Sir Gawain and The Green Knight
Introduction and Study Guide
The enchanting tale known as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a poem which dates back to c. 1400 A.D. Its author is unknown, but the writing demonstrates the author to have been a well educated sort who clearly was proficient in Latin and French, beyond his native tongue; English. The English in which he wrote, however, is typically called “Middle English”. Although this would not be as foreign to the sight of a modern English reader as, say, the Anglo-Saxon (Old English) employed by the Beowulf poet, it would nonetheless present many challenges for the modern reader. As such, we may be thankful for J. R. R. Tolkien who strove to bring us a faithful translation from Middle-English to the English of his own day.
Opening line of Sir Gawain & The Green Knight
Middle English: “SIÞEN þe sege and þe assaut watz sesed at Troye” (Original)
Modern English: “When the siege and the assault had ceased at Troy” (Tolkien)
As should surprise no one who is familiar with Tolkien, he strove to preserve the original text and its tone insofar as it was possible. The poem was written in an ancient English alliterative style which had a brief revival of use during the 1400’s in England. This poetical approach did not pursue a constant rhyme scheme, nor was its meter strictly wedded to syllable counting as had been common in Greek, Latin, and French poetry. In the introduction to the work Tolkien states, “The main object of the present translations is to preserve the metres, which are essential to the poems as wholes; and to present the language and style, nonetheless, not as they may appear at a superficial glance, archaic, queer, crabbed and rustic, but as they were for the people to whom they were addressed: if English and conservative, yet courtly, wise, and well-bred — educated, indeed learned.”1
Alliterative poetry uses a repetition of consonant sounds to lead the reader, or hearer, of the poem. Consider just one line from the second stanza of the poem:
“And when fair Britain was founded by this famous lord, bold men were bred there who in battles rejoiced, and many a time that betid they troubles aroused.”2
As you can see the repetition of the consonant “B” took a domineering post within this line. Throughout the poem you will observe and hear much repetition of consonant sounds. This is what drives the poem throughout instead of the typical continuous rhyme scheme you may be more familiar with. Nevertheless, if it is rhyme you want, it is rhyme you’ll get! Each stanza of this poem ends its last time with an ABABA rhyme scheme which clues the reader (or hearer) into the knowledge that the stanza is closing out and a new one is about to begin.
What of the story itself? It is magnificent!
Sir Gawain, as many know, is one of King Arthur’s brave knights of the round table. The tale takes place at Christmastime in King Arthur’s court (c. 5th century A.D.) when the Lord’s and Ladies are at play and feasting. They are interrupted by a magical guest who issues a challenge to play a deadly game. Honor is on the line.
Without spoiling any of the story (I insist you ought to read it for yourself without any spoilers) I will only give you a few things to look for. Look for the struggle in Gawain’s heart between the two primary commitments of his life, namely, the knight’s chivalric code and his Christian faith. For instance, a knight never backs down from a challenge, but what when to pursue that challenge is reckless? A knight never offends a lady, but what when that lady is enticing to sin? What if these two ways of life run into contradiction with one another? Knightly virtue or Christian virtue…Gawain may not be able to keep both. Which will he choose in the end?
This beautiful poem is rich with biblical symbolism and allusion. Powerful parallelism can be seen between the literal hunts that take place in the story and the spiritual hunt after Gawain’s purity of heart. One would do well to acquaint themselves with Proverbs 7 before they go down this road with Sir Gawain!
Below you will find links for each section of the study guide for this book as it is available. The edition being used for this study is J. R. R. Tolkien’s translation and you can pick up a copy here.
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Tolkien J R R., Edited by Christopher Tolkien, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl, and Sir Orfeo (New York, NY: Del Rey, 2021), 3-4.
Ibid., 24.
A wonderful piece. I believe it’s this poem that links the star or “pentangle” as a Christian symbol.