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★★★★★ 5
Has both Middle English and modern English
Format: Paperback
This translation of "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" has alternating the original Middle English on the left page and a modern English translation by James Winny on the right page. The translation is well done and it retains the Medieval feel of the original author. I have no intention of learning the northern dialect of Middle English but it was interesting to look at the language and see what it was like.
"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" was written in the 1300s and it is written in the form of a poem. It starts out at the court of King Arthur on New Year's Day. A green knight shows up and asks if anyone at the court will give a blow with a battle-axe that day and receive a blow with it twelve months and a day later. Arthur agrees to do it but Sir Gawain steps in and offers to do it instead. The green knight receives the blow by Gawain which cuts off his head. The green knight picks up his head and tells Gawain to fulfill his promise by seeking him out at the Green Chapel to receive a blow from the battle-axe in return. Sir Gawain then leaves King Arthur's court to find the Green Chapel and fulfill his promise.
The poem "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" is different from other Arthurian works. It is more barbaric and earthier. In some respects it is like other Arthurian works in that it romanticizes the mythical era of King Arthur portraying it as a time of luxury. My impression when reading the poem was that the scenery in Britain is quite beautiful. I hope to go to Britain one day.
Themes found in the poem include a praise of courage. The poem also stresses however that one should not be too courageous. Resisting temptation is also a theme of the poem. The resistance of temptation is the main part of the story. The poem doesn't shy away from detailing the attraction between men and women. The Christian notion that adultery is wrong is shown. The poem plays around with the concept of adultery making it out to be somewhat of a joke.
"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" also has a long part detailing the hunting of animals by a lord. The poem goes into so much detail describing the hunt that it is almost as if the poem is teaching the reader how to do it.
My conclusion upon reading "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" is that it is a fine example of an Arthurian work. It has all the messages one would normally find in an Arthurian work. The poem toys with the idea of evil in a humorous way as Arthurian works generally do. For readers of Arthurian legend, "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" is an important work in the genre.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2011
