Academic Article- Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

            In “Grace Versus Merit in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” by Larry S. Champion, the author explores the poem with a Christian like mindset that opens the idea that Gawain held religious allusions. To begin with, Champion gives several examples of other critics’ and their ideas with Christian influence in the poem, and then he mentions his opinion. Champion agrees with the critics’ ideas on religious power within the poem, but he thinks that they solely focus on that rather than the “intellectual climate of the age” (Champion 415). In other words, Champion connects Sir Gawain with the allegoric connection to biblical characters, Jesus Christ and Mary; he does so by saying that by taking the “protective girdle” he is “faced with the conscious choice between the dictates of self-interest and Christian honor” (Champion 416). In that context, Sir Gawain is of course being tested in a moral way.  

This interpretation that Champion gives of Sir Gawain and The Green Knight is interesting in the sense that he illustrates Sir Gawain as having “Christ –like” characteristics, but is tempted to sin when he takes the girdle. Champion’s article helped me dissect into other meanings the poem has, and I can understand his viewpoint of the poem’s meaning. I agree with Champion’s argument that Sir Gawain has a spiritual connection with Christianity, but I also think that there is more to the poem than the obvious religious aspect. The validity is seen when he states, “the remaining work of our poet, in which he is assumed to be using extensive religious allegory, reveals his profound concern with the issue of human salvation and the traditional Augustinian nature of his theology” (Champion 418). He has valid points, but there is still the relevant importance of chivalry and the questioning to one’s “moral code” that is set aside from religion. Regardless, both my opinion and Champion’s dissertation go hand in hand when constructing a thought out message to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

Works Cited:

Champion, Larry S. "Grace Versus Merit In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight." Modern Language Quarterly 28.4 (1967): 413. Academic Search Premier. Web. 16 Sept. 2012.

Mini Analysis-Women's Roles in Beowulf

What role do women play in Beowulf? Consider Queen Wealhtheow, Queen Hygd, and the various unnamed daughters of kings. How do women function in medieval Scandinavian society to reinforce alliances and solve blood-feuds?

At first glance, women in Beowulf seem rather insignificant, but once read more thoroughly, one can further analyze their responsibilities. The roles women have are “peace makers”, “beer wenches”, and “gift givers”. As “peace makers,” women reinforce alliances and solve blood-feuds by marrying neighboring tribes so the men will not kill each other. As “beer wenches,” the women served the alcohol to the men in the mead hall such as when Queen Wealhtheow, “handed the cup first to Hrothgar, their homeland’s guardian […] so the helming woman went on her rounds, queenly and dignified, decked out in rings, offering the goblet to all ranks” (pg 54, 615-622); the implication of serving the alcohol is that they help create the bonds with the men. Lastly as “gift givers”, a highly respected position, the women such as Heareth’s daughter,” behaved generously and stinted nothing when she distributed bounty to the Geats”(pg 82, 1929-1931). Importantly, Heareth’s daughter who is unnamed, did what she was supposed to do, and like most women in Beowulf, she did not protest at all.  

            Women’s roles are very limited and expected in Beowulf due to the pagan/ Christianity and eighteenth century influences mixed together. There is not much diversity with women, for example there are a lot of daughters that are unnamed. The women are either portrayed as troublesome or kind; for instance Queen Wealhtheow gives Beowulf gifts and encouragingly tells him, “I wish you a lifetime’s luck and blessings to enjoy this treasure. Treat my sons with tender care, be strong and kind” (pg 68, 1225-1227). The connotation of her speech was to give positive words to Beowulf and give him gifts, which ties into the specific, but once again, limited purpose women have. Queen Hygd was also portrayed to be kind, “her mind was thoughtful and her manners sure”(pg 82, 1928). In comparison to Queen Hygd and Queen Wealhtheow, Queen Modthryth “perpetrated terrible wrongs” as she would get men killed whenever they looked at her; in other words, she was wrong for having pride, and her conceit was put to an end by getting married. Hence, the roles women play in Beowulf are not diverse, but solely function as the “peace makers”, “beer wenches”, and “gift givers” , thus making Beowulf a must read in order to outlook the primitive views of women in the Scandinavian society.   

Works Cited

"Beowulf." The Norton Anthology English Literature. 9th ed. Vol. A. New York: W. W. Norton &Company, 2012. 54-82. Print. The Middle Ages.

Introduction to beowulf

The first half of Beowulf was rather difficult to comprehend at first because of the terminology used in the text. After re-reading it several times and reading the footnotes/ glossary of terms, I understood the reading better. To begin with, the poem starts with the funeral of Sclyd who was the founder of the dynasty that Hrothgar, his father, and grandfather belonged. Interestingly, there are two different Beowulf’s in the story, there is Beowulf whom is the son of Sclyd and then there is the other Beowulf who is the son of Ecgtheow, and is also the “hero” of the story. The first Beowulf continues to serve his father’s name by ruling the people, and he was “belovèd land-prince, for long-lasting season was famed mid the folk” (II, 2-3). He also has three sons and one daughter, and his son Hrothgar becomes a great king. As Hrothgar rules his people, there is Grendel, an “ogre” who has caused chaos amongst the people and the king. Beowulf, the protagonist of the poem hears that Hrothgar needs help in his kingdom so he takes his fourteen geat men with him and they land. Hrothgar and Beowulf talk about Grendel’s killing spree. Beowulf brags about the evil that he has defeated and how he plans to fight Grendel without any weapons or armor because, “the horrible creature from veriest rashness recks not for weapons” (VII 61-62). He continues to highlight his success as they are invited to keep the men company at dinner; Unferth, seemingly a confidential courtier of Hrothgar get jealous so he makes fun of Beowulf about the swimming match in which Breca won. Beowulf says that Breca “was unable To swim on the waters further than I could, More swift on the waves, nor would I from him go. Then we two companions stayed in the ocean five nights together, till the currents did part us,” (IX, 43-47). Beowulf told Unferth that he battled all sea monsters and that he has not done such noble deeds. As dinner ends, Hrothgar goes to rest, and so Beowulf looks after the mead hall; moments later Grendel, angry from hearing the joy, attacks and eats sleeping men. Beowulf awakens and beings fighting Grendel; Beowulf cuts off his arm, his claw and later cuts off his head when he fights his mother. Hrothgar rewards Beowulf with gold and gifts for killing Grendel. After that, Grendel’s mother seeks vengeance, but Beowulf finds her and they battle, Beowulf falls and she sits on him with a sword, but his armor saved him. He kills her, gets Grendel’s head and her famous sword; he goes back to Hrothgar and gives him the trophies in which he is thankful for. Then Beowulf and his men go back to Higelac, but Hrothgar and his people have difficulty seeing them depart. Once Beowulf returns to his home land, he tells Higelac his adventures and gives the gifts the Hrothgar gave to him.

A passage that seems important is one where Hrothgar is talking to Beowulf about not being overly proud after he gives him the trophies. Hrothgar expresses,                         

“ But a little-while lasts thy life-vigor’s fulness;

’Twill after hap early, that illness or sword-edge

Shall part thee from strength, or the grasp of the fire,

Or the wave of the current, or clutch of the edges,

Or flight of the war-spear, or age with its horrors,

Or thine eyes’ bright flashing shall fade into darkness:

’Twill happen full early, excellent hero,

That death shall subdue thee (60, 18-25)”

           

            The importance of this passage is that Beowulf’s elder, Hrothgar sees how proud Beowulf is of his success and all that he can offer, but he wants him to realize the true values of his life because he cannot live forever; in other words, it seems that Hrothgar said those words to him in order to bring him back to reality instead of continuously praising him. A related implication of the passage is that there are similarities between Beowulf and an unedifying religious aspect because there is the notion that God puts all these obstacles and battles for Beowulf to overcome; Beowulf succeeds in his battles, but there is a reminding factor that he must see past the battles and more into the reason of why he was tested. Some keywords that stood out and also reinforced the significance of the passage are “strength, age, fade and darkness”. Similarly, Beowulf embraces his victories, but he must learn that all of that will not last; Hrothgar appears to want to show Beowulf the overall importance of life without fame from battles. Overall, the significance of the passage shows that there is a more profound meaning to all of Beowulf’s achievements, and it is important to acknowledge the lessons behind his triumph and also to know who is there to help him conquer all of his obstacles.

I found an interesting article that explains some trends in Beowulf, and I think that I will use this as a future reference/ source. Enjoy!

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1741-4113.2006.00390.x/abstract