Purdue University Sir Gawain Variants Essay

write minimum 1250 words

Choose one of the folloing essay topics

Topic 1. Sir Gawain Variants

Stories of the Round Table have numerous variants.

In the English Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain is the most important knight in Arthur’s court. Under the influence of French sources, Mallory subordinates Gawain to Launcelot and recounts many flaws, yet at his best Gawain retains his chivalric code. Where does Mallory show us Gawain’s high chivalric values despite the revelation of his flaws? Looked at more carefully, does Sir Gawain hint at subtle flaws in its hero and/or in what seem to be its codes of behavior. The temptress wife seems to suggest that Gawain has a reputation for courtship that he won’t acknowledge and he seems a bit eager to denounce women.

Topic 2 Launcelot after the Grail Quest.

Even though Launcelot returns to the Queen after the quest he retains some sense of responsibility to a guilt culture and both he and the Queen end up entering the clergy. But prior to this point we see the conflicts among the value systems of chivalry, Courtly Love, and religion. though he seems certain which to apply.

What are the principal crises of this period in the text. which result from the conflict of codes?