Sir Gawain and the Classical Tradition: Essays on the Ancient Antecedents
The 14th century English alliterative poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is admired for its morally complex plot and brilliant poetics. A chivalric romance placed in an Arthurian setting, it received acclaim from the peasantry of its time for its commentary regarding important socio-political and religious concerns. The poem's technical brilliance blends psychological depth and vivid language to produce an effect widely considered superior to any other work of the time. Although the poem is...
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The 14th century English alliterative poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is admired for its morally complex plot and brilliant poetics. A chivalric romance placed in an Arthurian setting, it received acclaim from the peasantry of its time for its commentary regarding important socio-political and religious concerns. The poem's technical brilliance blends psychological depth and vivid language to produce an effect widely considered superior to any other work of the time. Although the poem is a combination of English alliterative meter, romanticism, and a wide-ranging knowledge of Celtic lore, continental materials and Latin classics, the extent to which Classical antecedents affected or directed the poem is a point of continued controversy among literary scholars. This collection of essays by scholars of diverse interests addresses this puzzling and fascinating question. The introduction provides an expansive background for the topic, and subsequent essays explore the extent to which classical Greek, Roman, Arabic, Christian and Celtic influences are revealed in the poem's opening and closing allusions, themes, and composition. Essays discuss the way in which the anonymous author of Sir Gawain employs figural echoes of classical materials, cultural memoirs of past British tradition, and romantic re-textualizations of Trojan and British literature. It is argued that Sir Gawain may be understood as an Aeneas, Achilles, or Odysseus figure, while the British situation in the 14th century may be understood as analogous to that of ancient Troy. E.L. Risden is an associate professor of English at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin. He has published books and essays on medieval and Renaissance studies as well as poetry and fiction.Children's LiteratureThe 14th century poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight seamlessly brings together Arthurian legend, British history, social commentary, and questions of morality in a tale of adventure, romance, and questing. Although the poet's name is unknown, his work speaks to his acute perception of his times and his masterful grasp of language. In this collection of essays, scholars grapple with the question of how classical tradition may have influenced this gem from the Middle Ages. Some compare the poem's hero to Aeneas, Odysseus, and Achilles, focusing on how traces of these classical heroes can be seen in Sir Gawain. Others explore the poem's allusions to Troy and how such references can serve as a framework for reading the poem. From attitudes toward magic to archeological evidence of barbaric pagan rituals, each essay approaches Sir Gawain with a unique reading and serves as an excellent scholarly example of literary interpretation. For students preparing for Advanced Placement exams, this is a valuable resource, both for understanding Sir Gawain as well as for understanding how to write clear, persuasive, literary arguments. Although the scholarly language is advanced and the subject quite focused, this collection will prove rewarding for the attentive reader.
Geoffrey of Monmouth and the Gawain poet : remembering Troy17The treason of Aeneas and the mythographers of Vergil : the classical tradition in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight30Mortal hopes : the Trojan framework of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in a doctrinal context49Ritual sacrifice and the pre-Christian subtext of Gawain's green girdle65Treasonous founders and pious seducers : Aeneas, Gawain, and aporetic romance82The "treasounous Tulk" in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight112The fierce Achilles in Chaucer, Gower, and the Gawain poet121Classical analogues - eastern and western - of Sir Gawain135Sir Gawain and the Green Knight : classical magic and its function in medieval romance182
\ Children's Literature - Leah Hanson\ The 14th century poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight seamlessly brings together Arthurian legend, British history, social commentary, and questions of morality in a tale of adventure, romance, and questing. Although the poet's name is unknown, his work speaks to his acute perception of his times and his masterful grasp of language. In this collection of essays, scholars grapple with the question of how classical tradition may have influenced this gem from the Middle Ages. Some compare the poem's hero to Aeneas, Odysseus, and Achilles, focusing on how traces of these classical heroes can be seen in Sir Gawain. Others explore the poem's allusions to Troy and how such references can serve as a framework for reading the poem. From attitudes toward magic to archeological evidence of barbaric pagan rituals, each essay approaches Sir Gawain with a unique reading and serves as an excellent scholarly example of literary interpretation. For students preparing for Advanced Placement exams, this is a valuable resource, both for understanding Sir Gawain as well as for understanding how to write clear, persuasive, literary arguments. Although the scholarly language is advanced and the subject quite focused, this collection will prove rewarding for the attentive reader.\ \
