Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a poem by an unknown poet. That is an interesting case. The question might arise that the poem is only as popular as it is because of having an unknown writer. That is obviously not the reason. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a brilliant narrative put into a complex structure. Its structure gives and gave reason to look at for many researchers. This paper provides a further viewpoint on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’s structure.
Considering the textual structure, it is a question of either having a “striking balance of [...] structure” (Randall 1957: 161) or an “extraordinary coincidence” (Hieatt 1968: 346) when talking of the five times five pentangle—one of the two important symbols in the poem—in line 2525. Four divisions with irregular length, no regular length of stanzas, no clear rhythm, but a bob and wheel at the end of each stanza make the structural analysis very complicated. That is probably the reason why studies of the textual structure of the poem are contradictory. Michael Robertson, for example, departs the 101 stanzas of the poem into nine sections in the following way: 22-1-11-11-11-11-11-1-22 (compare 1982: 780). Unlike A. Kent Hieatt, who divides them into sections of 21-6-6-6-6-11-11-11-1-21-1 (compare 1968: 356-367).
While studying the narrative structure of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, in contrast, I was reminded of a research paper I wrote two years ago on the structure of fairy tales with the use of a method by a Russian formalist named Vladimir Propp. The narrative structure of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight seems to be very similar to that of a fairy tale such as Propp defines it, and Clinton Machann has already done a brief analysis of the poem's actions in Propp's way (compare 1982: 629-637). If the poem fits into Propp’s scheme this will prove that its narrative structure is similar to the one of the Russian fairy tales used by Propp and would be helpful in comparing its structure to other narratives. A deeper analysis of the structure of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight considering Propp’s scheme is the result.
In the following, a brief description of Propp’s method is given (which is similar to that of my research paper for the Englisches Seminar der Universität zu Köln in 2004). Afterwards, the results of studying Sir Gawain and the Green Knight according to Propp’s method are explained and presented.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The Theory of Vladimir Propp
- Morphology of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Primary Literature
- Secondary Literature
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper analyzes the narrative structure of the medieval English poem, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, through the lens of Vladimir Propp's structural scheme for fairy tales. The goal is to demonstrate the similarities between the narrative structures of this poem and those of Russian fairy tales, as defined by Propp. This analysis aims to provide a deeper understanding of the poem's structure and its connection to other narratives.
- Comparison of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight's structure with Propp's scheme for fairy tales.
- Exploration of the similarities and differences between the poem's structure and that of Russian fairy tales.
- Analysis of the poem's narrative structure based on Propp's theory of functions.
- Examination of the significance of the poem's structure for understanding its meaning and themes.
- Contribution to the ongoing debate regarding the structural analysis of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The paper begins with an introduction to the poem, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, highlighting the complexities of its textual structure and the diverse interpretations of its narrative. The introduction also sets the stage for the use of Vladimir Propp's structural scheme as an analytical framework.
Chapter 2 presents a brief overview of Vladimir Propp's theory of fairy tale structure, focusing on the concept of functions and their role in defining the narrative structure of a tale. Propp's morphology, based on the analysis of 100 Russian fairy tales, is described as a system of functions, representing a fundamental form underlying the structure of all fairy tales. The chapter emphasizes the importance of understanding functions as actions, rather than characters, and their independence from the specific manner in which they are fulfilled.
Chapter 3 delves into the analysis of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight using Propp's scheme, examining the poem's narrative structure through the lens of Propp's functions. This chapter presents the results of applying Propp's methodology to the poem, highlighting the similarities and differences between the poem's structure and that of Russian fairy tales.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The paper explores the narrative structure of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, utilizing Vladimir Propp's theory of fairy tale structure as an analytical framework. Key terms include narrative structure, fairy tale morphology, Propp's functions, structural analysis, comparative literature, and medieval English literature. The analysis focuses on the similarities and differences between the poem's structure and that of Russian fairy tales, aiming to provide a deeper understanding of the poem's narrative construction and its connection to other literary traditions.
- Quote paper
- Helga Mebus (Author), 2006, The narrative structure of "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/93222
