This paper discusses how the author of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight uses, explores and sometimes undermines the conventions of the Arthurian romance genre. As a basis for this investigation, a definition of the genre is sketched, using a structuralist model along with a set of typical motifs found in many romances. Having established the essential genre elements the papier then examines the way the Gawain-poet makes use of these in his text. After identifying the fundamentally generic structure of the poem the author concentrates on incidents where the poet plays ironically with the reader's genre expectations.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- The Structure of Arthurian Romance
- Romance - a Genre?
- The Structure of the Genre
- Sir Gawain as a Conventional Romance
- Romance Framework
- Romance motifs
- Exploring Romance Conventions
- Refusal of Distractions
- A Supposed Distraction
- The Intertextual Hero
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper examines the author's use of Arthurian romance conventions in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The analysis investigates how these conventions are explored, sometimes undermined, and ultimately contribute to the poem's narrative structure.
- Definition and exploration of the Arthurian romance genre
- Analysis of how Sir Gawain and the Green Knight employs traditional romance elements
- Investigation of the author's use of irony and subversion of genre expectations
- Comparison of the poem with other medieval romances to establish shared and unique elements
- Exploration of the impact of the poem's structure and motifs on the reader's understanding and interpretation
Chapter Summaries
The first chapter provides a definition of the Arthurian romance genre, utilizing a structuralist model and analyzing typical motifs found in various romances. It explores the debate surrounding the existence of a distinct romance genre and argues for its validity both historically and comparatively. The second chapter examines Sir Gawain and the Green Knight as a conventional romance, analyzing its adherence to traditional romance frameworks and motifs. The third chapter delves into instances where the author deviates from traditional conventions, exploring how these deviations contribute to the poem's unique narrative structure and themes.
Keywords
Arthurian romance, genre conventions, narrative structure, motifs, irony, subversion, intertextuality, comparative analysis, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, medieval literature.
- Quote paper
- Mag. Markus Widmer (Author), 1999, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - Rethinking Romance, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/14776
