Word: gawain
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Dates: during 1890-1899
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...clad in green, who challenges the assembled knights to a strange contest. The green knight offers to allow any man present to deal him a blow with his axe on condition that he (the green knight) may deal a return blow a twelvemonth hence at the Green Chapel. Sir Gawain is the only knight valiant enough to accept the challenge. Accordingly, with a ponderous blow he chops off the green knight's head. But the latter picks his head up again and rides...
...Gawain sets out soon after in search of the Green Chapel. After encountering many dangers on the road, he finally arrives at a large castle in a forest. Here he is handsomely entertained by the hoast, who tells him that the Green Chapel is but two miles distant. The day after his arrival Sir Gawain asks to be allowed to rest in bed, being tired out with his travels. The host then makes a proposal that each one should give the other what he gets on that day. The host goes deer hunting. During the day the mistress...
...third day the lady of the house gives Sir Gawain a girdle of green lace which will protect the bearer from hacking and cutting. That evening Sir Gawain concealed this gift from his host...
...Year's Day coming round, Sir Gawain proceeds to the "Green Chapel," where he finds the green knight. The latter strikes, but the axe only makes a slight scratch on Sir Gawain's neck, because it is protected by the green lace. Thereupon the green knight reveals his identity with the lord of the castle and says that the visits of his wife to Sir Gawain's bed chamber were but to try his purity...
Professor Kittredge then spoke on the great merites of the poem. The interest increases steadily towards the climax through a series of episodes which are true developments of the plot, not a string of disconnected adventures. The interviews between Sir Gawain and the lady are managed with great delicacy, yet with no distinct reticence. Few things, too, could have been more difficult than to conduct Sir Gawain through these adventures without making him appear ridiculous. He is pictured as modest, brave, courteous and steadfast in faith. Even King Arthur is not the shadowy phantom we usually meet with, but real...