Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

1. The first three stanzas deal with the change in season from Christmas to Lent, then to spring and summer, then finally back to winter. It also tells that it is time for Gawain to make his quest.

Stanzas (4-6) describes Gawain's armor in great detail. It is here where they describe the five-pointed star, or pentangle that he wears. It represents a set of Gawain's virtues, his five senses.

In the 7th and 8th stanzas Gawain says goodbye to his friends and leaves the court.

Stanzas (9-11) he runs into a few obstacles, but always seems to overcome them. Winter grows colder and he seems to be having a very rough time. He prays to Mary to help him seek a holy place.

In stanzas 12-13 Gawain encounters the castle. He calls out to a porter who welcoming invites him in.

Stanzas (14-17) shows you how hospitable the lord and castle in general is to this knight. They give him a servant and provide for him a feast.

In (18-20) Gawain is introduced to two women. One he describes as being young and beautiful while the other is old and ugly. Here you see that Gawain and the young lady seem to connect a lot. It's as if they are in their own world.

In stanzas 21-22 Gawain begins to feel that he needs to leave and seek out the Green Knight or Green Chapel because New Year's morning is approaching, but the lord pleads for him to stay because he knows where the Green Chapel is and its only a mile away.

In stanzas 23-24 the lord proposes a game. He will go out hunting with his men and and at the end of each of the days, the two men will exchange whatever they have won.

2. In this section you see the motif of games. The lord introduces a game where he will go hunting and at the end of the day the two men will exchange whatever they have won. The lord's game seems harmless but its almost as if he is making Gawain feel ashamed because while he is hunting and will most likely be able to bring something home, Gawain will be sitting in the castle. How is he supposed to win this game? What happens in this section is similar to what happens in the first section. Both the Green Knight and the lord present games that are absurd. Perhaps they challenge Gawain to these games because they do not like King Arthur. King Arthur is said to be one of the greatest and has all of the best knights. Maybe they are just envious of King Arthur and wish to see his demise.

3. I think the castle serves as a big symbol in section 2. You could relate it to the theme of hospitality. It seems to be a symbol of salvation and paradise for Gawain. Except its superficialities seem to imply its falseness. The castle as you first see is very welcoming and luxurious to Gawain. However, when looked at deeper you begin to question this when the lord decides he wants to play a game with Gawain. Its almost seems as if the whole castle is supporting the destruction of Gawain. It seems as if they are all testing Gawain to see if he is as good a knight as he is said to be. I think the lord of the castle has a problem with Arthur and because of this they're testing Gawain to his fullness because he is said to be related to King Arthur. Gawain proves pretty successful when he is able to respectfully deny the lady. Yet, he does break down later when he accepts the green girdle.

4. Gawain is different in this section compared to the last. In the first section Gawain is seen as not very important. He himself says that he is the weakest and the least in wit. He also says that the loss of his life is of little account. The king definitely doesn't disagree with Gawain. He respectfully grants him his blessing. Then in section 2 you notice that from the minute Gawain reaches the castle he is treated with the utmost respect. The servants come to attend to him without question. He is given a place to stay, food, and company. He is also begged not to leave, when he thinks it is time that he should continue with his quest. Here he feels as if he is worthy and wanted.

5. Camelot seems to be a more friendly and hospitable place. It is fun and games go on in a playful matter. Even when the Green Knight enters into the castle, he is almost welcomed in. He is allowed to make his speech without any interferences. While Sir Gawain is at castle it seems to be more dark. It is much more serious. The castle challenges the virtues of Gawain. He is tested by his temptations, loyalty, and deceits.

Hrolf Kraki Questions

2. a. King Adils. King Adils is a bad king. He has fires built up to try to scorch Hrolf and his men, sends a boar against them, attempts to burn them in the house, and then has Hrolf and his men attacked, but hides himself. Thus, he is a selfish and cowardly king. King Hrolf. King Hrolf is a great king. He is said to be open-handed and generous and so trustworthy and particular about his friends that his equal cannot be found. King Hrolf has the respect of his warriors. It is said that the champions were as willing to die with King Hrolf as they had been to live with him. Then you have King Halfdan of Denmark whom was mild-mannered, easygoing, quiet, and good natured vs. his brother King Frodi who was the harshest and greediest of men. This is a good example of a good king vs. bad king. King Frodi ends up getting jealous and murders his own brother.

b. Bodvar. Bodvar is a great warrior. He is accounted as Hrolf's greatest champion. He is respectful in the fact that when he appeared at King Thorir Hound's Foot home and was assumed the king, he did not get under the bed covers with his brother's queen. Hjalti is a strong and courageous warrior. Hijalti was called Magnanimous because he never hurt one of the king's retainers for what they had done to him earlier, even though he had now become a man far greater than they. Svipdag. Svipdag is a confident and valiant warrior. It was said from queen Yrsa that he had more confidence than all the berserkers put together. The warriors of Hrolf Kraki are all into the perfect warrior. They all have superior physical and mental strength, they love and respect their leader, and they are brave and courageous.

c. Olof. Hvit. Skud. All three of these women are very powerful and evil. When Helgi wanted to marry Queen Olof she decided to get him drunk and then shaved off all of his hair and smeared him with tar. She is also crafty and shrewd because she kept silent about Yrsa's parentage when Helgi marries Yrsa. She then reveals to Yrsa that she is incestuously married to her father. Hvit is evil because she tries to seduce Bjorn, turns him into a bear when he rejects her, then urges the killing of the bear. She is also the one who forces Bera to eat bear's flesh, which makes her children disformed. Queen Skuld finds her strength in magic and sorcery. Skuld proves to be a fearful opponent because she is able to bring about a monstorous boar. Important events turn on decisions made by these women. They are very controlling and superior in this story.

d. Skuld. Skuld uses a boar at the end of the novel to defeat the powerful King Hrolf Kraki. She is able to bring alive the dead and use them to kill Hrolf and all of his champions. With these living ghosts their is no chance for survival. Men in the saga also contain magic such as Vifil the commoner, the warrior Bodvar Bjarki, and King Adils.

e. I think this whole story is about revenge. From the beginning to end it seems as if that is what everyone is seeking. Perhaps this is because there are so many screwed up relationships. Bodvar kills and tortures Hvit to avenge his father Bjorn. Elk-Frodi and Thorir Hound's Foot avenge Bodvar after Skuld took over King Hrolf's realm. Olof kept quiet about the parentage of Yrsa so she could get revenge on Helgi.

f. Hospitality plays quite a big role in this saga. In one instance you see Hrani who is very hospitable and offers his home to Hrolf and his warriors. However, Hrolf screws this up by insulting Hrani therefore making Hrani turn against him. King Adils is very unhospitable. He welcomes his guests by building fires to scorch Hrolf and his men. Hrolf on the otherhand is quite hospitable. He takes in Bodvar and Hjalti and makes them his best champions.

3. I think this book is all about revenge. I believe this all started because of the weird relationships. So many people were related to one another that when one person died there was always someone who wanted to get revenge for his brother. A good example of this would be when Elk-Frodi and Thorir Hound's Foot set out to avenge their brother Bodvar Bjarki.

4. Hrolf and his champions compare with King Arthur and the roundtables in many ways. First the champions are like the roundtables in the way that they are protecters and warriors. There are 12 roundtables just as their are 12 champions. The roundtable was created to have no head or foot therefore representing equality. The champions on the other hand are not all equal. They sit in a straight line and whoever is closest to the king is considered the greatest of the warriors. Hrolf had the respect of his champions because they wanted to go to war with their king but with King Arthur his men were to afraid to go into battle with him. This shows you the difference between pagan warriors and christian knights. The pagan warriors were proud to die with their king while the christian knights were scared and only wanted to save their lives.

5. They both have bears on their sides. Hrolf has Bodvar as one of his champions, who is able to in spirit transform into a bear and become an outstanding warrior. Hrolf was a good king while Beowulf was a bad king. Hrolf trained all of his men to be equally great warriors, while Beowulf wanted to keep all of the fame and gratitude to himself. He fought his own battles. The main difference between the two is that Hrolf Kraki is a completely pagan story while Beowulf has a lot of Christianity. You see the difference between the christian warriors who are unable and scared to be in battle. While the pagan warriors are brave, courageous, and willing to die for their king. You also see the difference between the role of women. In Beowulf the women are powerless and used to keep peace. In Hrolf Kraki the women are powerful and their decisions make important events turn.