It’s time for us to review another medieval poem! In this episode, we discuss “Sir Gawaine and the Green Knight”.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a late 14th-century chivalric romance in Middle English, with an unknown author. The title of the poem was given centuries later after it was first written. It is one of the best-known Arthurian stories, with its plot combining two types of folk motifs: the beheading game, and the exchange of winnings. The poem draws on Welsh, Irish, and English stories, as well as the French chivalric tradition. Also, it is an important example of a chivalric romance, which typically involves a hero who goes on a quest which tests his prowess.
In the episode we discuss the following translations by different translators:
- J R R Tolkien
- Simon Armitage
Teaching My Cat to Read 