The Green Girdle
During the start of the poem, King Arthur celebrates Christmas merrily with his knights in Camelot. During the festivities, an elegant green-skinned knight wielding a holly branch and a monstrous axe crashes the party. He challenges the legendary Knights of the Round Table with a test of bravery and strength; Sir Gawain, nephew of King Arthur, courteously accepts the challenge and subsequently chops off the Green Knights head. Much to everyones shock and dismay, the Green Knight picks up his severed head nonchalantly and tells Sir Gawain to arrive at the Green Chapel within one years time. And thus, when the time ticks closer to the next New Years Day, Sir Gawain embarks upon a journey to find the Green Chapel and accept the Green Knights blow. And after besting the dragons, trolls, wolves, uncountable perils, and most importantly, the bone-chilling frost, Sir Gawain arrives at a white castle, full of weariness and exhaustion. The Lord of the Castle greets him graciously and invites him to stay as long as Gawain wishes. He also reveals his knowledge of the location of the Green Chapel, and promises to bring Sir Gawain in time to keep his vow. In return, he requests Sir Gawain to enjoy his stay at the castle and makes a deal to exchange the days prizes before he leaves to hunt: Whatever I earn in the woods will be yours, Whatever you win will be mine in exchange. Shall we swap our days work, Gawain? (Lines 1105-1108). This agreement, possessing a striking similarity to the one with the Green Knight, eventually leads Sir Gawain to break from his code of chivalry and experience a symbolic death and rebirth.
Parallel to the Lord of the Castles hunting expeditions; the Lady of the Castle repeatedly attempts to seduce Sir Gawain. Sir Gawain courteously evades the advances each of the three days, similar to the timid deers, the tough boar, and the cunning fox. And on the third day, the Lady of the Castle presents him with a beautiful green girdle, casually mentioning the invincibility the girdle would give to the wearer. And this gift Sir Gawain accepts, and keepsbreaking the agreement with the Lord of the Castle to exchange all the winnings of the day: The gift from her husband, agreed that only She and Gawain would share the secret (lines 1864-1865). This symbolizes Sir Gawains death in the non-literal sense. Sir Gawain, ever so strict to follow the code of chivalry, breaks it in regard for his mortality.
The confrontation with the Green Knight revives Gawain. The Green Knight delivers three blows: two feints and one cut, far from killing Sir Gawain. The Green Knight then absolves Gawain of his sins and pronounces him a knight clean and worthy. Gawain then swears to forever wear the green girdle as reminder of [t]he weakness and error of this feeble flesh (line 2435).
Newly humbled, Sir Gawain returns to King Arthurs court, where everyone rejoices over his return. He shares the tales of his journey, including his own personal downfall, and presents the girdle. King Arthur then quickly settles that the green girdle be the glory of his Round Table.
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