Sir Gawain and the Green KnightJessie L. Weston This prose rendering of a poem from the late fourteenth century (or earlier) recounts an adventure undertaken by King Arthur's famous nephew, Sir Gawain. Brave and chivalrous, faithful to his word and ever-mindful of his honor, as well as others', Gawain represents the model of knightly grace. When a gigantic stranger clad in green armor bursts in on the Round Table assembly to issue a challenge, the gallant Gawain volunteers to do battle for his king. This parable blends paganistic elements and Christian ethics to celebrate the virtue of forgiveness, and it is frequently assigned to classes in literature and history because of its short length and its excellent representation of chivalric tradition. Unabridged republication of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: A Middle-English Arthurian Romance Retold in Modern Prose, originally published by Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1909. |
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Common terms and phrases
Amadan Arthur Arthurian asked bade baldric behoves blow boar bright brought castle Christ clad court courteously courtesy covenant DAY’S HUNTING drew dwelling earth fain fair lady fairest faith fared fell fierce fled gaily gallant Gaston Paris girdle give ye gleamed gold Green Chapel Green Knight greeted Gringalet Guinevere hall hand hath hauberk head heard hearkened hero high feast hither honour host hounds hounds bayed huntsmen Jessie L king King Arthur king’s kingdom of Britain kissed knot lace laughed looked lord maidens marvel mediæval merry mirth Morgain Morgain le Fay morrow naught neck never noble pentangle poem pray quoth Gawain quoth the knight rich ring of red rode romance Round Table saddle shield Sir Gawain Sir Knight slain sooth spake steed stood story stroke swiftly tale tell thee thine thou didst thou hast took turned twas valiant words Ywain