Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Pearl-Poet
- Type of Work: Poetry
- Type of Plot: Arthurian romance
- Time of Work: Sixth century
- Setting: England
- Genres: Poetry, Romance, medieval, Narrative poetry, Arthurian romance
- Subjects: England or English people, Kings, queens, or royalty, Middle Ages, Sixth century, Duels or dueling, Knights or knighthood, Nobility, Chivalry
- Locales: England
Characters Discussed
Sir Gawain, the bravest, most virtuous of the Knights of the Round Table. He accepts the Green Knight’s challenge to uphold the honor of Arthur’s court and sets out in autumn on the quest that is essentially a test of his virtue. Temptation awaits him at the castle of Bercilak de Hautdesert, where he must resist the amorous attentions of his hostess without violating the courtesy he owes her as her guest and, at the same time, keep his bargain with his host to exchange whatever he receives at home for the game Bercilak kills while he hunts. Gawain is...
[The entire page is 604 words long]
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