Bump’s Discussion Questions:
- What is the meaning of the phrase "Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense”?
- What is its relevance to Gawain and the Green Knight?
- What is its relevance in England today as the motto of the highest order of Knighthood to which an English citizen can aspire, as a phrase appearing in thousands and thousands of place in England?
- What is its relevance to you?
Discussion should focus on “Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense”
Discussion Questions:
1. What does the phrase “Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense” mean in general?
- “Shame on him that thinks evil of it”
2. Does this phrase truly apply to Gawain?
- Most of us thought that he hadn’t done anything evil, or anything that even came close to being evil.
3. Many of us emphasizes how important it is to stay true to our word, but we also thought Gawain’s attempt to save his life was justified, even though it broke his agreement. What is more important: staying loyal to an oath or staying alive?
- Where do we draw the line between what’s honorable and what is excessive?
- How do we reconcile Gawain breaking his word with Gawain saving his life?
4. Is Gawain still heroic though he’s guilty/shamed? What makes Gawain heroic in this story?
5. How do more powerful forces, like faith or fate, or even the fear of death, play into an individual following the code of “Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense”?
6. How is it that this motto is so prevalent and important throughout England?
7. How feasible do you think it is to live by a code of conduct similar to Gawain’s? Is there a modern equivalent? (Garrison, Alex, and Liz)
- Manners, chivalry, a sense of nobility, and religion played a huge role in guiding social conduct for the knights. What are the equivalent (or powerful) forces acting upon our behavior today?
Overarching Themes
- Taking responsibility for our actions
- Sticking with our morals, keeping our promises, living up to our word
- Split: Gawain gives in to fear/Gawain was right to want to save his life
- We should strive to be respected/live by similar standards (idea of southern gentleman)
Main Points:
Megan S
- Following rules, knights bound by their duties (courtesy, faith, fate)
- Strive to maintain purity, chivalry, manners, reputation
- Phrase becomes a saying for the value of knights: knights are defined by how well they can stick to these rules
Emily
- Honor versus selfishness?
- We are responsible for our actions (our wrong-doings will be punished)
Garrison
- The ideals of chivalry, honor, and order associated with the phrase form the knights’ system of beliefs
- Brings in personal relevance of phrase
- “Southern gentleman” – courtesy, respect, humility, and manners similar to that of knights, and strives to follow that example
Alex
- An element of faith, predestination. “What should I fear, for whether kind or harsh a man’s fate must be tried”
- Honor and loyalty to oath.
- Sticks to morals and keeps his word as much as any man could. This is what makes him heroic
- Similar to Garrison’s point of striving to meet the standards of “Southern gentleman”
Mauro
- Though loyal, chaste, and true to word, Gawain submits to his fear. (My thoughts: Does this make him more believably human? Does him being more human make him more heroic?)
- We should strive not to think about or be tempted by evil, but rather strive to be respected (honestly, not in a fearful way)
Eric
- Gawain’s fault was in hoping to protect his own life, not in adultery
- People should be responsible for actions and face the consequences of those actions (My thoughts: We generally agree that we need to stay true to our word and be responsible for our actions, but yet Gawain stumbles. What could he have done differently?)
- Phrase is important “because it encourages individuals to stick to the path of the righteous”
- Human nature (fear of death) is forgivable (My thoughts: But is it heroic?)
- Take responsibility for actions, but nobody is perfect
- Phrase – not an unrealistic demand for us to be honorable, but rather to avoid cowardice and to live up to our word.
Chetna
- Decision that life is more important than promise
- Belt could have been a way of maintaining promise, by allowing him to meet the Green Knight
- “The key is to preserve life, in order to continue to preserve valor”
- Taking responsibility for actions (Important but so difficult when we make mistake)
- And yet, this sense of chivalry is not strongly present in modern society
Brad
- Gawain is not a “classic” hero. Not a typical story.
- Fate decides whether the individual is a hero or not, not the individual
Megan G
- Gawain’s action is completely justified; a disregard for his own life would be dishonorable
- Value of faith – belt could have been gift from God
- Gawain becomes more honorable because he values human life much more than a simply promise (My thoughts: how do we resolve the importance of keeping one’s word with the importance of human life?)
Liz
- Phrase is all about trust and respect. Required for any sort of relationship.
- The phrase should remind us to be more honest in our relationships.
Law
- A kind of universal truth – a man’s character must be tested to be proven
- Phrase relates to and emphasizes the importance of an individual’s sense of duty and commitment
Ashley
- We will suffer the consequences of our actions
- Gawain is able to stay optimistic, and not give in to fear or misery, even when his fate looms before him
- Gawain’s “courtesy, compassion, and unfailing humility prove Gawain to be a true hero”
Mary
- Gawain fears death, and is willing to break the code to live, and yet breaking the code is (in some way) evil.
- Questions Gawain’s role as the hero – “Shouldn’t a true hero be willing to risk his life in the name of something great?” even though the Green Knight proposed a deadly game.
- Green Knight as mentor? Role as nature/a return to nature?
- Gawain should not “fear his death; death is not “evil” and he should not “think evil of it.””
Amanda
- Underlying theme of redemption
- Transformation of mark of sin into a symbol of honor and humility, both in Gawain and Order of the Garter
- Resonates with the Christian symbol of the cross; gift of redemption
- Application of phrase to own life – admitting mistakes, “wear” them proudly as a sign of honor and humility
Pallavi
- Phrase is a reminder to live a more righteous life
- We must strive to live as virtuously as possible, even if it’s not possible all the time (as we see with Gawain’s decision)
Rachel
- The phrase refers to those that would think evil of Gawain
- In a more general sense, the phrase teaches us not to judge others
- Significant to the English for its ability to remind them of their principles and their history
Trevor
- Phrase suggests an absolute justice (My thoughts: relates to the idea of being accountable for actions)
- Also contains the “message that true repentance is deserving of forgiveness”
Prianka
- Honor is Gawain’s greatest attribute and the basis for the Order of the Garter
- Evil in the phrase is determined by each individual, but are also influenced by religion
- Gawain’s lie was justified because it didn’t hurt anyone else and saved his life
- Fear of death is not cowardly
- We should all strive to act honorably
