"Yet though I must lose my life, fear shall never make me change colour."

Those of you who have perused my reviews on poetry will be aware that I do not have a particular affinity for it. The plot of this poem was truly excellent - for which I awarded the three stars. However, I am not the sort of person to pass judgment on the fact that it was composed in poetry form in the first place. Poetry has always been a rather elusive art form for me. I struggle to fully appreciate the nuances and subtleties that it often contains. But in this case, despite my general lack of enthusiasm for poetry, I was able to recognize the quality of the plot. It managed to engage my interest and hold my attention throughout. While I may not be able to fully understand and analyze the poem from a poetic perspective, I can still appreciate it for its story. And that, to me, is what truly matters.

Sir Gawain of Camelot, in this late 14th-century poem, encounters a most fearsome adversary - a giant green knight with supernatural powers who makes a deadly pact with Gawain at King Arthur's court on New Year's Day. As Gawain attempts to fulfill this grim bargain, even at the cost of his life, the unknown poet who composed this narrative verse reveals much about the medieval world in which the poem was written.

Scholars of medieval literature have proposed several possible authors of "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," but all that can be said with reasonable certainty is that the unknown poet probably composed the poem between 1375 and 1400 - in the England of King Richard II or King Henry IV. It is interesting to wonder if either of these kings, both of whose reigns were later dramatized by William Shakespeare, might have heard this poem recited at court.

The poem begins with King Arthur, his wife Queen Guinevere, and the knights of the Round Table sitting down for a New Year's feast. King Arthur announces that he will not begin to dine until a marvellous event occurs. Just then, an unexpected visitor arrives - an unknown knight of gigantic stature, all clad in green. His horse is green, and his skin, hair, beard, and everything about him are green. Clearly, King Arthur has the marvel he was seeking.

The Green Knight, bearing a huge Viking-style battle-axe, challenges the knights of the Round Table. He offers a fine axe freely to any knight who is hardy enough to strike a strong blow in return for another. Many of the familiar Arthurian knights are present, but only Sir Gawain is willing to take up the challenge.

It is worth noting that the Sir Gawain of this poem is quite different from the Gawain of Malory's epic. In Malory's work, Gawain is selfish, judgemental, and often treacherous. In "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," by contrast, Gawain is brave and humble, always acting with goodwill and good intentions.

Accepting the challenge, Gawain strikes off the Green Knight's head. But the story does not end there. The Green Knight, without his head, seizes his head and rides away, commanding Gawain to keep his end of the bargain and seek him at the Green Chapel on the following New Year's Day.

Believing that keeping the bargain will mean his death, Gawain leaves Camelot on All Saints' Day to find the Green Chapel. His journey takes him through various landscapes, both real and mythic. Eventually, he arrives at a castle where he is welcomed by the lord, Sir Bertilak.

However, Sir Bertilak's castle proves to be the site of further testing for Gawain. Over the course of three days, while Sir Bertilak is out hunting, his beautiful young wife comes to Gawain's bedchamber and offers herself to him. Gawain struggles to resist this temptation, as it creates a moral dilemma for him.

On New Year's Day, as Gawain is on his way to the Green Chapel, he faces one final test. Sir Bertilak's servant encourages him to flee, emphasizing the Green Knight's murderous cruelty. But Gawain, true to his word, refuses to flee and continues on his way.

The stage is now set for Gawain's final confrontation with the Green Knight at the Green Chapel. This visit unveils several surprises and invokes familiar Arthurian characters like Merlin and Morgan le Fay.

Translator Brian Stone includes a helpful introduction and six critical essays with this Penguin Books edition of "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," enhancing the reader's understanding of the poem and the medieval world in which it was composed. Stone suggests that the Green Knight, with his non-human qualities, "wants and apparently needs... to bask in the light of a human virtue which he cannot himself have."

"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," a New Year's tale, takes place at a time of endings and beginnings. It emphasizes the importance of remaining true to one's principles, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Given how tough Gawain is on himself for his few failures, it is a particularly appropriate book to read at a time when many of us look back on our past failings and resolve to do better in the new year.

This poem offers valuable insights into the values and ideals of the medieval period, as well as timeless lessons about courage, honor, and temptation. It is a classic work of literature that continues to captivate readers today.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a classic tale from Arthurian legend, is often attributed to an unknown author, though some believe it may have been penned by the prolific Greek author Anonymous. This story is rich in the code of honor associated with chivalry.

There are numerous interpretations of the poem's meaning, which have historically depended on the reader's bias. Christians have focused on the sex aspect, while pagans have seen parallels with the Green Man. For me, it's simply great fun, much like it was for the common folk who eagerly listened to it by their smoky peat fires hundreds of years ago.

It contains what could be considered the greatest "OH FUCK" moment in medieval literature. The vivid descriptions and thrilling plot make it a captivating read.

The accompanying images add to the allure of the story, providing a visual representation of the events and characters.

Overall, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a timeless piece of literature that continues to engage and entertain readers today.

I know this is a basic English major text, but I have an intense love for it.

Apparently, this is the very first appearance of red + green + white as Christmas colors! The concept of seduction as a hunt, the tensions between Pagan and Christian beliefs, and learning about the motif of the Green Man throughout history – all these aspects are truly captivating.

I'm realizing that this is more of a review of my class rather than just this text, but for me, they are completely intertwined.

Taking this medieval literature class has been one of the most outstanding decisions I've made this year. If I had been born 50 years ago, I would most likely aspire to be a medievalist. This literary tradition is simply fascinating. It gives the impression that there is some extraordinary core of truth in everything we read. It's truly astonishing to observe how the texts we are studying have already had such a profound influence on my way of understanding the world, often through the consumption of other texts and media that they have influenced.

Moreover, there are really excellent essays in this edition. In particular, the one about violence as courtly play by Martin is truly remarkable.

I don't usually have a penchant for stories that are overly embellished with religious morality. However, this particular one was an absolute delight.

The tales of King Arthur and his court have always held a special place in my heart. Perhaps my rating of this story is somewhat influenced by nostalgia.

Nonetheless, this work is truly brilliant. Simon Armitage is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors. His writing style is engaging, and he has a remarkable ability to bring these classic tales to life in a new and exciting way.

I look forward to reading more of his works in the future and seeing how he continues to explore and reimagine these beloved stories.

Simon Armitage's translation of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is indeed a highly modern rendition.

It's crucial to bear in mind that when reading any translated work, the translator's personal views and intentions inevitably influence the outcome. This is particularly evident in translations such as Seamus Heaney's of Beowulf and Armitage's of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, but it holds true for all translations. Even when a group of undergraduates undertake awkward prose translations, like that of Wulf and Eadwacer, personal interpretation is unavoidable.

Knowing this and having read the introduction to this translation, I easily settled in to enjoy Simon Armitage's work. It's not a literal translation; rather, it's colloquial and contemporary, and may quickly become outdated. I don't believe it's suitable for academic commentary on the poem, unless specifically focusing on different translations, as it's a very interpretive and presented in "plain English," lacking the full richness of the original.

However, it is also very readable and has its own charm. If you're intimidated by the idea of "Old English" (which is actually Middle English, and all translations are in Modern English), this translation is excellent – lively and, I think, playful. I thoroughly enjoyed the language, especially because of its strong Yorkshire flavor (having grown up in Yorkshire). Armitage makes a commendable effort at using the alliterative metre, and the poem practically demands to be read aloud and savored.

As I've read the poem in various translations (Armitage's, Brian Stone's, a prose translation, and the original), the story itself has become less significant to me. Instead, I find myself focusing on the tone of the poem (is the narrator being ironic?), details like the missing day (count them up carefully), and the use of adjectives ("good Gawain," etc). Nevertheless, there's still an interesting story there – the testing of Sir Gawain, the tension between courtly manners and Christianity, and so on.

This review is specifically about the translation, not the poem itself.

I have now perused five translations of Gawain and also delved into the original Middle English version. Prior to tonight, I might have asserted that Simon Armitage's translation was my favorite. It still holds a high position, particularly due to its ease of access for a contemporary audience. However, Weston's translation is by far the most faithful to the original. It preserves the rhyme scheme, the bob and wheel technique, and the alliteration. Nevertheless, it won't be effortlessly approachable for the casual reader as she retains numerous archaic and Middle English words. In the initial few pages, we encounter "trow," "ywis," "wroth," "eke," "emprise," and "hap." It wouldn't be amiss to have a Middle English dictionary close at hand, which, of course, I did because "NERD ALERT!"

I suppose this should not come as a surprise since Weston's most renowned work is From Ritual to Romance. Although it has had its critics since its publication in 1920, it has inspired generations of artists and creations, ranging from T. S. Eliot's The Waste Land to Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now.

For those who teach or study early English literature or Arthurian legend, or those who have more than a fleeting interest in it, this translation is a must-read. For everyone else, perhaps it would be best to stick with Armitage's translation.

I discovered poetry that I truly cherish - it's a New Year's miracle!

This was an absolute delight. I have a penchant for narrative poems as they unfold a story that I can relish, that I can follow, and that I can immerse myself in. I found all these qualities in 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight'. Simon Armitage's translation was thoroughly enjoyable. He endeavored to remain faithful to the original and relied on all those poetic conventions to render it more authentic. All those poetic techniques serve to elevate the story and make it a more pleasurable read. The nursery rhyme-like cadence keeps the narrative flowing, and I simply couldn't bring myself to stop reading as I became so deeply involved.

I believe this was a really outstanding translation. I think I'll give Tolkien's translation a go next, to compare and determine which one is superior. Did I actually love the story (which is, of course, a resounding yes) or was it the translation that appealed to me? It's difficult to tell when I've only read one, so I'm definitely going to explore further and experiment with more!

Regarding the story itself, I thought it was simply fantastic. So classic. It was both humorous and absurd, yet incredibly interesting and FUN (I just can't seem to stop using that word as it's so fitting!). It was excellent. I'm truly glad that I finally got around to reading this! I'm going to do some digging to see if I can uncover any other Arthurian literature (of which I'm certain there's an abundance!).

As a die-hard fan of Arthurian legends, this is one of those tales that I feel I ought to have known. It's not that I was completely ignorant of it - I simply hadn't delved into it. Perhaps it was because I was aware that it was a 14th-century poem, consisting of over a hundred pages and written in Middle English. And no, I didn't even dare to attempt the original "Sir Gawayn and þe Grene Knyȝt" version. Instead, I opted for one of the many translations.

Generally speaking, me and poetry don't blend very smoothly. Even though I have an undying love for "Lord of the Rings", I often find myself getting lost in its numerous poems and songs. I'm not sure if I'm cultured enough or something along those lines.

“—¿Cómo, es ésta la corte de Arturo —dijo—, cuya fama tanto se ha extendido por todos los reinos del mundo? ¿Dónde están ahora vuestra arrogancia, vuestras proezas, vuestras victorias y valor, y el arrojo del que os jactáis?” This statement sets the stage for a captivating tale. It's a brief account that holds all the elements to form a wonderful chivalric story set in the world of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.

  
    “—¿Cómo, es ésta la corte de Arturo —dijo—, cuya fama tanto se ha extendido por todos los reinos del mundo? ¿Dónde están ahora vuestra arrogancia, vuestras proezas, vuestras victorias y valor, y el arrojo del que os jactáis?”
  

In this book, we will accompany Sir Gawain, one of the famous knights, on a journey. During this journey, several events will test his code of chivalry. What has surprised me the most is that it's not a typical action-packed story with great battles. Instead, it focuses more on the moral aspect of the protagonist.

The key point of the reading will be the end, which will make us reevaluate all the events that have occurred and leave us reflecting. I consider that the epilogue is also very interesting for fully understanding such an ancient work. It makes the reading very enjoyable and has aged to perfection.

Every romance novel that is not Ferguut's deserves a high rating❤.

Romance novels have always been a popular genre, captivating readers with their tales of love and passion.

Among them, there are many outstanding works that are not written by Ferguut.

These novels often have unique storylines, well-developed characters, and beautiful writing styles.

They can transport readers to different worlds and make them experience the joys and sorrows of love.

Therefore, it is only fair that these novels receive high ratings.

They deserve to be recognized and appreciated by more readers.

Whether it is a historical romance, a contemporary romance, or a paranormal romance, as long as it is well-written and engaging, it has the potential to become a classic.

So, the next time you pick up a romance novel that is not Ferguut's, give it a chance and you might be pleasantly surprised.

Sir Gawain is a complex and fascinating character who represents the thin line between being a devout Christian and having chaotic bisexual tendencies.

On one hand, he adheres to the teachings and values of Christianity, striving to be a noble and virtuous knight. He shows respect for God and follows the code of chivalry.

However, on the other hand, his relationship with the Green Knight introduces an element of chaos and confusion. Their encounter leads to a series of events that test Gawain's faith and his sense of self.

Unfortunately, it seems that this long distance relationship with the Green Knight is doomed not to work out for him. The differences between them, both in nature and in their respective worlds, may prove to be insurmountable.

Despite this, Gawain's journey and his experiences offer valuable insights into the human condition, exploring themes such as temptation, morality, and the struggle between good and evil.

In conclusion, Sir Gawain's story is a captivating one that continues to intrigue readers and scholars alike.