Sir Gawain and The Green Knight Essay - 1602 Words

Sir Gawain and The Green Knight Summary The story begins in King Arthurs court, where he and the Knights of the Round Table are celebrating New Years. While they are enjoying their feast, a gigantic Green Knight rides in on a green horse with an immense axe in his hand to offer them a challenge. His offer is: I shall bide the fist blow, as bare as I sit†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.., but in twelve month and one day he shall have of me the same. (Norton Anthology,208) After a moment of consideration, Sir Gawain accepts the terrifying challenge. As he tries to perform the first part of the challenge, he stumbles into an even bigger surprise. As Gawain hits the Green Knight with an ax, the head of the Green Knight falls on the floor. Instead of the Green†¦show more content†¦Ahunting I will go while you lie late at rest†¦., and Gawain, agree to this what ever I win in the woods I will give you at eve, and all you have earned you must offer to me.(Norton Anthology,225) This Gawain agrees to do for three consecutive nights. Thus, for three days the host and Gawain exchange their winnings. On the first eve the host gives Gawain the deer that hehas hunted, while Gawain gives the host a kiss to return what he has received from the hosts wife. The second day the same procedure takes place; a hunted boar on the hosts side is exchanged for two kisses on Gawains part. All is well until the third day. On the third day Gawain deceives the hos. Instead of giving the host all that he has acquired (the three kisses and the magic girdle), he hides the magic girdle and only gives the host the three kisses that the hosts wife has given him in the morning. Finally New Years day comes. Gawain arms himself, puts on the magic girdle and sets out on his journey to the Green Chapel. After the difficult and dangerous journey, Gawain finds the cave whre the Green Knight appears. The game begins at once. At the first blow Green Knight misses Gawain. The second time the Green Knight also misses him. But the third and the final time the Green Knight nicks him on the side of the neck.(NortonShow MoreRelatedSir Gawain And The Green Knight1359 Words   |  6 PagesIn the poem â€Å"Sir Gawain and The Green Knight,† a protagonist emerges depicting an Arthurian knight named Sir Gawain. Sir Gawain, King Arthur’s nephew, takes initiative by accepting the challenge requested by the Green Knight in place of his uncle. He undergoes a perilous adventure, seeking for the Green Knight to receive the final blow. Although Sir Gawain is not viewed as a hero for his military accomplishments, he is, however, viewed as a heroic figure by the Knight s at the Round Table for hisRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight862 Words   |  4 PagesIn Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, by an unknown author referred to as the â€Å"Pearl Poet,† we are introduced to Sir Gawain. Gawain is a knight of the Round Table and he is also the nephew of King Arthur. As a knight, Gawain is expected to possess and abide by many chivalrous facets. Throughout the poem he portrays many of the qualities a knight should possess, such as bravery, courtesy, and honor among others. Because of his ability to possess these virtues even when tempted to stray away from themRead MoreSir Gawain and the Green Knight1100 Words   |  5 PagesThe poem of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight compares a super natural creature to nature. The mystery of the poem is ironic to the anonymous author. The story dates back into the fourteenth century, but no one knows who originally wrote the poem. This unknown author explains in the poem of Sir Gawain not knowing of the location of the Green Chapel and or who the Green Knight really is. This keeps the reader entertained with the suspicion of not knowing. The author then does not give his name orRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay1687 Words   |  7 PagesSir Gawain and the Green Knight contains ambiguity and irony that make it interesting to read and teach. Gawain’s conflict arose when he accepted the girdle that could protect him and when he lied to his host, severing fellowship with the lord for courtesy with the lady. By utilizing a social reconstructionist philosophy of teaching that emphasizes personal beliefs and ethics, a teacher will help the students establish their identities and learn to appreciate classic literature. Sir Gawain and theRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight1514 Words   |  7 PagesSir Gawain and the Green Knight is an epic poem written in the mid to late fourteenth century by an unknown author. Throughout the tale, Sir Gawain, a Knight at the Round Table in Camelot, is presented with many hardships, the first being a challenge on Christmas by a man in which, â€Å"Everything about him was an elegant green† (161). This â€Å"Green Knight† challenged someone in Camelot to accept his game which they will chop off his head with his axe and the Green Knight will do the same to the playerRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight1335 Words   |  6 PagesSir Gawain: The Ironic Knight Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a tale of the utmost irony in which Sir Gawain, the most loyal and courteous of all of King Arthur’s knights, fails utterly to be loyal and courteous to his king, his host, his vows, and his God. In each case, Sir Gawain not only fails to perform well, but performs particularly poorly, especially in the case of his relationship with God. Ultimately, Sir Gawain chooses magic over faith, and by doing so, shows his ironic nature as aRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight906 Words   |  4 Pagesusually the latter. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight we see Sir Bertilak go off to hunt three very specific animals as a game with Sir Gawain. They agree that â€Å"what ever [Bertilak catches] in the wood shall become [Sir Gawain’s], and what ever mishap comes [Sir Gawain’s] way will be given to [Bertilak] in exchange.† (Sir Gawain†¦, ln 1105-1007). In this deal we slowly see Gawain loose his honor as paralleled with Sir B ertilak’s hunt. The first animal that is hunted by the knight is a deer, while thisRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay1521 Words   |  7 PagesFall 16 Donnelly Many years ago, knights were expected to form a certain type of relationship with their king, this relationship was otherwise known as fealty. Fealty is a knight’s sworn loyalty to their king (in other words a loyal relationship should be formed between the two). The use of this relationship is shown in the poem called â€Å"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight† ( the author is unknown). This poem has a classic quest type of formula, with a knight receiving a challenge and then going outRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight1455 Words   |  6 PagesHowever, for Gawain in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight temptation existed around every corner while he was playing the game of the Green Knight. Temptation existed every day and each day it existed in a new way. Gawain never knew what was coming his way throughout the grand scheme of the game, but one thing was for certain he was being tested. Without his reliance religious faith and dedication to his reputation, Gawain wo uld not have been able to make it through the game of the Green Knight alive andRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay1020 Words   |  5 PagesBoth Sir Gawain, from â€Å"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight† translated by Marie Borroff, and Beowulf, from Beowulf translated by Burton Raffel, serve as heroes in different times of Medieval English Literature. Many of the basic principles that describe heroes in Medieval Literature are seen in both of these characters even though they were written in different times. There are distinct similarities, differences, and also a progression of what the hero was in English literature, between Sir Gawain and

Gender Roles, Stereotypes, And Expectations Essay

Gender roles, stereotypes, and expectations found in the Puritan New England community can be examined by using source documents from the Salem Witch Trials which took place in 1692. While the trials themselves are an important part of American history, the glimpse into that time period afforded by these surviving documents is invaluable. Gender roles and religious beliefs play a large role in the hysteria which spread across Puritan New England as it had in Europe for centuries before. Briefly the hysteria in around Salem occurred in January of 1692 when the daughter of Reverend Samuel Parris of Salem Village became ill. She did not appear to get better over time so the village doctor, William Griggs was called in to see her. He diagnosed her with bewitchment most likely because he could find no other cause for her illness. This put into motion a hysteria that would ultimately result in the death of a number of men and women and change the lives of many more. It is important to examine and understand what beliefs the people of Puritan America believed in the seventeenth century. Seventeenth century life in Massachusetts was not easy; there were many trials and tribulations of a new environment. There was a strong belief in the devil during this time and along with a rivalry within the different towns in the region, a recent small pox epidemic and the threat of attack by tribes of Native Americans all coming together to create a basis for fear and suspicion. God and theShow MoreRelatedTeaching In A Twenty First Century Society, The Expectation1140 Words   |  5 PagesTeaching in a twenty first century society, the expectation for gender equality is important to provide the proper exposure, understanding, and educate individuals about society’s norms. These expectations that students will need to make acceptable choices for the betterment of their future. Therefore, it is the duty for educators to offer introductions in gender rol es, gender stereotypes, and sexism. These are sensitive topics and need to be taught accurately with balanced information and with aRead MoreGender Stereotypes And Gender Roles Essay1415 Words   |  6 PagesRoles are often assigned to boys and girls in accordance with the sex assigned at birth. We refer to these as gender roles. Gender roles begin to be imposed as early as birth. The nursery in the hospital assigns either a blue name plate for a boy or a pink name plate for a girl. These roles are continuously reinforced by family. Children learn at an early age that boys and girls are different. Children observe gender roles and in many cases these roles are eventually accepted as an unquestionableRead MoreGender Stereotypes In Mulan1673 Words   |  7 Pagesperceived. Instead of using the media to strengthen stereotypes among people, the media should be used to stop stereotyping once and for all. While gender stereotypes do unfortunately exist, representations of gender i n pop culture can have a positive impact by allowing society to see these stereotypes being broken. In the Disney classic, Mulan, several gender stereotypes are portrayed throughout the film. Mulan, the main character, faces several expectations society puts on her as a woman, and breaks throughRead MoreThe Importance Of Gender Roles1636 Words   |  7 PagesGender roles are extremely important to learn about, as they can be incredibly harmful. They limit a person’s individuality, prevent people from truly expressing themselves and their feelings, and negatively affect people’s mental health. The following statement describes some of the different types of gender roles: â€Å"The strongest gender stereotypes for women were that theory are more emotional, aware of others’ feelings, kind and warm than men, and more likely to look after the house, and cry, HainesRead MoreGender And Gender Roles1099 Words   |  5 PagesThe topic of gender roles is a subject that has been discussed and argued upon for several years, regarding the depiction and expectations of wh at it means to be a man and, conversely, what it means to be a woman. Along with the topic comes what and how society defines masculinity and femininity. Society has given men the title of being masculine due to the reflection of   dominance, strength, aggressiveness, independence , and the use of interpersonal skills. Whereas society has given females theRead MoreGender Identity And Children And Gender1335 Words   |  6 PagesGender Identity Children and Gender Gender Identity refers to how we feel and express our gender. From the time we are born, we are identified as being a male or a female. We learn gender identity from others and interaction helps produce it. A baby by the age of 1 knows if they are a boy or girl and by the age of 2 to 3 they form an opinion about the way they feel about their gender. Children take cues from their environment and the people around them to form gender identity. Anthony SchulloRead MoreGender and Negotiation 1073 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction-(1 page) Does gender influence how we negotiate, and how well we do? Does being a male or female affect our performance in a negotiation? Common logic tells us the answer is yes. Research concurs. Men and women differ in the way they view negotiations, the way they conduct negotiations, and even the outcome of negotiations. Being one gender puts us at an advantage to negotiate over being another gender. With the current style of negotiation, in the real world, men fare better in negotiationsRead MoreSocio Cultural influences on sexuality809 Words   |  4 Pageshas an influence on sexuality is the culture or society that person is from and their expectations of sexual behavior. Gender identity, their roles, and stereotypes associated with a person’s gender also play a part. Finally the psychological impacts of these expectations and how commercial sex influences expectations and perceptions of sexuality should be explored. Gender Identity and Gender Roles Gender identity is â€Å"one’s subjective sense of being a man (or boy) or a woman (or girl). ThisRead MoreGender Roles And Societal Tolls1051 Words   |  5 PagesGender Roles and Societal Tolls As movements such as feminism have been advancing throughout the last century or so, people are led to question what exactly defines the sexes, and the result of that line of thinking is surprisingly detailed gender roles, and, all too often, oppression of both sexes in different ways. It is all too easy to see the impact of these defining roles on women (take into consideration the wage gap, endless marketing of products to increase the sex appeal of women, and sexistRead MoreGender Stereotypes And The Socialization Process1257 Words   |  6 PagesGender Stereotypes and the Socialization Process The pursuit of gender equality is a central element of a vision of sustainability in which every Member of Society respects others and plays a role that allows you to take advantage of their potential to the fullest. The broad goal of gender equality is a social goal that education and other social institutions should contribute. Gender discrimination is embed in the fabric of societies. In many societies, women bear the main burden of food production

Death Theme free essay sample

This paper compares and contrasts the how the theme of death is portrayed in Leo Tolstoys The Death of Ivan Ilych and Franz Kafkas The Metamorphosis. This paper discusses how two very different authors, Leo Tolstoy and Franz Kafka deal with the topic of death in two of their novels, The Death of Ivan Ilych and The Metamorphosis, respectively. The two stories in this essay deal with death both metaphorically and realistically. According to this author, both of the main characters undergo a personal transformation once they are told that they are going to die. Even though one is poor and the other is surrounded with luxury and servants, their transformations are similar. Using the different metaphor from each of the stories to help the reader understand what Ivan and Gregor, the men are faced with when faced with their untimely demises are feeling and how they would have changed their lives if they had been able to do so. We will write a custom essay sample on Death Theme or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Throughout history, death has remained for humans the mystery to which we are left to our own imaginations. Death has always been a common theme in literature, whether novels, short stories, poetry, or prose. Authors have approached this subject in their writings in a myriad of ways. Some have glorified death, others have demonized it as Gods curse to mankind. Still others have dealt with death metaphorically, while others have portrayed death is a very realistic fashion. Human fascination with death is based simply on our curiosity of the unknown. It is also rooted, however, in the fact that death causes such a array of emotions, for the person dying as well as those whose lives have been touched or effected in some way by the death. Death conjures emotions ranging from one end of the scale to the other.