I would like each of you to:
- print out one scholarly article chosen from the following list of articles and
- submit a one-paragraph “abstract”—a summary of a text, scientific article, document, speech, etc.—on that article to the blog or on hard copy, being sure to indicate the title of the article as well as its author.
Article List
(you can find and print in full any one of these articles by clicking the title and, once in the new window, the PDF link):
(you can find and print in full any one of these articles by clicking the title and, once in the new window, the PDF link):
- Christian Significance and Romance Tradition in "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"
M. Mills The Modern Language Review, Vol. 60, No. 4 (Oct., 1965), pp. 483-493 - The Passing of the Seasons and the Apocalyptic in "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"
S. L. Clark, Julian N. Wasserman
South Central Review, Vol. 3, No. 1 (Spring, 1986), pp. 5-22 - The Significance of the Pentangle Symbolism in "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"
Gerald Morgan
The Modern Language Review, Vol. 74, No. 4 (Oct., 1979), pp. 769-790 - The Folk-Tale Element in "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"
Claude Luttrell
Studies in Philology, Vol. 77, No. 2 (Spring, 1980), pp. 105-127 - The Source of the Beheading Episode in "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"
Larry D. Benson
Modern Philology, Vol. 59, No. 1 (Aug., 1961), pp. 1-12 - Sin, Psychology, and the Structure of "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"
Louis Blenkner
Studies in Philology, Vol. 74, No. 4 (Oct., 1977), pp. 354-387 - Knight in Tarnished Armour: The Meaning of "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"
Gordon M. Shedd
The Modern Language Review, Vol. 62, No. 1 (Jan., 1967), pp. 3-13 - Gawain's Fault in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
David Farley Hills
The Review of English Studies, New Series, Vol. 14, No. 54 (May, 1963), pp. 124-131
- The Validity of Gawain's Confession in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Gerald Morgan
The Review of English Studies, New Series, Vol. 36, No. 141 (Feb., 1985), pp. 1-18 - The Hunting Scenes in 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight'
J. D. Burnley
The Yearbook of English Studies, Vol. 3, (1973), pp. 1-9 - The Saints in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Ronald Tamplin
Speculum, Vol. 44, No. 3 (Jul., 1969), pp. 403-420 - Laughter and Game in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Martin Stevens
Speculum, Vol. 47, No. 1 (Jan., 1972), pp. 65-78 - The Medieval Mind in "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"
Dean Loganbill
The Bulletin of the Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association, Vol. 26, No. 4 (Winter, 1972), pp. 119-126 - The Meaning of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Alan M. Markman
PMLA, Vol. 72, No. 4 (Sep., 1957), pp. 574-586 - The Lady's 'Blushing' Ring in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Jessica Cooke
The Review of English Studies, New Series, Vol. 49, No. 193 (Feb., 1998), pp. 1-8 - Gawain and the Gift
Britton J. Harwood
PMLA, Vol. 106, No. 3 (May, 1991), pp. 483-499 - Feminine Knots and the Other Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Geraldine Heng
PMLA, Vol. 106, No. 3 (May, 1991), pp. 500-514
- Disorientation, Style, and Consciousness in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
John M. Ganim
PMLA, Vol. 91, No. 3 (May, 1976), pp. 376-384 - Medieval Misogyny and Gawain's Outburst against Women in "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"
Gerald Morgan
The Modern Language Review, Vol. 97, No. 2 (Apr., 2002), pp. 265-278
DUE DATE: Monday, October 20, 2008
Please be sure to submit your article with the proper format (as with the previous abstract assignment).
16 comments:
Matthew Clair
Bro. Peach
Eng 141/ Brit. Lit.
10/21/08
The Hunting Scenes in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
J.D. Burnley
It was recently said by an editor that since we are dealing with shadowy cross-references, we can not expect a very precise set of equivalences between the hunting scenes and the temptation scenes. However the main reason for this article is to find some features of “literary technique and associations” which may lead to these shadows. The essay is not trying to prove of some relationships between each of the animals and Gawain, but rather tell of the associations of the quarries on the hunting field, and how they then blend together to form an emotional and moral “penumbra” (shadow) over the temptation scenes. The best example of one of these scenes is then relationship between the fox-hunt (1695) and the scene starting with line 1732. The fox is the only animal with feelings that are comparable to that of a humans. This is associated with the morals of Gawain in the countering scene.
Brett Pippens
Bro. Peach
Eng 141/ Brit. Lit.
10/21/08
Gawain's Fault in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
David Farley Hills
In the "agreement" between Sir Gawain and the host, the rules were quite simple. In exchange for everything the host wins on the hunt, Gawain is to return by exchanging what he received in the house. But Gawain makes a human mistake by not admitting to his acceptance of the Green girdle. Mr. David Hills states that Gawain, himself, declares that he has committed to the sin of covetousness. But prior to that perticular line in the story, he does in fact lead the reader on to believe that he accepted the girdle because of its rumored protectiveness. Not because it was the love token of a flirtatious young queen in the castle. The poet makes this very clear. Mr. David Farley Hills is simply stating that Gawain makes a simple mistake but the poet/ writer gives it away easily.
Joe Rabel
Bro. Peach
Eng 141/ Brit. Lit
10/ 19/08
Medieval Misogyny and Gawain’s Outburst Against Women in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Gerald Morgan
In Sir Gawain and the Green knight some could argue the fact that there is anti-feminism, misogyny, in the story. Some people could argue that in the middle ages misogyny was common but in this article, Morgan states, “We seem to be on the verge here of substituting our own commonplaces for what we may take to be the commonplace of the middle ages.” (Page 266-267). On the other hand someone could argue that for a knight, his purpose is to protect women, the children, and the helpless. Also Morgan states, “Courtesy and fidelity are here reinforced by generosity… courtesy and chastity are always fittingly accompanied by a generous and disinterested regard for the feelings and needs of others and also by a willingness in the absence of certain knowledge not to impugn the motives of others. Thus Gawain is puzzled rather than outraged by the lady's initial appearance at his bedroom door. He does not attribute the rudeness of ignorance or design to his hostess, but simply tries to make sense of what is on the face of it an extraordinary violation of a social code. Perhaps it is an accident and the lady has mistaken his bedroom for her own. Such things can happen. Perhaps the lady is impelled by the sudden promptings of an innocent and vulnerable love. No doubt such a circumstance is not unusual in the world inhabited by a paragon like Gawain.” (Page 272). In this paragraph Morgan states that Sir Gawain is not trying to push her away, but maintain an aspect of chivalry, as any good knight should do. Then in the article, Morgan gives different examples that prove he is not a “woman hater”.
Vinnie Venturella
Bro. Peach
Eng 141/ Brit. Lit.
10/21/08
“The Lady’s Blushing Ring in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”
Jessica Cooke
“The Lady’s Blushing Ring in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” was a scholarly article written by Jessica Cooke. It pointed out the significance of the ring offered to Sir Gawain by Lady Bertilak. Sir Gawain did not accept this the offer so it is overlooked by the offering he did accept of the green girdle. The reason behind him not accepting the ring was that it symbolized protection like the green girdle but also had material wealth. Sir Gawain thought it would be acceptable because it was to only protect him but that proved untrue in the end. The article also goes into detail about the significance of the colors in the ring. It gives examples form the original text to show that the red ruby did not only have a red color but it shined with red color. It also talks about the different symbols the color red can have. It also goes into the significance of the fact it was set in a gold ring. It states that that gold symbolizes wisdom. However, the main statement about the symbolism of the different colors was when Jessica Cooke said, “The combination of red and gold often signifies the moral perfection which Gawain tries to achieve” (Cooke 4). This statement shows how the ring was very significant in this book. Even thought he did not choose the ring it led him to accept the lesser girdle as he gave into the temptations.
Brian Fuchs
Br. Peach
ENG 141 / Brit. Lit.
10/20/08
The Passing of the Seasons and the Apocalyptic in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
S.L. Clark & Julian N. Wasserman
Interesting. Sir Gawain and the Green Night may be looked at as a poem of moral assessments and values but underneath the surface, the poem could represent the apocalyptic end of chivalry and medieval traditions. The poem can be seen as a poem about a doomed society, Camelot, in which out of the many “knights” challenged by the Green Knight only one has the courage to accept the fatal challenge. The challenge is filled with symbols of death such as the Green Knight’s axe. The knight is an appropriate figure of an apocalyptic judgment that faces Arthur’s kingdom and the beliefs of chivalry. The divine revelation and salvation the Green Knight’s challenge offers can only be achieved by individual experience and is, therefore, unable to be understood by the world of the unredeemed. Thus, leading to the demise of chivalrous society and of Arthur’s kingdom.
Branford Phillips
Bro. Peach
Eng 141/Brit. Lit.
10/19/08
The Validity of Gawain's Confession in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Gerald Morgan
It is stated that only recently has "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" received fame for it's brillent style of language. The foucus of this article however, is on the moral situation that Gawain is repeatedly faced with in the story. Gawain's confession of his sins before his departure from Bertilak's castle is used as a primary example. His promptness in coming to the mass shows Gawain's piety which is stated as being a virtue meaning that Gawain fulfills a religious obligation. The integration of virtues such as piety and fidelety are the ideas that the pentegal revolves around. The article moves on to Gawain's relationship with his host. In the Exchange of Winnings, Gawain is trapped between a moral conflict. He cannot offer his host a gift for it would conflict with the viurtue of chastity. More over , the lady's offering of a girdle forces Gawain to choose between his courtesy or his chastity. His acceptence of the girdle and the promise to keep it hidden from the lord shows his imperection as a human being.
Sam Miclot
Brother Peach
Eng. 141/Brit. Lit.
10/21/08
“Sin, Psychology, and the Structure of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”
Louis Blenkner
In Louis Blenkner’s article he argues that the story of “ Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” is divided into four parts or as he says “Fitts” and the four parts are divided into “universally disregarded subdivisions”. Fitts II and III are divided into 3 subdivisions each and Fitt IV is divided into two subdivisions. They are all divided by nine separate ornamented capital letters. Fitt I deals with the the Beheading covenant between the Green Knight and Sir Gawain. Fitt II describes how Gawain’s mental strength holds back his lack of courage to face danger before morality in nature. It is then divided into three parts. First, the preparation for the journey. Second, the franchise confirmed in the wilderness. Third, the exchange covenant sworn with chivalrous intentions. The third Fitt
tells of the wisdom of Gawain in resisting sexual lust. It is also divided into three parts. The parts are “Clannes” defended on the day of the does, courtesy defended on the day of the boar and fox, and ignorance revealed in false exchange. The last of the Fitts shows how humility vanquishes ignorance through grace. This is divided into two parts, which are pity confirmed in temptation and pity confirmed in penance. The Green Knight shows divine wisdom and humility.
James McDonough
Brother Peach
Eng 141/ British Lit.
10/19/08
Saints in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
By Ronald Tamplin
The prominent religious figures the Virgin Mary, St. John the Evangelist, St. Peter, St. Giles Aegidius and St. Julian the Hospitaller, some more well known than others, all share a common characteristic being that they have all been mentioned in the story, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. In his article, Saints in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Ronald Tamplin believes that the saints are one of the main themes denoted within the story, and that every saint contributes an aid in visualizing a metaphor which the situation requires, and also when Gawain, of religious influence, prays to the selected saints for their special and unworldly power. Tamplin declares these concepts in his thesis: “The purpose of this article is to show that the poet’s choice of these saints-the Virgin Mary, St. John the Evangelist, St. Peter, St. Giles Aegidius, and St. Julian the Hospitaller-is not casual, but determined by the requirements of the poem’s contexts and atmospheres.” (Page 1). One example of the use of saints in the poem is when Peter is mentioned in line 813, when the porter uses Peter as a comparison to himself and Sir Gawain. Another example of the utilization of saints, but of reliance for help, can be found in lines 756-775 when Gawain prays to St. Julian for ‘herber.’ Through these and other examples Tamplin includes, he effectively showed how and where these saints previously mentioned take part in this poem.
Joseph H. Farina
Bro. Peach
English 141/Brit Lit.
October 20, 2008
Laughter and Game in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
By Martin Stevens
Funny. But laughter is said to be over looked by critics in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. According to Stevens, the critics focus on the darker side of this poem, making it seem less lively, and more serious. Gawain’s sin and Morgan’s malignity are examples of such “dark” issues. But Stevens says that, “play and game are the essence of art…” and with reference of the poem he says, “I would insist that the play element is, in fact, one of its most prominent marks of sophistication.” The play element could be The Green Knight challenging Arthur’s court to play a game in which someone will strike him with his own axe, on the understanding that he gets to return the blow in exactly a year and a day. Maybe play could be a sport, like hunting. Or, play could be flirting. There are so many examples of “play” in this poem. And with play comes laughter. Everybody in the poem seems to laugh at one point, for example, The Green Knight laughs when no-one responds to his challenge, and Arthur’s court laughs aloud for the transgression of its fallible hero. This poem is filled with games and laughter, you just have to look past the “darkness.”
Devon Mancini
Bro Peach
Eng 141/Brit Lit
10/19/08
Christian Signficance and Romance Tradition In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
By: M. Mills
In this Article by Mills, he explains much of the Christianity and Romance shown in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. He notes that in Middle English text the romance and christianity often work together and the romance helps to support the christian meaning. The romance may imply that the hero is a master of his own fate, and that the Christian knight is totally dependent on the will of God. He states that this story is "suited to a romance in which the hero is a devout christian" (p.485). So the question arises; do the romantic motifs suggest a spiritual meaning? Yes, this story needed the help of romantic motifs to bring out the Christianity. The scene in the chapel, for instance, shows that the romance motifs give a better understanding to the christianity in the poem.
Adam Butler
Bro. Peach
Eng 141/ Brit Lit
10/19/08
Knight in Tarnished Armour: The Meaning of 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight'
By: Gordon M. Shedd
This article is mainly pointing out the key features in 'sir Gawain and the Green Knight'. This article tells about how this book is a work of art. This art is serious because it tells of obstacles humans are faced with. This article tells us of how men are trying to obtain perfection and it to strive towards the goal you need awareness of everything around you. Sir Gawain is described with such qualities such as courage, honor, loyalty, and courtesy. This book shows us a hero who's image is made bigger with chivalric behavior. This hero has a idea of the strengths and weaknesses humans posses which helps him throughout his adventure to make the best decisions possible
Shane Yuhas
Bro. Peach
Eng 141/ Brit. Lit.
The Meaning of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by:
Alan M. Markman
Clever. Very clever. In Markman's meaning of "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight", Gawain, as stated in the text, was the most most renowned of all the knights. Anyone who has read the romantic stlye story knows the many times Gawain was presented with a woman looking for a little "romance" in the master's chamber in the castle. Gawain is looked at by many scholars as more than a normal human, more god-like in his nature. His physical naature was looked at as perfect. The meaning in "Sir Giwain and the Green Knight" I think is very simple in the fact that things/ people may seem so perfect, nut things are not always as they seam. Gawain resists the lady with only a mere kiss. He finally committed sin by declining his acceptance of the girdle he took from the flirty castle queen. Also, Mr. Markman explains even tho someone may seem perfect, no human is perfect. As Mr. Markman said, his sword does not gleam like the rays of the sun, his horse, Gringolet, is not considered to be part of the sun God's Apparatus; he is a perfectly normal battle horse. So there is no doubt that Gawain is a real man and no God.
Mike Kretz
Bro. Peach
Eng 141/Brit. Lit.
10/21/08
Disorientation, Style, and Consciousness in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
John M. Ganim
This article on "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" explains how the poet forms patterns throughout the poem. In the structure of some passages, the poet has a distinct strategy. In the first half of some stanzas, the poet builds up our expectations and builds up suspense, while in the second half he changes the subject to something that we did not expect. The reader is constantly correcting himself. The balance of the poem is always going from disorder, to balanced, to disorder again. Also, the poet gives descriptions, a mood, and a passage that suggests certain values. After this, there is a transition, and then a change in the mood or passage that contradicts the first one. So in conclusion, the poet's style is trying to confuse the reader.
Zachary Carlino
Bro. Peach
Eng 141/Brit. Lit.
10/21/08
The Source of the Beheading Episode in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Larry D. Benson
The Beheading is very surprising, the surprising fact is the Green Knight just walks off with his head after it has been severed from his head. Larry Benson says that this beheading scene is from another story at this time called, Caradoc. Benson then goes on to say that there is another story that is even closer tho Sir Gawain and the Green Knight's tale of the beheading, Fled Bicrend. All of these tales are told in different languages, but they all focus on the same centered idea of the beheading, the fact that after the man has been beheaded he always picks up his head and just walks out without thinking twice about being beheaded. The source comes from the story Caradoc.
Jacob Sedlack
Per:7
10/20/08
Brit. Lit.
Bro. Peach, FSC
Title: "The significance of pentagonal symbolism in 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight'"
Author: Gerald Morgan
Once he has defined nobility Morgan goes on to consider the means by we are able to discover true nobility in individual men. Since all men posses rational souls(for this the very definition of the species) no recourse is possible to essential principals. Instead the means of distinguishing excellence among men is by examining the effects or fruits of nobility, that is, the moral and intellectual virtues. Dante specifies the moral virtues in accordance with the analysis that Aristotle provides in his Ethics(iv-xvii.4-8). He then proceeds, however, to give the specific marks of nobility that are to be found in the four ages of man: adolescence(up to 25), youth(25-45), old age(45-70), and senility(70-80). Youth for him is the period of man perfection and maturity.
Corey Wagner
Bro. Peach, FSC
ENG 141 / Brit. Lit.
10/20/08
Title: "Feminine Knots and the Other Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"
Author: Geraldine Heng
Presents the view of a woman's role throughout the story, which is quite different than that of the masculine. She describes the text as a "weave of knowing and not-knowing" with an infection of desire, resistances, unrepresentable, and repressions of language itself. Heng notes on the fact that there are numerous practices, figures, and signs of feminine desire, which all the are plural and repeating after a masculine slip. Though she emphasizes the "feminine game of seduction" which is later disseminated throughout the Arthurian court- as well as with a small neck wound, a token cut that leaves a scar. These actions inevitably lead to Sir Gewain's demise and downfall because "women dominate and shape the destines of men."
Post a Comment