The Enigmatic Character of Sir Gawain: Chivalry and the Heroic Knight in Arthurian Tradition
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Date
2014-06
Authors
Carr, Amy
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
This paper examines the role of Sir Gawain as a heroic knight in six texts from
the medieval English Arthurian tradition: Sir Thomas Malory's Morte D 'Arthur, The
Alliterative Morte Arthure, the Stanzaic Morte Arthur, King Arthur and King Cornwall,
Awntyrs off Arthur, and The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnelle. The character
Sir Gawain varies significantly between traditions and medieval texts. The conflicting
heroic and chivalric codes play a large role in his portrayal, particularly when
considered in conjunction with King Arthur and Sir Lancelot. As Arthur's nephew,
Gawain was a fundamental part of medieval texts, but this family relation did not
always result in a positive portrayal. Lancelot appears in fewer of the English texts, but
where he does appear, he does so as the paragon of chivalry and creates a dichotomy
between his values and Gawain's. Gawain's frequent chivalric failings, particularly in
Malory, and the modem preference of romantic love over homosocial bonds have
resulted in Gawain's diminished and often antagonistic roles in modem Arthurian
interpretations.
Description
50 pages. A thesis presented to the Department of English and the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Bachelor of Arts, Spring 2014.
Keywords
Education, Common Core, Fractions, Curriculum, Elementary math, Division, Conceptual understanding