Journey of Test and Self-discovery - Chivalric Virtues and Human Nature in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

摘要

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a fourteen-century poem and generally regarded as the best poem of the Medieval Arthurian literature, featuring its beautiful language, breathtaking plots and subtle and refined characterization. It tells the story of Sir Gawain, one of the best King Arthur's knights who answers the Green Knight's beheading challenge and stands tests from the latter. This paper will interpret Gawain's adventure as a journey of test as well as a journey of self-discovery by textual analysis and elaborate the humanism as well as chivalric virtues the poem reflects.