Sir Gawain

Serenity Camp 1
Sir Gawain: The Most Chivalrous Knight
Chivalry has a long history and can be interpreted many different ways. The Code of
Chivalry was never set in stone, making it somewhat difficult to pinpoint what exactly it
consisted of. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, chivalry is the medieval knightly
system with its religious, moral, and social code. The qualities featured in the Code of Chivalry
would include honesty, courage, justice, helping the needy, and more. In order to be chivalrous,
the knights also had to avoid things like envy, pride, and dishonor.
Sir Gawain is mentioned in many stories such as The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame
Ragnell for Helping of King Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory, The Story of Sir Perceval of
Galles first told by Chrtien de Troyes, and most famously known, Sir Gawain and the Green
Knight, first written as a poem by the Pearl Poet. In each of the named tales, Gawain displays
chivalrous behavior. From marrying a displeasing woman to willingly submitting to the Green
Knight in order to protect his king, Sir Gawain is obviously very loyal.
In The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell for Helping of King Arthur, Sir
Gawain married Lady Ragnell in order to save King Arthurs life. Gawain still held his head up
high and attempted to be a good husband even though Lady Ragnell was very ugly. Her face
was red and covered with snot, her mouth huge, and all her teeth yellow, hanging over her lips.
Her bleary eyes were greater than a ball, and her cheeks were as broad as womens hips. She had
a hump on her back, her neck was long and thick, and her hair clotted into a heap. She was made
like a barrel, with shoulders a yard wideNo tongue can tell of the foulness and ugliness of that
lady. After the ceremony, Lady Ragnell tells Sir Gawain that she could either be human by day
and monster by night or vice versa. Sir Gawain broke the curse dispelled on Lady Ragnell by
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letting her choose instead. Its her composure, so why not let her decide what she wants to do
with it?
Gawain only plays a fraction of The Story of Sir Perceval of Galles, but he is a major
role. Sir Perceval tragically dies in a jousting match, and his son, Perceval, is isolated by his
mother. Time passes and he runs into Sir Gawain and two other knights while travelling in the
forest. Perceval was searching for God, and told the knights that if they were not gods they
should either tell them who they are - or die. Long story short, Gawain convinced Perceval to try
to become a knight rather than commit murder. Its a simple concept, but even the most
simplistic deeds can be the most impacting.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight describes Sir Gawains coat of arms; his red shield
portrayed a golden pentangle, with each of the five points representing a different virtue of
knighthood generosity, courtesy, chastity, chivalry, and piety. Focusing on Sir Gawain and the
Green Knight, it concludes that Sir Gawain did not hesitate to defend King Arthur. When the
Green Knights challenge goes unanswered by all but King Arthur, feudal duty requires Gawain
to speak up and face this fearsome supernatural giant. In a display of loyalty, Gawain steps up to
protect his liege from injury to his pride as well as his body. (The Chivalric Gawain, p. 12).
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Work Cited
Leffert, Carleigh. The Chivalric Gawain. University of South Florida,
www.bing.com/cr?
IG=5D3EC9C7921A449A99536CEC0F6F7EB7&CID=3255E22E4D4A66C31457E858
4CDA6752&rd=1&h=C17ICW06kk9LY9XTj4F7Es7iBmy9qSqlD5MSr9Ksbe0&v=1&r
=http%3a%2f%2fscholarcommons.usf.edu%2fcgi%2fviewcontent.cgi%3farticle
%3d3256%26context%3detd&p=DevEx,5136.1
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. SparkNotes, SparkNotes, 2003,
m.sparknotes.com/lit/gawain/.
Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press.
The Shield of Gawain. sitemaker.umich.edu/religiousobjects/pentangle
The Story of Sir Perceval of Galles. Arthurian Legend,
www.eleusinianm.co.uk/middle
-english-literature-retold-in-modern-english/arthurian-legends/sirperceval
Tuma, George W., et al., editors. Harken To Me Middle English Romances In
Translation.Medieval Forum, Independent Scholar,
www.sfsu.edu/~medieval/romances/wedding_rev.htm/.

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Serenity Camp 1

Sir Gawain: The Most Chivalrous Knight

simplistic deeds can be the most impacting.

Leffert, Carleigh. The Chivalric Gawain. University of South Florida,

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. SparkNotes, SparkNotes, 2003,

Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press.

The Shield of Gawain. sitemaker.umich.edu/religiousobjects/pentangle

The Story of Sir Perceval of Galles. Arthurian Legend,

Tuma, George W., et al., editors. Harken To Me Middle English Romances In

Translation.Medieval Forum, Independent Scholar,

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