If you were in Sir Gawain's position do you think you'd be able to decide what was more important, your knightly virtues or your life? Sir Gawain most likely accepted the Green Knights challenge because of his fear of dying; if he was able to overcome his fear his virtues would stay in tacked. Of course, he did show his bravery when he, out of all the other knights, was the only one to accept the Green Knights challenge. It must have been extremely hard for Sir Gawain to accept the challenge; the internal battle he was having with himself about his upcoming death should've been terrifying. Sir Gawain also accepted the challenge because he felt his life was of lesser value. He believed that he wasn't as smart as the other knights and that he was weaker than them. The Green Knights challenge was given to see whose virtues were true; although the whole …show more content…
He challenged King Arthur and his men because he heard of their high reputation. When no one was willing to take the Green Knights challenge he began to criticize them. Sir Gawain finally stood, in the place of King Arthur, to take the Green Knights challenge; he felt that it should be him because he thought he wasn't as worthy or useful as the other knights. After taking the challenge, he was instructed to strike the Green Knight with his own ax; however, if he does so the Green Knight will do the same in return. Once the agreement was made, the Green Knight dismounted his horse and kneels before Sir Gawain exposing his neck. Sir Gawain took one strike and beheaded the Green Knight leaving to roll around the ground for all to see; however, the Green Knight doesn’t die but reaches down from his horse picking up his head and holds it high. The Green Knight gives Sir Gawain an exact date of one year and a day for when they would meet again to finish the challenge then leaves riding on the back of his
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Show MoreSir Gawain showed his integrity by being confident, courageous, ignoring seduction, and confessing to his guilt. In addition, Sir Gawain showed his integrity by being confident and courageous. When the Green Knight appeared with a request, Sir Gawain was quick to accept the challenge. The Green Knight challenged the entire kingdom to see who would be brave enough to strike him.
On the last day, the lady tempts him yet again, at first he refuses: " I swear by fire and ice to be your humble knight" (l. 216-217). But then she brings out the green scarf that promises to save his life. Who could blame Gawain for wanting to save his own life? Not many men would turn down an opportunity to avoid being beheaded, and although Gawain, being a Knight of the Round Table was supposed
In upholding his values toward chivalry he was led on a journey where he had to forgo this basic human instinct. The Green Knight says to Gawain ‘“But a little thing more –it was loyalty you lacked: / not because you are wicked, or a womanizer, or worse, / but you loved your own life; so I blame you less”’ (2366-2368). While this would suffice for the green knight Sir Gawain holds himself to a higher standard, and he views this fault as a failing in his ability to uphold the values of chivalry. He chooses to take the experience differently than the Green Knight and talking about the green girdle
Sir Gawain succeeded in upholding his virtues and the Chivalric Code countless times throughout the story. One of the earliest signs of chivalry Sir Gawain shows can be seen at King Arthur’s court, where the Green Knight first appeared before the Knights and challenged them to a game. Sir Gawain shows courage by bravely accepting the challenge, but he also shows humility by praising the other knights and degrading himself by saying, “I am the weakest, I know, and the feeblest of wit, and to tell the truth, there would be the least loss in my life.” (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl Poet, pg. 8)
Finally, King Arthur himself accepts the challenge only for Sir Gawain to beg for the contest. Saying he is “the least brave” and the “least deserving to be of this company”, King Arthur grants him the chance to show his abilities (127). This point represents his initiation of his journey. The author demonstrates this by showing how Sir Gawain has left the safety and embarked into the dangerous world. He easily chops off the Green Knight’s head but his true challenge and test of character is still to come.
Sir Gawain shows bravery just by getting up to slice the green knights neck because now the green knight gets to slice his neck, also the mission to find the green castle something could have happened
During the 3 swings from the axe of the Green Knight, we are able to view several parts of Gawain’s true character. During the first stroke, Gawain flinches and shrinks his shoulders back slightly; clearly fearing the pain his natural instincts tell him accompanies the blade. The Green Knight scoffs at this display of cowardice, exclaiming, “You are not Gawain the glorious, the green man said…and now you flee for fear and have felt no harm” (58. 2270-2272) mocking the brave Gawain’s momentary lack of courage and pointing out the cracks in his character that illustrate his true lack of perfection. During the second stroke, Gawain remains resolute and shows no weakness through the Green Knight’s second feint and Gawain survives the final stroke without so much as a slight nick from the great blade. Gawain proves that although many men strive to live by virtues that allow them to be unfaltering in the face of impending adversity such as the act that Gawain attempts to fulfill unwaveringly.
Gawain knew he was a part of the king’s court because of his relation to King Arthur, and not because he deserved it. Therefore, when The Green Knight asks for volunteers and no one stood, he decided to sacrifice himself instead of allowing his king to fight the battle that might cost him is life. This is a prime example of honor; he sacrificed himself for the greater good of the
Gawain knew that the struggle to decide if his knightly code of conduct is more important than his life. And thus, Gawain accepted the challenge of the Green Knight and him fighting. And lastly, himself. Why?
In the beginning of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the knight’s challenge is the first brush with punishment that Sir Gawain faces. In Sir Gawain’s response to the challenge,
This is is exemplified through when he takes the Green Knight’s challenge from King Arthur. While King Arthur is about to give the blow to the Green Knight, Sir Gawain sees this as an opportunity to show that he belongs in the Round Table
As an Expert states, “Critics consider the puzzle of the theme a major asset of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and they continue to debate whether the real test was what happened at Castle Hautdesert rather than the exchange of blows, as well as whether, finally, Gawain passed or failed the tests” (Classical and Medieval Literature Criticism). The reason the critics say this is because they see that the real or possibly the real test was when Sir Gawain was in the castle getting tested by the king which turns out to be the king rather than getting swung at with an axe. Although Sir Gawain was not aware that the king was testing him under these circumstances he did want he had to do even if it meant he was a bit disloyal when taking the green sash. As Sir Gawain states, ‘“There, there’s my fault! The foul fiend vex it” (line 389)!
Throughout his entire journey, Gawain tried to remain courageous and brave. In fact, Gawain demonstrated his bravery when he accepted the challenge that no one else dared to do. Following that he then showed his braveness by cutting off the Green Knights head and keeping his word to return in one year and one day. He even had enough courage to go on a journey by himself rather than having the other knights go along. Although Gawain is seen to be fearful of death because instead of giving away the girdle he kept it in secret so its magical powers would protect him from the Green Knight.
Sir Gawain shows loyalty and humility when he makes the decision of honoring the promise he made with the Green Knight. This humility drives him to set off to pursue the Green Knight to honor the pact they agreed on. On his arrival at the Green chapel, he calls the Green Knight who emerges to greet him and to fulfill the terms of the contract (Cathell). Sir Gawain presents his neck voluntarily to the Green Knight who feigns two blows (Cooke 4). This is a commitment and a sign of piety that Gawain manifests.
Courage in her opinion is “A Virtue central to Knighthood” (ALLEN). In the 14th Century, there was a huge public recognition of courage, people wanted to be recognised as possessing it. The Character who possesses the most courage in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is most definitely Sir Gawain