I've decided to officially dnf this one. I don't want to waste time forcing myself to read something I'm not at all enjoying, especially since this isn't Tolkien’s original work–he just translated it. I'm still going to keep this book for my collection though.

Arthur may be king of Britain, but Gawain is king of my heart (and of the bisexuals)

Also Pearl and Sir Orfeo were really good poems too, I liked them. The poems were SO well-written, I loved the stories.

Perhaps Tolkien's translation led to deeper enjoyment than my first read, or perhaps I'm biased for anything Tolkien. I enjoyed this and the third story, Sir Orfeo. They both have a story-tale feel and some adult scenes, such as blood squirting from the Green Knights head before he walks to it and picks it up. Sir Orfeo has a scene of a place with deformed and dead people, some missing arms and legs. I found them both entertaining, but Pearl not so much. Maybe I'll come back to that one and try again later.

4 stars for Sir Gawain
4 stars for Pearl
5 stars for Sir Orfeo.

Retko kada, ili gotovo upste, nekoj Tolkinovoj knjizi ne dajem ocenu manju od 5 zvezdica.
Ipak jedino sto mi u ovoj kompilaciji prevoda kvari utisak je delo Pearl. Necu objasnjavati zasto, neka to ostane ostane mala tajna i upitnik za one koji se odluce da procitaju ovu knjigu. Zato Sir Gawain and the Green Knight i Sir Orfeo zasluzuju dosta pohvala. I mada su to dva moze se reci plaha, koliritna, gotovo dela za razbibrigu bogat jezik i prelepa rima cine ih veoma prvlacnim za citanje i u mom sada vec secanju mame sirok osmeh.

Such a lovely read! Tolkien is a masterful translator. I read The Green Knight out loud to my 1 year old over the course of a few weeks, and it was such a fun experience. Reading it out loud give you the chance to really bounce on the rhymes and alliterations of each line. Also a beautiful and gripping story. Although there were plenty of words that I've never hear of, it still seemed as approachable as Simon Armitage's translation.

I also just finished the Pearl and Sir Orfeo. Both are very quick reads, and wonderfully enjoyable. In the Pearl, I specifically loved the retellings of different parables and Bible passages in verse form. And Sir Orfeo was such an easy read. I love Tolkien.

Tolkien's translations are masterful, and well read by Terry Jones.

I only read "Sir Gawain", but boy was that fun! Such a rich text, and probably the first Middle English poem I've ever actually enjoyed reading!

Avventura, cavalleria, miti arturiani, esoterismo, misticismo, amore e morte in tre poemetti medioevali (4 con il breve Congedo di Sir Gawain alla fine, prime strofe di un altro poema che con il cavaliere nulla avevano a che fare ma che si prestavano al fabbisogno dell'autore) che attirarono l'attenzione di Sir John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, il quale non si limitò ad una semplice traduzione, ma ne ha di fatto rielaborato completamente il testo secondo il proprio gusto letterario, arricchendolo senza tradirne lo spirito, e rendendolo accessibile al lettore comune.
Ma attenzione, si tratta comunque pur sempre di testi destinati alla declamazione in pubblico più che alla lettura a casa seduti in poltrona: mentre il Sir Galvano ed il Cavaliere Verde è un appassionante capolavoro di letteratura cavalleresca che ho adorato, provando a leggere la sera Perla e Sir Orfeo sono crollato addormentato dopo appena poche righe... ma sicuramente è una questione di gusti personali.

"I confess, sir, here to you
all faulty has been my fare.
Let me gain your grace anew,
and after I will beware."

In 2022, I read the translation of Simon Armitage's Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Then I went and listened to Benedict Flynn's version afterwards. But I still wanted to check out J.R.R. Tolkien's translation.

I liked it well enough, but it is difficult to say whether I like it more or less than Armitage's. However, I don't remember Pearl and Sir Orfeo being included in the latter's translation.

Both of these tales were pleasant enough, more so Sir Orfeo than Pearl. That isn't to say Pearl is inherently bad or anything. Really, it's not! At least, I don't think it's bad. It's just different tone wise compared to its companions. At least, that's how I perceived it.

I have to say, though, Sir Orfeo was my favorite tale from this book.

n  Overall Ratingsn
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight ★★★ (3.25 stars)
Pearl ★★★ (3.25 stars)
Sir Orfeo ★★★★★ (5 stars)

One of the classic Arthurian texts, and it has had a lot more attention since the release of the recent movie adaptation. I read it originally quite a few years ago, but the details had strayed from my mind, so it was like reading it for the first time again.

This is an awesome Arthurian story in my opinion, with so many aspects of the legend that we know and love today. Gawain has always been one of my favourite characters, and I believe he is far more nuanced in this poem than you would expect from a medieval piece of literature.

“Of all the things that men may heed
'Tis most of love they sing indeed.”

Whilst I would say that there are didactic intentions, with obvious messages contained within this tale and heavy symbolism as well, there is an element of what people would probably think of as modern, in the sense that the message in my opinion is subtle. It is not in your face, it is not constantly alluded to with every other word. It is subtle, and that in my opinion makes it far more powerful. We progress through a linear story, with events feeding into the symbolism and message of the story, but not so obviously as to detract from the ongoing events. With the themes of chivalry, reputation, romance, discipline and honesty sticking out to me, there is so much to discuss that makes this poem engaging and interesting long after you have read and mulled over it for a while.

I would say that it is challenging at parts, but overall fluid and accessible, as it is telling a linear story, with the evolution of plot gradually taking place and just depicting the journey of Sir Gawain's interaction and quest with the Green Knight. It starts with telling the story of the beginning of England, which intertwines with the legend of Troy, but then fairly swiftly places you in Arthur’s chamber with his knights as a feast, shortly before The Green Knight makes his grand and impactful appearance. From then on you have an awesome, quirky and unique quest.

Also, I of course have to mention that I read Tolkien’s translation. Following that, it is not surprising when I say that he did a wonderful job. It is beautiful and conveys the tone and atmosphere, whilst still allowing the text to be accessible to more modern readers.

The Green Knight is such an intriguing and interesting read that is accessible to those far beyond the experienced reader of medieval texts. It is accessible, and I believe most people would ascertain a semblance of enjoyment from this read. Almost everyone enjoys Arthurian legend, and so, almost everyone would enjoy this.

5/5 STARS

Read in the following years:
2007
2009
2012 August 18-26