|
|||||||||
|
Wednesday September 28th Due In-Class: Complete review of all Anglo-Saxon material. You have a page about Anglo-Saxon literature due along with a blog about the appeal of Britain. In-Class: We will take the Anglo-Saxon test. We will then begin our first section of the Medieval unit by reading a piece of "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight". Assignments: Complete reading "Sir Gawain", the entire piece. TYPE up a page that explains what the Green Knight's purpose was in making Sir Gawain perform this head-cutting ritual. What cowardly mistakes did Sir Gawain do along the way? How will King Arthur react to his cowardice? This assignment will be due on Monday September 20th. You will be given a Canterbury Tales character's lines to memorize and present out loud to the class. You will present your character on Wednesday October 5th. Recite your 10 lines to the class, we will go in chronological order. Links: Medieval Britain http://www.luminarium.org/medlit/gawain.htm
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Notes and Info.. v Lots of alliteration used in this piece: “And other weapons to wield, I wean well, to boot, But as I willed no war, I wore no metal.” v Parody of King Arthur v This is a fantasy piece, examples of medieval belief evident through chivalry. v King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table are considered fiction, based upon what a good king and a true knight would resemble. v Knights are supposed to be brave, courteous, loyal to their King, (code of honor) v King Arthur has knights of the round table, the bravest in the land, or so they thought until the Green Knight arrives. v Story begins in Camelot at a New Year’s Eve feast v When celebrating, a Green Knight on a green horse shows up with an ax. v The green knight is in search for the King v Everyone is shocked by the green knight’s presence. v The Green Knight wants a game-a beheading game, these were very popular during the time of the medieval era in France. v The Green Knight makes fun of King Arthur and the knights of the round table. The green knight calls Arthur’s men “beardless children” and “puny”. v In a twelve month and a day the knight who competes against the green knight will get struck by the green knight, should the Green Knight survive. v Arthur and his men cower after the Green knight makes his proposition v Arthur is embarrassed as no one accepts his challenge, and therefore he has to step up himself. v The first knight to step up and replace Arthur is Sir Gawain v Gawain feels that his life is not worth much as opposed to the kings’ (loyalty). He states he lacks wit and is weakest and therefore the easiest choice should a knight have to die. v The Green knight approves of Sir Gawain v Gawain steps up to face the challenge v (The Green knights castle is a secret, he will tell Gawain if he survives and/or is able to talk.) v Gawain strikes the blow with the “gisarme”, (battle Axe). The Green Knight’s head is cut clean off, blood is everywhere. However, he does not fall, he picks up the head once it has finished rolling around. v Minor problem: Gawain was counting on killing the Green Knight, now he appears to live without his head. Will he continue with the challenge? v Sir Gawain now has to find the Knight of the Green Chapel in a year and a day. v While traveling for months to find him, Sir Gawain comes across a house Christmas night and the Lord tells him he will show him where the Green Chapel is. v The Lord and Sir Gawain exchange gifts for three days, but Sir Gawain does not return the magic green girdle that will protect him from harm. (Dishonorable act number one). He kisses the Lord's wife. (Dishonorable act number two). v The Green Knight’s chapel is described as nothing other than a cave covered in green moss and grass. v A large noise is heard as Sir Gawain is entering the Knight’s chapel. It is The Green Knight sharpening his Danish Ax in preparation. v The Green Knight prepares to hit Sir Gawain, but he flinches (dishonorable act number three). v The Green Knight remarks that Sir Gawain is acting cowardly and not a good representation of the Round Table. v Sir Gawain is finally struck by the axe and only receives a small scratch. v Before being released, the Green Knight says that Sir Gawain has not been a true knight as he did not exchange the gifts with the lord in the castle on his last night. v The Green Knight was also the Lord who Sir Gawain stayed with, where Sir Gawain also kissed his wife, (dishonorable act number three). v Sir Gawain confesses his faults to the Green Knight, who then accepts his apology and states that they should return to party again next New Year’s (at the Green Knight’s house), under friendly circumstances.
|
