Sir Gawain And The Green Knight Alliterative Essay

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Alliterative poems are those that provide a work with rhythmical sounds often times in sequential patterns. Poems that contain alliteration are, to many, read and recited with a keener interest given that they lend beauty, structure, and flow to any piece of writing. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is an alliterative poem written in the latter half of the 14th century, although the author is unknown. The poem is long and rather difficult to comprehend given that it was written over centuries ago, yet it still inspires awe due to a plethora of reasons. Some of such reasons include its many poetic devices, vivid language, and contextual depth, all of which help establish the poem as a piece of writing superior to that of anything else in its time. In taking a closer look at the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, it can be seen that the poem attempts to confound chivalry and order through the accentuation of poetic devices such as hyperbole, alliteration, and a …show more content…

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight follows the exploits of the title character, Gawain. Gawain is a member of King Arthur’s round table- an honor that is given to a select few- and he begins his journey by volunteering, in King Arthur’s place, to play a beheading game. His challenger is a broad and burly knight who goes by the name of the Green Knight, presumably because his armor is almost completely drenched in the color green. The Green Knight, initially, seems to have lost the game, but in a spectacle of magic or enchanted power, the Knight recovers, and pleads that Gawain must hunt him down in a span of one year so that he may have the opportunity to strike Gawain. The chivalric romance goes on to explore the quest of the hero Gawain, and it ultimately tests his chivalric code and loyalty. Although he displays great valor and reverence, he eventually buckles under to an offer of

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