyalty • Knight’s love for lady inspires him to do great deeds

3. Background:“Sir Gawain & the Green Knight” • King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable • Set in an idealized world nothing like real medieval England • Medieval England • Plagues, political battles, civil unrest • Women seen as men’s property and the inferior sex

4. Background:“Sir Gawain & the Green Knight” • King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable • Famous knights in King Arthur’s tales • Launcelot: greatest, most distinguished knight in later Arthurian tales • Sir Gawain:Arthur’s nephew; famous for courage and unfailing chivalry in early Arthurian tales

5. The Romance Genre • Imaginative adventure • Noble heroes • Courtly/gallant love • Chivalric code of honor • Daring deeds • Far Away Setting • Depicts events unlike those of ordinary life • Idealizes heroes and era in which they live • Lighthearted tone • Involves fantasy