The Arthurian Tradition

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

In this course, Dr Marion Turner (University of Oxford) explores the 14th-century poem, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The course begins with an introduction to the Arthurian tradition, focusing in particular on the representations of Arthur and his court in the works of Geoffrey of Monmouth and Chrétian de Troyes. After that, in a section titled 'History and Place', we think about the links between the poem and the courts of Edward III and Richard II (especially the foundation of the Order of Garter in 1348), the poem's focus on the North West of England, and the relationship between the various locales presented in the poem itself. In the third module, we turn to the form and structure of the poem, thinking about the use of alliteration and rhyme and the arrangement into 101 stanzas and 4 'fits' (sections), before moving on in the fourth module to explore the significant images and symbols in the poem. In the final module, we think about how the reader is supposed to judge Gawain for his actions, focusing in particular on the three judgements that the poem itself provides: (i) that of Gawain himself; (ii) that of Bertilak, the Green Knight; and (iii) that of Arthur's court.

The Arthurian Tradition

In this module, we explore the origins of the Arthurian tradition, focusing in particular on the figures of King Arthur and Sir Gawain.