Sir Gawain and the Green Knight :: Arthurian Legends English Literature Essays

Sir Gawain and the Green KnightAn anonymous contemporary of Geoffrey Chaucer wrote Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in the fourteenth century. It was written in a Northern dialect and uses alliteration similar to the Anglo-Saxon form of poetry. Alliteration is characterized by the repetition of consonants and a sharp poetry at the end of each section.The story begins as King Arthurs court celebrates the New Year for fifteen days. The lords and ladies of the court are having a gr eat up cadence dancing and feasting. The story describes the lavishly served feast with all the trimmings. Each guest is free to partake in the royal meal. However, King Arthur depart not eat on such a high holiday until someone tells a fascinating or adventurous tale.LINK TO A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THIS constituent Suddenly, a giant man on a horse rides into the hall. Both the imposing man and his horse are entirely green. He is, of course, the Green Knight. crimson his clothing is described in detail as entirely green. In one hand he holds a large ax and in the different he holds a holly bob. The Green Knight asks to see the leader of the crowd. King Arthur stands up and speaks to the Green Knight, obviously excited by the thought of the tales that this stranger will tell. The Knight offers a challenge to anyone brave enough to accept it. The Green Knight will allow his opponent to strike his recognize with the large ax that he holds. The opponent must travel to the Green Knights castle in one year to accept a similar blow in return. When no(prenominal) of the knights volunteer, Arthur rises to accept the Green Knights challenge. Sir Gawain, the youngest of King Arthurs knights, asks to be allowed to stand in for his king. The Green Knight doesnt move or flinch as he offers his bare neck to Gawain. Gawain grabs the Green Knights ax firmly and chops off his read/write head. The head falls to the ground and rolls past the feet of many of the pe ople in the court. To the shock of everyone, the Green Knight gets up, grabs the head by the hair, and mounts his horse.