the poem. At the Green Chapel, the poem is at its best. Here Gawain unconsciously says, “May fire and fury befall this fiendish Chapel” (166); this is before he understands the righteous advances he will make because of the Green Chapel. The contemplating, teaching, and learning take place here. Gawain realizes that the Green Knight is Bercilak and therefore understands the requests from Bercilak at the castle. The Green Knight gains more and more respect for Gawain as he analyzes Gawain’s reasons for the mistakes that were made. Gawain grows tremendously during this time. The Green Chapel shows the bright future that Gawain has ahead of him. It also shows the hope for the moment he takes the blow. The Green Knight is also seen differently. He is now seen as a mentor rather than an enemy. The ending can then be seen as completely brilliant, considering the outcome of the inevitable situation (Galenet).In conclusion, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is an excellent piece of literature. Today there is still much more the story offers that has yet to be found. The poem remains to be an intricate puzzle that people cannot quite conquer. It is fascinating and intriguing due to the elusive story line it presents. The Gawain poet is considered to be one the finest medieval poets. Richard Hamilton Green sums it up perfectly: “Sir Gawain is the most skillfully made of the English romances, and the most complex in intention, exhibiting a subtlety of presentation and density of implication which we have only begun to appreciate.” In other words, we have only skimmed the thoughtful and meaningful intentions of the Gawain poet. We have only started to appreciate and understand the poem. All in all, there is so much more to find within the piece, more lessons to be learned, and morals to be taught....
