Notes: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

March 21 , 2006

Bump: our culture does not like to talk about death

the five stages of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance
Willie's celebration of life

this is what it means to be human

honi soit qui mal y pense

1. Shame on him who thinks evil of it
2. motto of the Order of the Garter

meaning of the Green Giant -- balance between civilization and nature

1. Roman Catholicism: build on top of, instead of rejecting (see: Halloween, Easter)
1. Constantine chose the date of Christmas based on pagan holidays

The poem occurs in a time when Christian morality is just catching on
contradictions between Christian/fierce medieval ideals

1. Gawain must choose between adultery/being polite

Morgan La Fay - Arthur's opponent
symbol of pagan/nature
creator of Green Giant
challenge to King Arthur
temptress
depicted in poem as ugly

Gawain must not flinch - must overcome his fear of death

two strands of civilization: Hebraism / Hellenism
Hellenism - emphasis on perfection
Hebraism - imperfection and the confession of sin