October 6 & 10, 2017
Agenda - 10/10/2017 Journal/IR Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Notes The Code of Chivalry Finish Beowulf Movie Collect EC Worksheet Homework: Have a lovely evening.
Writing Prompt On your honor 10/10/2017 Has your honor (pride self-esteem, dignity, self-respect) ever been tested? How did you defend it? Se ha probado su honor (orgullo - autoestima, dignidad, respeto de sí mismo)? Cómo lo defendió?
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Unit Objectives Students will be able to recognize the formula for a heroic journey in multiple works. They will also be able to clearly define what makes a literary hero and be able to identify whether a work contains a heroic journey. At the end of the unit, students will be able to demonstrate knowledge for the following essential questions: How does fear affect us as a society and as individuals? What makes someone honorable and/or virtuous/moral? How can we use humility, faith, courage, and love to interpret and put into practice God s moral code instead of society s?
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Time Period Medieval (Middle Ages) ca. 476 A.D. 1453 A.D. This is the time between antiquity (Classical Greece, the Roman Empire, etc.) and the Renaissance. More specifically, 476 A.D. marks the fall of the Western Roman Empire and 1453 A.D. marks the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire and a rebirth of the cultural movements of antiquity. The Middle Ages stretches the period between, and encompasses a great deal of literature of both secular and religious works, including adventure narratives.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Adventure Narratives of the Middle Ages Adventure narratives in this time period were dominated by stories from three areas or matters : The Matter of Rome: stories of ancient Roman heroes involved in exciting adventure, physical or involving love Romance
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Adventure Narratives of the Middle Ages The Matter of France: stories involving the French hero Roland (Orlando in Italian). The Matter of Britain: stories involving chivalry, especially that of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (Camelot) orarthurian Legend.
The Arthurian Legend Somehow the Arthurian legends actually developed in the ancient world, probably with the Celts who would eventually make up Britain. Basic elements of the Arthurian legend were first introduced into the literary world by Geoffrey of Monmouth s History of the Kings of Britain (ca. 1139) Poetic translation of Roman de Brut by Layamon introduced the legends of Excalibur (famous sword) French author Chretien de Troyes introduced Lancelot The English Knight Sir Thomas Malory codified the Arthur legends in Morte D Arthur (1485)
The Arthurian Legend Arthurian Legend Today Arthurian legends even last to today with pop culture taking on the Matter of Britain (e.g., Disney s The Sword in the Stone, Broadway s Camelot, First Knight, and in satire, Monty Python s Holy Grail)
Arthurian Legend and Chivalry Chivalric Ideal: The Knights of the Round Table were the most famous for this behavior in the Middle Ages. The classic definition of chivalry: men were brave, had honor, and showed gallantry towards women; Christian values in warfare (rules of engagement because the enemy is my brother ); usually a good lover; courtesy to all people is key being a gentleman in all situations is important; willing to sacrifice yourself for your lord and ladies (for the weak).
Arthurian Legend - Courtly Love Courtly Love: the love a knight has for a woman who is generally not his wife. It is a love from afar and it is usually very superficial (it is often explained, for example, with a knight who is struck by cupid s arrow as he sees a beautiful maiden walking out of a castle.
Arthurian Legend - Courtly Love Courtly Love is also generally unattainable (at most, the knight may get a kiss, but that is all). Often the maiden is married to the King (e.g., Arthur & Guinevere and then Lancelot comes into the picture). Courtly Love creates a situation where the knight seeks to impress the lady from afar by doing brave deeds and being the perfect gentleman (showing great chivalry).
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Elements of the Legends and This Story Medieval romances (adventures) were frequently episodic as is the case with the Arthurian legends. The best of these stories are carefully constructed (not at random) and the details tend to count. SGGK is an example of this because it combines two distinct sort of adventures (the beheading contest and the events at Bercilak s castle). Gawain s trouthe (his real character) is repeatedly tested in this as well as his loyalty: to Arthur and to the chivalric code.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Elements of the Legends and This Story Christian themes are major themes in the story, because not only is the poet a Christian, but the knights are as well. It s important to understand that the poet may not always be agreeing with the chivalric code. Strangely, however, there are pagan Celtic themes as well, especially in dealing with nature and magical elements. What is particularly important is the nature of Gawain s trouthe or his true character, symbolized by the star on his shield or Pentangle.
The Pentangle What the Pentangle symbolizes: 1. Five Senses Faultless 2. Five Fingers That Never Failed 3. Five Wounds of Christ 4. Five Joys of Mary: A. Annunciation B. Nativity C. Resurrection D. Ascension E. Assumption 5. Gawain s Virtues (boundless beneficence (being kind and charitable), brotherly love, pure mind, manners, & compassion)
Romance Popular narrative since Middle Ages Noble heroes, gallant love, the chivalric code, daring deeds They involve far away setting Depicts events unlike ordinary life Idealizes the heroes, light-hearted in tone, involve fantasy
Vocabulary Legend: a non-historical or unverifiable story handed down by oral tradition from earlier times and popularly accepted as historical Myth: a traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, esp. one that is concerned with Gods or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature.
Legend Camelot is the most famous castle and court associated with the legendary King Arthur Camelot is a city in which everyone was treated equally with justice Example: Legend of Big Foot
Myths Contains a lesson within the story A value that is universal (fear, death, honesty, persistence) Example: The Tortoise and the Hare