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Sir Gawain's Failure

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Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a traditional medieval romance story. The main character receives a quest, battles a villain, learns a virtue, and finishes the story with a happy ending. One twist in the plotline deviates from normal medieval romances. Sir Gawain admits to his failure. With the first two tests, Gawain keeps his word and trades his day’s earnings with that of the host. On the third day however, Sir Gawain keeps back the belt of safety from the castles owner. His fear of death is greater than that drive for honor and honesty. When the Green Knight ends up being the host, Gawain’s mistake costs him a slice on his neck. Sir Gawain admits to his fault when the reason for his quest is revealed, an act that a true tall-tale

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