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Sir Gawain the Courteous

© Linda Casselman

Let's begin our look at some of the Knights of the Round Table this week by getting to know Sir Gawain.

Sir Gawain was the most courteous knight in King Arthur's court, as well as the strictest upholder of chivalry. His adventure with the Green Knight, probably his best-known story, clearly illustrates his courtly qualities. Let's have a look at this story...

One New Year's Eve a huge, almost monstrous, Green Knight strode into the king's court at Camelot and challenged the knights to a harrowing beheading contest. Brave Sir Gawain quickly accepted this challenge and chopped off the giant's head with one clean blow of his sword. Thinking this ordeal was over, the court sighed in relief. But then, to everyone's amazement, the giant Green Knight calmly stooped to pick up his rolling head. He mounted his equally green stead, pointed his head at Sir Gawain, and told him to be at a lonely chapel exactly one year from that moment to take his turn at receiving a blow from an axe.

The seasons passed and soon the time came for Sir Gawain to journey to take his fated blow. On his way to find the lonely chapel, Sir Gawain stayed with Sir Bercilak de Hautdesert and his beautiful wife. Sir Gawain was indeed tempted by his host's wife, but he managed to resist her amorous advances for two days. On the third day, however, Sir Gawain accepted a gift from her - a green sash, usually worn as a token by a knight to show his love for his lady.

Finally the day arrived and Sir Gawain stood in the designated chapel and waited for the Green Knight. Then he appeared! And Sir Gawain was astonished to see that the Green Knight was none other than Sir Bercilak, his gracious host! The Green Knight swung his axe at Sir Gawain's neck, but it was deflected. He swung it again, but again it was deflected! He swung it a third time and this time it only cut Sir Gawain slightly. His ordeal, his test, was over.

The axe missed Sir Gawain twice because twice he had refused to sleep with his host's wife. It cut him on the third blow but did not chop off his head because Sir Gawain had only accepted the woman's gift out of courtesy.

Sir Gawain learned his lesson that day. He realized that courtesy was no match for morality. So he continued to wear the green sash as a reminder of his moral lapse and of his test.

The copyright of the article Sir Gawain the Courteous in Mythology is owned by Wayne Kreger. Permission to republish Sir Gawain the Courteous in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.