Similarities Between Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is an epic poem that illustrates the chivalric ideals that a knight of the Round Table must uphold. The characters in this poem recognize a strict code of ethics and chivalry. Sir Gawain and his fellow knights hold beliefs such as courtesy, nobility, and religious ideals to a high regard. In this society people are classified in congruence with their faithfulness to a code of behavior called chivalric code. Knightly chivalric code was obtained from the Christian perception of morality. It is a crucial component of Sir Gawain’s beliefs as a knight in Arthur’s court. Originally courtesy meant special consideration one knight showed to another. The courtesy two men show is a mutual

“Before all, confide. This fight to me. May it be mine.” (Stone 320). At this moment the Green Knight was asking for a participant in a Christmas game. He asked for any of the knights to volunteer but no one stands. Eventually King Arthur accepts the challenge, but Gawain nobly takes the Kings place. This displays nobility from Sir Gawain, even though he knows he is not the strongest or the wisest he will take on the challenge for his King. Gawain accepted the challenge which was to strike the Green Knight with an axe, but in return the Green Knight would do the same to Gawain. After one year passes it is Gawain’s time to finish the agreement. “But I am bound to bear the blow and must be gone tomorrow. To seek the gallant in green, as God sees fit to guide me.” (Stone 541). This represents Sir Gawain’s nobility. He knows he is going to be struck by the Green Knight and he cannot defend himself. He could escape this fate and not search for the Knight but he must do what is noble. Sir Gawain’s chivalric values help him to uphold his noble duties as a knight of the Round