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 CELTIC GOD OF LIFE
• THE HORNED ONE
• LORD OF WILD THINGS
• FOREST GOD
• ASSOCIATED WITH ANIMALS
• HE IS ATTACHED TO THE
SEASONS
• HE REPRESENTS THE
CYCLES OF LIFE, DEATH,
AND REBIRTH
• GOD OF THE UNDERWORLD
THE KEEPER OF THE THRESHOLD

• HE STANDS AT THE GATEWAY TO LIFE

• COMPANION IS THE GODDESS OF THE
MOON
• HE ALTERNATES RULING OVER LIFE
AND DEATH WITH HER
• A FATHER GOD
• HIS SYMBOL IS STILL ON CHURCHES
AND CATHEDRALS ALL OVER EUROPE
GAWAIN AND THE GREEN
KNIGHT
 ALLEGORY

• AN EXTENDED METAPHOR
• ABSTRACT OR SPIRITUAL MEANINGS
ARE MANIFESTED BY CONCRETE
FORM
• STORY WORKS ON TWO LEVELS: THE
LITERAL AND SYMBOLIC
• THE CHARACTERS, ITEMS, OR
EVENTS ARE USED TO FORM THE
ALLEGORY
GAWAIN AND THE GREEN
KNIGHT IS AN
ALLEGORICAL TALE THAT
FOCUSES ON MAN’S
STRUGGLE TO OVERCOME
HIS BASER SELF IN THE
PURSUIT OF THAT
PERFECTION WHICH WILL
ALLOW HIM TO ATTAIN
HEAVEN.
 ARTHUR

• SYMBOL NOT AN HISTORICAL FIGURE

• HIS COURT HAS LOST TOUCH WITH ITS
ORIGINAL INTENT
• CHRISTMAS FINDS THEM CHILDISH AND
HEDONISTIC
• THEY HAVE LOST SIGHT OF THE REASON FOR
THE SEASON
 THE GREEN KNIGHT

• HE CHALLENGES THE DISSOLUTE COURT

• HE SERVES AS “THE WRITING ON THE WALL”
• GREEN IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WORD OF
GOD
• HE CARRIES A HOLLY BOB IN ONE HAND AND
A GISARM IN THE OTHER
• THE WORD OF GOD DOESN’T WITHER.

• THE GREEN KNIGHT IS A TESTING AGENT.

• THE GREEN KNIGHT INDICATES HIS HOLLY

BRANCH IS A SIGN OF PEACE.

• IT IS MEANT AS A REMINDER THAT THE

PRINCE OF PEACE IS BEING NEGLECTED
AT HIS OWN FEAST IN ARTHUR’S COURT.
 THE BEHEADING GAME

• ANCIENT AND ARCHETYPAL

• IT IS USUALLY THE CHALLENGE OF THE
HERO’S PORTION.
• IN THIS INSTANCE, IT TESTS THE COURAGE
OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ROUND TABLE.
• ALL BUT ONE ARE FOUND LACKING
• ARTHUR’S REACTION TO THE KNIGHT IS AN
INDICATION OF THE UNHEALTHY STATE OF
THE KINGDOM
 GAWAIN

• SPLIT CHARACTER
• DEVOTION TO WOMEN
IS A MAJOR FLAW
• ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIRGIN MARY
• KNIGHT OF THE TRIPLE GODDESS
OLDEST VERSION OF GAWAIN
KING OF CASTLE MARVELS

• MEETS AN ARROGANT WOMAN IN A

GARDEN
• HE TRIES TO FREE HER HORSE
SHE
RIDES
WITH A
SMELLY
DWARF
• GRINGOLET
IS STOLEN
• GAWAIN IS
FORCED TO
RIDE WITH
THE DWARF
• THE THIEF
IS DEFEATED
THEY FIND
AN
ENCHANTED
CASTLE
 GAWAIN FACES THE
ORDEALS OF THE CASTLE

HE FREES AND MARRIES

THE QUEEN OF THE GOOD FAERIES
MARION KNIGHT
• THE BLESSED
VIRGIN
PROTECTS HIM
• HE WEARS HER
IMAGE ON THE
INSIDE OF HIS
SHIELD
• SHE INSPIRES
COURTESY AND
CHIVALRY
 THE PENTACLE
• ENDLESS AND JOINED
AT NO POINT
• IT IS THE SYMBOL OF
BALANCE
• THE CELTIC NUMBER OF
PROTECTION
• THE PENTACLE IS A
BIBLICAL FORM OF
PROTECTION
 PENTACLE AS A MOTIF

• THE FIVE SENSES

• THE FIVE FINGERS
• THE FIVE PURE VIRTUES OF
FAITHFULNESS:
CLEANLINESS COURTESY
COMPASSION FRANKNESS
FELLOWSHIP
 THE
JOURNEY
• THE CHANGING OF
THE SEASONS
INDICATE THE
RISE AND FALL OF
FORTUNE.

• THIS IS DESIGNED
TO SHOW
GAWAIN’S
QUALIFICATIONS
FOR THE TASK AT
HAND.
 TERROR
• GAWAIN MEETS MONSTEROUS CREATURES IN A WINTRY
LANDSCAPE.

• THEY ARE NOT LITERAL CREATURES

• THEY REPRESENT TEMPTATIONS AND IMPEDIMENTS THAT TRY TO

STOP HIM FROM ACCOMPLISHING HIS MISSION.

• GAWAIN IS SAVED FROM THE MONSTERS BECAUSE HE SERVES GOD

• HE PRAYS DEVOUTLY TO CHRIST AND TO MARY.

 THE CASTLE HE ENCOUNTERS
–HAUTDESERT—
IS LUXURIOUS….BEFITTING A PLACE OF
ULTIMATE TEMPTATION
• THE WOMAN IS ALWAYS GAWAIN’S
GREATEST CHALLENGE
• THERE ARE TWO IN THE STORY
• BOTH ARE NECESSARY PARTS OF
PROVIDENTIAL ORDER. THE ACTION IS
SYMBOLIC….NOT ACTION IN TIME OR
SPACE.
LADY BERTILAK
• THE HIGH LIVING AND THE
BEAUTIFUL LADY ARE
PARALLEL TO THAT
WHICH CORRUPTED THE
COURT OF ARTHUR

• GAWAIN, THE YOUNGEST

KNIGHT, MUST FACE THE
TEMPTATIONS THAT HAVE
WON THOSE OLDER THAN
HE

• THE YOUNG, BEAUTIFUL

LADY OF THE CASTLE
REPRESENTS THE
TEMPTATIONS OF
PROSPERITY AND
FORTUNE
THE ANCIENT LADY
• THE OLD LADY IS
MORGAN LE FAY

• INITIATED THE
CHALLENGE

• SHE REPRESENTS THE

TRIAL OF ADVERSITY

• MORGAN’S PLOT
AGAINST ARTHUR IS
LONG TERM

• SHE IS DESTINY
 LORD BERTILAK
DE HAUTDESERT
• THE GREEN KNIGHT

• BERTILAK’S PLOT IS SHORT

TERM

• THE CHANCE ENCOUNTER

IS FORTUNE

• DESTINY AND FORTUNE ARE

PART OF GOD’S
PROVIDENTIAL POWERS
• HUMAN LIFE
EXPERIENCES
FORTUNE, GLIMPSES
DESTINY, BUT NEVER
SEES PROVIDENCE

• GAWAIN KNOWS THE

SHORT TERM BETTER
THAN THE LONG TERM

• NOTHING IS FULLY
CLEAR TO HIM; HE IS
NEVER IN COMPLETE
CONTROL
 TEMPTATIONS
• THE HUNT EACH DAY PARALLELS THEMATICALLY THE
TEMPTATIONS OFFERED GAWAIN ON THE SAME DAY

• THE TEMPTATIONS OF PROSPERITY ARE:

GLUTTONY (LECHERY)
VAINGLORY
AVARICE.

• IN TERMS OF THIS STORY IT ALSO MEANS TO LOSE

CHIVALRY

• THE CHIVALRIC ORDER OF THE PASSION ATTRIBUTED THE

DECAY OF CHIVALRY TO WEAKNESS BEFORE THESE
TEMPTATIONS
• ADAM SUCCOMBED TO THESE
TEMPTATIONS IN THE GARDEN
BUT CHRIST OVERCAME THEM IN
THE WILDERNESS.
• TOGETHER THEY REPRESENT
THE WEAKNESS OF THE FLESH
• THESE TEMPTATIONS ALSO REPRESENT THE
LOSS OF CHIVALRY.

• THE CHIVALRIC ORDER OF THE PASSION

ATTRIBUTED THE DECAY OF CHIVALRY TO
WEAKNESS BEFORE THESE TEMPTATIONS
 DAY 1
• DAY ONE—VENISON
• LADY BERTILAK OPENLY OFFERS
GAWAIN HER BODY
 DAY 2
• THE BOAR IS REPRESENTS THE FIERCE,
VAINGLORIOUS WORLDLY RULERS

• THE LADY APPEALS TO GAWAIN’S PRIDE

• SHE ASKS HIM TO

SPEAK OF LOVE

• GAWAIN REMAINS
HUMBLE

• HE WINS THE HEAD

OF THE BEAST
 DAY 3
• THE FOX
REPRESENTS
MALICE AND
AVARICE
• THIS DAY THE
LADY TEMPTS
GAWAIN WITH
GIFTS
• HE ACCEPTS HER
GREEN GIRDLE
• HE WANTS TO
LIVE
GAWAIN SUCCESSFULLY OVERCAME
TEMPTATIONS OF LECHERY AND
VAINGLORY BUT WEAKENED BEFORE
THE TEMPTATION OF AVARICE.
GAWAIN IS TEMPTED TO ABANDON HIS QUEST

THE COLD, STORMY LANDSCAPE INDICATES THAT

GAWAIN MUST ONCE AGAIN FACE THE TEMPTATION
OF ADVERSITY.
SADLY, SINCE HE SUCCOMBED TO PROSPERITY, WE
MUST EXPECT HE MAY FALTER IN ADVERSITY.
 HE TRUSTS IN GOD

THE GREEN KNIGHT AWAITS HIM

AT THE GREEN CHAPEL
• GAWAIN FLINCHES

• HE IS NICKED

• THE GREEN GARTER

MARKS HIS FAILURE

• HE HAS FALLEN TO
COWARDESS AND
COVETOUSNESS

• THE GREEN KNIGHT

SPARES GAWAIN
• HE UNDERSTANDS
THE TEMPTATION OF
AVARICE HAS
WEAKENED HIM
• THE GREEN GIRDLE
BECOMES A SYMBOL
OF CONTRITION
• HE HAS CAUSED A
FISSURE IN THE
ENDLESS
PENTAGRAM WHICH
CAN ONLY BE
HEALED THOUGH HIS
CONTRITION
 RED SHIELD
• HUMILITY
• THE BLOOD OF CHRIST
• IT IS EMBOSSED WITH A GOLD
PENTACLE
• GOLD IS PERFECTION
• THE FISSURE SHOWS HIS
SLIGHTLY NICKED PERFECTION
• THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE BEGIN
WEARING GIRDLES OF GREEN AS TOKENS
OF HONOR

• HE WHO WEARS THE GIRDLE OF GREEN

AND IT PENITENT CANNOT SUFFER DEATH
 THE NUMBER 5
• FIVE WOUNDS OF CHRIST
• TYPICAL SUBJECT OF MEDITATION
• GAWAIN’S FAITH DEPENDS ON THE WOUNDS OF CHRIST
AND THE JOYS OF MARY
• FIVE JOYS OF MARY:
ANNUNCIATION
NATIVITY
RESURRECTION
ASCENSION
ASSUMPTION
• GAWAIN’S VALOR DERIVES FROM THESE
• THESE TWO REPRESENT THE HUMAN BEING’S
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
• THERE ARE FIVE
SOCIAL VIRTUES:
GENEROSITY
FRIENDLINESS
CHASTITY
CHIVALRY
PIETY

• THEY REPRESENT
THE HUMAN
BEING’S
RELATIONSHIP
WITH SOCIETY
 GAWAIN FACES 5 TESTS
• TEST 1: CHOICE
-MENTAL TEST
-ONLY RESPONDENT TO THE CHALLENGE
-HE KEEPS HIS WITS
• TEST 2: DEXTERITY
-PHYSICAL TEST
-HE PROPERLY STRIKES THE BLOW
• TEST 3: FIDELITY
-TEST OF HIS FAITHFULNESS
-HE IS GIVEN OPPORTUNITY TO ABANDON THE GAME
-HE CHOOSES TO FINISH
• TEST 4: PROWESS AND DEDICATION
-TEST OF HIS BELIEF IN THE VIRGIN
-THE JOURNEY TO HAUTDESERT AND THE GREEN CHAPEL
-HE WEATHERS THE WORST THROUGH FAITH
• TEST 5: TEMPTATION
-TEST OF SOCIAL VIRTUE
-GAWAIN FALLS TO MORTAL FEAR
-EFFECT OF ORIGINAL SIN
-HIS NATURE AS A MAN ECLIPSES HIS NATURE AS A KNIGHT
ONLY FAITH THROUGH FAITH DOES MAN
ATTAIN HEAVEN
 THE GREEN GIRDLE
• THE GIRDLE REPRESENTS MAN’S ORIGINAL FAULT OF
NATURE

• GAWAIN WEARS IT AS A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION

• IT ATTAINS SEVEN SPECIFIC MEANINGS:

-A REMINDER OF THE GAMES
-A BADGE OF GAWAIN’S NICKED PERFECTION
-AN ADDITION OF SHAME TO GAWAIN’S SHIELD
-AN EMBLEM OF THE NEAR PERFECT CAMELOT
-A MARK OF MORGAN’S VICTORY
-AN EMBLEM OF NEAR PERFECT NOBILITY -THE
PARADOX OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE
 ROMANCE
• ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN A ROMANCE
LANGUAGE
• ANY EXTENDED WORK OF FICTION THAT
DEALS WITH:
-ADVENTURE
-EXTRAVAGANT CHARACTERS
-STRANGE OR EXOTIC PLACES
-MYSTERIOUS/SUPERNATURAL INCIDENTS
-HEROIC OR MARVELOUS ACHIEVEMENTS
-PASSIONATE LOVE
 VERSE FORM

• GAWAIN STANZA
• A VARYING NUMBER OF LONG
ALLITERATIVE LINES
• ENDED BY A ‘BOB AND WHEEL’
–FIVE SHORT LINES RHYMING
ABABA