Gawain and the Green Knight

By The Gawain Poet

Summary

Part One

The poem opens with a reference to the Iliad: 'Sithen the sege and assaut was sesed at Troye'. This immediately alerts us of the epic, heroic nature of the poem and sets us in the historical frame of mind in which the poem expected us to read Gawain. We are told of the progress of civilisation, the march of heroes and learning from Rome to Tuscany, France and onwards to Britain. The poet expands this point to ironical effect by contrasting the learning and civilisation of the past with the: 'werre and wrake and wonder' of the present. The poet continues in the reflective mode, calling to mind the British kings, and the greatest of them all: King Arthur. The poet lets the reader know that he will tell the tale in the traditional fashion, as he had heard it, continuing the cycle of the tale: 'I schal telle hit astit, as I in toun herde, with tonge, As hit is stad and stoken'.

The poem relates the celebrations at New Year in Arthur's court: Camelot. The guests sit around playing games and talking, Guinevere, Arthur's wife, in the centre. Arthur has made a vow that he will not eat until he has received some kind of challenge. The poet presents the court as rather self-satisfied: as if it had not been adequately tested to enjoy the position of power suggested by the opulent festivities.

A magnificent green knight, described in intricate detail, enters the court. The knight is carrying a holly branch, a sign of peace, and is welcomed by Arthur. The knight suggests a game and Arthur agrees. The knight is condescending and reserved, maintaining a composed threatening presence whilst not being overtly antagonistic.

The knight suggests that they play a game with axes. The challenger gets a swing at the knight, which he will return in a year's time. Gawain, a knight in Arthur's court, suggests that he take up the challenge. His courtly speech suggests that he is rather foppish and lacking in experience. Gawain takes the Green Knight's axe from Arthur, the knight crouches and Gawain swings at his neck. The head flies off, but the knight remains standing, calmly picks up his head and gets onto his horse, which is also green. The knight tells Gawain that he must find the Green Chapel: if he does not he will be known throughout the land as a coward.

Arthur is rather baffled by the whole affair, but encourages the revellers to continue with their feasting, now that he may eat, a challenge having been issued. The section ends with the poet issuing a warning to Gawain:

"Now thenk wel, Sir Gawan,
For worthe that thou ne wonde
This aventure for to frayn,
That thou has tan on honde."

Part Two

There is a sadder and more bitter note to the second part of the poem. There is an extensive description of the natural surroundings, showing the cycle of the seasons leading inevitably towards winter when the Green Knight's prophecy must be fulfilled. Gawain spends Christmas at the court of Arthur. After the Christmas mass Gawain asks his leave and puts on his armour. His horse Gringolet is dressed ready for battle too. Finally he takes his shield, which is decorated on the outside with a pentangle: symbolic of the five virtues. On the inside is a picture of the Virgin Mary. Gawain picks up his lance ready to fight.

The courtiers mourn his exit, fearing that this is the last time they will see him. Gawain travels through countryside that is surprisingly realistically described. The road he takes becomes more and more gloomy; finally he plunges into a wood. He prays to the Virgin Mary to send him a safe resting place. As he prays, he sees, as if miraculously, a castle on a hill rising up before him. As he comes towards the castle, the door slams shut in his face and the drawbridge is raised. The castle again exemplifies the Gawain Poet's obsession with the ambiguous: it is realistically presented in the style of the poet's time, but many of the details are unreal: the ghostly white hue, for instance. A porter comes to the gate and Gawain enters the castle: called Hautdesert. The castle is described as a sort of Eden: but it must be remembered that Eden was the scene of man's fall as well as an earthly paradise. Gawain is presented to the host, who is large and disturbingly similar to the Green Knight. The two feast together with many cheerful courtiers. After the meal Gawain meets the ladies of the castle: one is truly beautiful, one hideously ugly. The poet here presents the characters in antithesis: each accentuates the positive and negative characteristics of the other. The group of people celebrate Christmas, with the ugly woman (whom we later learn to be Morgan le Fay), sitting at the head of the table. Gawain is fascinated by the beautiful woman, the wife of Bertilak - known as the false Guinevere.

It is then time for Gawain to leave, but the host asks him to stay at Hautdesert until the New Year since the Green Chapel is nearby. Gawain accepts. The host informs Gawain that they are going out hunting the next morning, but that Gawain must rest up for his challenge the next day. Gawain wakes to find the beautiful woman entering his chamber. She flirts shamefully with him, but he is taken up only with his challenge at the Green Chapel. The host again suggests that they put off the visit to the Green Chapel yet one more day. Gawain gladly accepts.

Part Three

The lady enters Gawain's bedchamber and he sits bolt upright, demanding to know what she is doing. He receives two chaste kisses. At dinner that evening the beautiful woman flirts with Gawain shamelessly. The next morning the beautiful lady once again enters Gawain's bedchamber. She again flirts with him but his conscientious loyalty to his host stops him from giving in to the temptation. The lady offers him a series of gifts. He refuses a ring, but accepts a sash, which she claims, has magical powers. He agrees to hide it from her husband and they kiss. Gawain goes to confession and night falls. He feasts with his host and goes mournfully to bed, preparing for the next day's trip to the Green Chapel.

Part Four

Daylight comes and Gawain's armour and clothes are laid out before him. He dresses, not forgetting to wear the sash. He mounts his horse and rides towards the Green Chapel. Gawain's guide tells of the great cruelty of the Green Knight. He tempts Gawain by offering to tell no one of his cowardice if he decides not to attend the chapel. Gawain resists and shows us that he has not entirely lost his sense of honour during his slothful stay at Hautdesert. Gawain sees no chapel, but an ancient barrow that seems to him the work of pagan tribes rather than Christians. Gawain calls out and the Green Knight comes to him, lauding his bravery at keeping his word. The knight raises his axe and Gawain flinches. The knight chides him, saying that he did not flinch when in the same position. The knight raises the axe again, Gawain does not flinch, and the Green Knight stops to praise his bravery. The knight swings once more, draws a drop of blood and Gawain throws himself back ready to fight, the promise having been kept. We are then shown that the Green Knight is the same man as the host at Hautdesert. The first two aborted axe thrusts were reward for Gawain's faithfulness to his host in the first two meetings with the beautiful woman, the slight nick a punishment for accepting the sash.

Gawain makes for home, encountering many dangers and adventures on his way. He reaches the court and is joyfully received by the courtiers. He wears the sash as a reminder to himself of the meaning of loyalty and his faithfulness to the chivalric code. The end of the poem reiterates the opening lines: 'After the sege and assaut was sesed at Troye', thus creating a circular structure to the poem, showing us that it is just one story of many in the tales of King Arthur and fits into the cycle of history.