Sir Gawain And The Green Knight - 1359 Words

In the poem â€Å"Sir Gawain and The Green Knight,† a protagonist emerges depicting an Arthurian knight named Sir Gawain. Sir Gawain, King Arthur’s nephew, takes initiative by accepting the challenge requested by the Green Knight in place of his uncle. He undergoes a perilous adventure, seeking for the Green Knight to receive the final blow. Although Sir Gawain is not viewed as a hero for his military accomplishments, he is, however, viewed as a heroic figure by the Knights at the Round Table for his knightly characteristics. Sir Gawain’s courageous initiative in accepting the Green Knight’s challenge is a characteristic any hero must possess. Sir Gawain begins his venture of courageousness the instant he accepts the challenge that the Green†¦show more content†¦The terms of the challenge were that â€Å"on this day next year,† Sir Gawain would have to find the Green Knight to receive the final blow â€Å"with what weapon† the Green Knight decides to use on him (Gawain, lines 384-385). Even though Sir Gawain knows this means death, his courage allows him to continue his journey in which he fights beast, meets Sir Bertilak’s, and fulfill the promise he made with the Green Knight. Thus, this shows that throughout the journey Sir Gawain’s courageous characteristic continues to be that of a hero. While courage is an undeniable characteristic of a hero, Sir Gawain’s ability to be courteous and chivalrous throughout the tale makes him that much more entitled to be recognized as a hero. While at Sir Bertilak’s castle, Sir Gawain is let to stay at the castle as a noble guest. As for Sir Bertilak, he ventures out to hunt for prizes as a challenge with Sir Gawain, in which at the end of each day they trade prizes earned. As Sir Gawain encounters the lady peeping through the curtain, he â€Å"welcomes her politely at once,† in which at the end of the engagement he receives a kiss (Gawain , line 1477). The gentle lady says that, â€Å"someone as young and valiant as yourself, so courteous and chivalrous as you are known far and wide† is truly respected as a knight (Gawain, lines 1510-1511). Thus, portraying why Sir Gawain is seen as a hero in this tale, because he is not