Question

Two of the strongest symbols referenced in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight are the pentagle and the green girdle. Pick one and discuss its significance in the poem. What relevance might this symbol still hold in today’s world?

Answer 1

A significant figure in the Arthurian mythos, Sir Gawain was famed amongst the Knights of the Round Table as a quick-tempered and lusty warrior whose martial prowess was only equalled by his sexual one. In the medieval poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, however, this reputation is given a thorough test.

This particular piece of poetry only has one extant manuscript, housed in the British Library and illustrated with scenes from the tale. It is a key part of the medieval development of Arthurian literature, as it details the background to the courtly existence at Camelot, and as such extends the range of the legend instead of merely rehashing a previous tale. It was written by an anonymous poet in a style peculiar to the Middle English of a Northern tradition, as it has been crafted with much emphasis on alliteration1. It is written in 'fits', and each verse has a 'bob-and-wheel' structure. This means that each stanza ends with one short line (the 'bob') and four slightly longer ones (the 'wheel').