For Monday: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Fitt 1

For our next class, read the first Fitt (basically, Chapter, or Part) of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Remember that this is a Narrative Poem, which means it tells a story, and can be read more or less like a traditional story, except that it is a poem, which means how the story is told is more important than what happens. So consider this as you read and answer the questions below.

SUMMARY OF FIT I (just in case you get lost): After a tiny introduction connecting ancient Rome to modern Britain, the poet brings us to Arthur's court at Camelot. There, they are having traditional New Year's feasts and games, and in the middle of this celebration, a strange Green Knight rides straight into the hall. He challenges the company to a game of his own, but no one takes him up on it, until Arthur, embarrassed, finally agrees to do it. But at the last minute, Gawain, his young nephew, volunteers. The game is simple: they take a chop at each other's heads, and whoever is left standing, wins. Gawain goes first and chops the Green Knight's head clean off. The Knight then picks up his head and says, "Congratulations! Now come find me in a year for your turn." 

Answer TWO of the following questions in a short paragraph—at least a few sentences, but feel free to write more if inspiration takes you. In general, be specific and don’t go for easy yes/no answers. I’m not looking for an answer here; I simply want you to think out loud and consider some of the ‘big’ ideas of the poem.

Q1: Camelot is the mythical ideal of chivalry, a kind of never-never land of knights and great heroes. Given this stereotype, does the poet basically run with this idea, or challenge it? Is it more ideal or realistic, from your reading? In other words, is Camelot all it’s cracked up to be?

Q2: Discuss the poem’s description of the Green Knight on pages 7-9 (or lines 130 to around 200): what is significant about these details? What does the poet want us to see and experience about his appearance? What does this remind you of, besides a very large and threatening knight on horseback?

Q3: According to the poem, why does the Green Knight come to challenge Arthur and his court? By barging in like this (and on a horse, no less), he’s breaking the laws of chivalry and being quite disrespectful. What would make him act so flagrantly toward the greatest king in the land?

Q4: How does this poem read (or sound) differently as a poem than a prose narrative? What details or stylistic quirks jump out at you? Why do you think the poem does this? And you might also ask, why does this work make more sense as a poem than a traditional story?