Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • Free Essays • My Term Papers • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - English sir gawian1 sir gawian1 In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, J.R.R Tolkien uses many different dimensions to keep the poem interesting. Each dimension that is presented has a contradiction, making the poem somewhat of a fantasy. By using these techniques Tolkien makes the poem more humorous and psychological. As a Christian knight Sir Gawain comes across many obstacles that attempt to lead him astray. He tries to make all the correct actions in his conquest, however sin and temptation force him to decide between good and evil. Although Tolkien presents a tale of a knight’s chivalry and honor as well as the aspect of death, some of the situations are presented as comedic. I believe the tale of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is more a light-hearted comedy than a tragedy, due to the implanted commentary on society. Tolkien also adds psychological effects to make the reader decide their own outcome of the poem, which makes the poem more interesting and entertaining. When Tolkien wrote this poem, he made it multi-dimensional so that individuals who read it could establish a personal view and opinion. The reader is free to observe what they want from each individual dimension. To some, this poem may seem romantic; to others it may seem chivalric, to me the story seems to be more humorous than anything. The story seems comical throughout the poem, such as when Gawain comes back from the Green Knight’s castle and he tells the story of his voyage. To Gawain this is very serious and important, but his fellow knights laugh at him when they hear the story. This part of the poem also has a satirical dimension that some people fail to see. Gawain had to go the Green Knight’s castle because he must keep his word with the Green Knight and not embarrass his entire family of knights. By taking Lady Bertilak’s girdle, he puts his faith into something material and also jeopardizes his relationship with Bertilak. When Gawain takes this girdle he is not only acting for himself but his whole assembly of knights. When he goes back and tells his adventure, they all seem to be humbled by Gawain taking the girdle, when in fact they are actually just laughing at themselves, because they also have to wear the girdle. Although humor plays an important role in the poem of the Green Knight, Tolkien also adds psychological effects in the poem as well. The element of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight that involves the most psychological devices is when Lady Bertilak tries to seduce Gawain. While this is happening, Bertilak is out hunting game to give to Gawain as a gift. In return for Bertilak’s gift, Gawain would also give a gift to Bertilak. Each day Bertilak presents a different animal to Gawain, and Gawain gives Bertilak a kiss. Gawain is not aware that with every different animal Bertilak hunts, Gawain embodies the characteristics of that animal when the Lady attempts to seduce him. As the days go on, Gawain’s characteristics become complex and more involved. Finally on the third day he embodies the fox, which is cunning and sly and will do anything to get out of a peculiar situation. So Gawain does exactly this; he takes the girdle so he can escape from the evil temptations of Lady Bertilak. Along with every other dimension, this too has an opposing dimension. I feel that this particular event in the story also is highly soaked in Christianity. As Lady Bertilak tries to seduce Gawain, she represents sin. Sin tries to seduce Gawain into accepting the wicked offers that are presented, but Gawain knows the consequences and refuses too bow down to sin and evil temptations. He did this since his family of knight’s honor is at stake. In some ways this resembles the Christian story of Adam and Eve. Eve is tempted with an evil apple by Satan, which she will take, but not only does she eat it, she persuades Adam to eat the apple as well. Lady Bertilak may represent Eve, Gawain may resemble Adam, and the girdle resembles the evil apple. Lady Bertilak presents Gawain with evil temptation, which he does not easily accept, but finally does when he takes the girdle as a gift. Although this section of the poem seems fantasized, it also appears to have a more realistic value when you look at the story as a whole. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight has a realistic dimension as well. Gawain accepts the challenge from the Green Knight at the beginning of the poem because the odds were in his favor. All he had to do was chop off the Green Knight’s head with his axe and then let the Green Knight do the same thing in one year. Realistically, people who were faced with a challenge where the odds were in their favor would accept that challenge. One would expect that the Green Knight would die after this gesture but in fact rides off with his head to wait one year for Gawain to return. Despite this escape from reality, other life-like features shine throughout the story. After he cuts off the head of the Green Knight, he realizes that he must go to the castle and follow through with his end of the bargain. Any sane person would fear their life, as Gawain also does. Because of this great fear for his life, he accepts the token from Lady Bertilak to keep him safe. Gawain falls into temptation just as anyone else would in this situation. Gawain knows he should not have accepted the girdle, but he did in fear for his life so he can justify his actions. This situation is very realistic because if anyone is in danger of losing their life, they will accept help from another no matter what the circumstances are. But it also teaches a lesson to Gawain because he should know his fate and be confident that he will survive without material things for protection. Throughout this saga, J.R.R Tolkien uses multi-dimensions to keep the reader on their toes. Whoever may read this poem will derive his or her individual version. I believe this poem is a comedy because Tolkien uses so many dimensions. The poem seems humorous to me because of all the satire and fantasy used by Tolkien. By combining many different dimensions to the poem such as satire, religion, psychology, and reality, Tolkien allows the reader to view the poem from any angle. As he presents a dimension, another opposing dimension is also revealed. In using this writing technique, Tolkien unlocks doors to a fantasy world where anything can be imagined and what is imagined becomes reality. Bibliography: Word Count: 1118
Copyright © 1998-2008 College Term Papers, INC All Rights Reserved. DMCA Notifications and Requests