English 1022E Lecture : 1. Oct 9-Sir Gawain and the Green Knight-PT 1.docx
1 Dec 2012
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King arthur"s court ideal realm, reputation, young men (boys) wealth, aristocratic. King refuses to eat before he gets the exciting story. (a kind of immaturity) Line 467 king arthur remains calm, holds up a fa ade of strength after the green knight leaves (perhaps pride). Now he can eat, got his own way. Axe being hung above is a sign of what the future holds for gawain. Gawain plays the game in arthur"s place, but yet arthur does not seem very grateful, nor able to notice that his nephew will die in a year and a day. Green knight arrives in the winter, dawn of the new year, the winter solstice. Turning point in the christian calendar, cycle of nature. Sense of renewal of life knight gets his head cut off, yet he lives. Like cutting back a tree so it can grow back better later. Theme of youth juxtaposed with age (innocence vs. experience)
