Sir Gawain

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how the character Sir Gawain appears in many versions of the Arthurian Legends and how the characteristics and attitudes of Sir Gawain seem to show a shift over time. It examines how the most widely accepted version of the character of Sir Gawain is the version that is attributed to the poet known as the Pearl Poet who paints a picture of Sir Gawain that is virtuous and kind and embodies all of the qualities that are favorable for a good knight. It supports the primary thesis that at the time when the Pearl Poet was writing his version of "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight", several versions of the story were already in existence and that the Pearl Poet takes this opportunity to examine what went wrong with Arthur's court. In doing this he blames a very young and inexperienced Arthurian Court and posits that for this reason it was doomed from the beginning.

From the Paper:

"As any author knows, it is nearly impossible to write about something or a subject of which one knows very little. For this reason, the content of the poem would suggest that the poet knows something about aristocratic life and that he took both Christianity and chivalry very seriously. However, as the exaggerated godliness of Sir Gawain suggests, he also is not immune to viewing its absurdities as well and is not afraid to poke fun at them. He was not afraid to express opinions in an open manner even if they went against Typical Medieval beliefs, such as the ideal of courtly love seen in Sir Gawain. The Pearl poet shows us a character that is quite different from the conventional ideal of courtly virtues."

More papers on Sir Gawain:

• Analytical Essay # 122764 : "Symbols in "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"
• Poem Review # 73760 : "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"
• Comparison Essay # 71165 : "Sir Gawain and Roland"
• Poem Review # 122720 : "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"

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