- Mar 2019
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Guiana (1599)
This was his first expedition in search of "El Dorado". In his book he greatly exaggerates how easy it was to find gold and he didn't really show or produce anything that wasn't already discovered.
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we were enemies to the Spaniards
Fun fact: he was executed back home because the King expressly told him not to attack the Spaniards for which he did anyway. But this was in 1617 and the second time he visited Guiana. England had a treaty with Spain at that time but I guess he just didn't care.
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the lie
Is he alluding to his other poem, "The Lie"?
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The Lie
Talks about the inherent corruptness of and the flawed behavior of the human condition.
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Philomel
Philomela. Greek mythology. So this story is pretty fucked but here's the tldr and cliff notes version; Philomela and Procne are sisters. Procne is married to Tereus, a King. Procne asked Tereus to escort Philomela to the corner store or whatever. Tereus was like ok cool whatever, but then on the way there he started lusting over her and he raped her. After which he cut her tongue so she wouldn't tell anyone. Philomela makes like a blanket or something that tells what happened to her, like a fucked up Charlotte's Web, and sends it to her sister, Procne. Procne obviously gets mad so she takes the next logical step: she kills her own son that she had with Tereus and then she feeds him to his father. After Tereus eats his kid she pulls out the kids head and says to him "bitch you thought". He gets mad and starts after Procne and Philomela with intent to kill. As they're running, they pray to the Gods to save them so the Gods turn them into birds and they fly away.
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When Rivers rage and Rocks grow cold,
Personification.
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siren song,
IIRC, mermaids (sirens) in legend were beautiful fish women who attracted sailors with their beautiful voices (songs) to make them get lost, or get close enough to them so they could eat the sailors, or cause them to lose their course and make them die at sea. This whole thing is a metaphor for false love but in this example he's comparing it to a sirens song that will cause you to lose your way or lead you to be eaten.
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Sir Walter Raleigh
This is interesting, this guy also coincides with my U.S History course. It's interesting to see him pop up in this class too. He led a pretty eventful life actually. He made various expeditions to the "New World" (the Americas) in search of "El Dorado" and founded what is now Virginia (or N. Carolina, I forgot). He's also the one who bankrolled what became one of the greatest mysteries of the Old World; the settlement of Roanoke, whose inhabitants seemed to had disappeared without a trace. Also Guiana in this text is actually present day Venezuela.
He found extreme favor in the grace of the Queen at the time, Elizabeth I. I think they had a low-key friends with benefits thing going on or something because she gave him lots of power and wealth... until he fell out of her favor when she discovered he was secretly married to one of her homegirls. He was imprisoned and wrote books while in there. I'm not sure or positive of this but I think he might've wrote these poems while he was locked up. He's most likely talking about Elizabeth I in his poems.
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1587.—February 8. Narrative of the Execution, sent to the Court.
Damn. This was an extremely vivid description. Say what you will about her, she died true to her convictions. Queen Mary gets a hood pass because she kept it G up until the end.
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and desirous to avoid the shedding of blood,
Crocodile tears. She killed over 200 people for being religious dissenters, just let them practice their own religion.
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A Prayer of the Lady Jane
Damn, this was sad and fucked up. Imagine being in her shoes.
F.
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Be constant, be constant
Literary device: repetition for emphasis.
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streams of your heart
Metaphor.
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Return, return again
Literary device: repetition.
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sharp and biting words to those which deny him for love of life,
Literary device: personification. Words cannot bite, but they are given the human quality of being able to bite.
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But thou wilt say, I will not break unity; what? not the unity of satan and his members, not the unity of darkness, the agreement of antichrist and his adherents? nay, then thou deceives thyself with fond imaginations of such an unity as is amongst the enemies of Christ: were not the false prophets in an unity? were not Joseph’s brethren, Jacob’s sons, in an unity? were not the heathen as the Amelechites, the Peresites and Jebusites in an unity? I keep no order but look rather to my matter: where not the Scribes and Pharisees in an unity? doth not King David testify, convenient in unum adversus. Dominum, yes, thieves and murderers, conspirators and traitors have their unity.
Literary device: anaphora.
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whosoever seeketh to save his life shall lose it, but whosoever will lose it for my sake shall find it;
Literary device: antimetabole.
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Lady Elizabeth
Lady Elizabeth pulls one of the top 10 anime betrayals of all time and undoes everything (most?) of what Queen Mary did. But that's not till the next season. Also, she was the last of the 5 monarchs from the Tudor house.
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October 3, 1553.
So lots of things happened to get to this point but here's the tldr;
King Edward VI dies July 6, 1553. He didn't want Mary to be in control for fear of undoing his father's and his laws of religious reform, so he tries to write her out of the will. Through some legal Olympics, lady Jane becomes next in line.
Lady Jane is proclaimed Queen July 10, 1553
Mary fled the country and amassed an army on July 12, 1553
Lady Jane is deposed from the throne on July 19, 1553 by Mary
Mary rides to London with lots of open support in August 3, 1553
Mary is crowned Queen October 1, 1553.
(source: Wikipedia)
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Mary’s humble submission
So could this be an unreliable narrator? Mary Tudor reigned as Queen for 5 years and in those 5 years she had 280 people burned at the stake sooo.... yeah.
Edit: Never mind, this was before all that
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Mary I (Tudor)
There's an urban legend that if you recite Mary Tudor's name 3 times in a bathroom mirror with the lights off, she'll appear and kill you...
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I think this is an interesting study from a psychology point of view. I'm no psychologist or majoring anything close to it but still was very interesting to view it from those lenses. There's a few ways to read this story however, you can read this as a literal divine intervention and spiritual warfare story, which has it's interesting take and things to explore, for example martyrdom for one. Or you can read this from a fictitious point of view and dissect it from those lenses. I think it's far more interesting to take the mental illness route however. You have to understand, during those times, science really stopped progressing and even reversed so it's easy to assume that this was a case of mental illness but was chalked up to spiritual warfare because of the "subconscious" at that time. The Church was in power and influenced the masses, people thought that "madness" (mental illnesses) were curses cast down on people by God for consequences of sin, and it makes sense Margery would feel the way she did because that was the prevailing world view back then. Whatever the case, I can see the connection with it having to do with giving birth because of the, ironically, lack of mention of her child. She never once mentions her child and there are a few examples where there is symbolism for the time a pregnancy lasts, as someone mentioned. This could be an unconscious trigger for her or some of the sort. She also begins to act out and justify it by saying that it's the devils and demons inside her making her do bad things. This, paired along with her delusions of grandeur and narcissism, are all indicators of some sort of deep mental illness. Again, I'm not knowledgeable in this field at all but I can definitely see someone who is knowledgeable having a field day with this text. Very good read, thank you.
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for she might not bear the sweetness and grace that God wrought in her soul.
Delusions of grandeur/ narcissism.
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Our Lord Jesu Christ, answering to her thought, granted her to have her desire.
Also on the topic of mental illness, you can probably add delusions of grandeur and/or narcissism to this list. Could it be that after giving birth she just went bonkers? Usually, when a mother gives birth, she has super close attachments with her baby. I've yet to hear about the child or read anything indicating that she's been a mother at all (or doing any motherly duties). So far, all we know is that she gave birth and pretty much left her family because "Jesus told her so". It's also funny how "Jesus" is telling her all she wants to hear.
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And when this creature saw Jerusalem, riding on an ass, she thanked God with all her heart, praying him for his mercy that like as he had brought her to see this earthly city Jerusalem,
Could this be symbolism or maybe she's trying to compare herself to Jesus? John 12:14 says, "And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,"
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“As free may your body be to God as it hath been to me.
Am I tripping or is he being passive aggressive here. I'm sensing sarcasm here.
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Now, blessed Jesu, make thy will known to me unworthy that I may follow thereafter and fulfil it with all my might.” And then our Lord Jesu Christ with great sweetness spoke to this creature, commanding her to go again to her husband and pray him to grant her that she desired, “And he shall have that he desireth. For, my dearworthy daughter, this was the cause that I bade thee fast for thou shouldest the sooner obtain and get thy desire, and now it is granted thee.
Confirmation bias much? I'm suspecting something more serious than depression. I mean, honestly, she's hearing voices, speaking to demons, speaking to God, and when she was having those dissociative demonic possession episodes, it all screams schizophrenia, psychosis, or some other deep mental health issue.
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“that will I not grant you, for now I may use you without deadly sin and then might I not so.”
I think this means that now that they're married, if they have sex it's not a sin (or a deadly sin, most probably lust) but what does it matter if she wants to be celibate.
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than if ye wore a hair or a habergeon
Metaphor... I think?
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most seemly, most beauteous, and most amiable
Literary device: repetition. "Most" is repeated for emphasis, emphasizing the greatness of Christ, or at least describing his appearance to Margery.
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And wept as does a child that has been beat.
Simile.
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no better felt nor worse,
Litote?
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Dark was the night as pitch, aye dark as coal,
Similes.
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Old Noah’s flood come wallowing like the sea
Simile.
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foolish
Add insult to injury why don't you.
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“Presently go, and fetch here to this inn 440 A kneading-tub, or brewing vat, and win
Here's my question... why does he have to go anywhere? He's a carpenter right? So why can't he just build it right then and there? He must have materials and tools on hand.
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About the prime of the succeeding day.
When the sun is at it's highest, 12 noon presumably.
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It’s always he that’s nigh 285 That makes the absent lover seem a sloth.
Idiom. Also, foreshadowing.
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And called unto his wife and said, in sum: “What, Alison! Do you hear Absalom, Who plays and sings beneath our bedroom wall?”
Crazy consonance here: sum, Alison, Absalom, bedroom wall
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if she had been a mouse And he a cat,
Metaphor.
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As white as ever hawthorn spray
Simile.
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All in a coat of blue,
See the "blue revolution" in medieval times. Apparently blue hadn't been used prior to the middle ages and then it suddenly made an appearance everywhere. They thought they "discovered" blue but really other civilizations neglected to use the color, so it became a novelty or the hot trend in those times.
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Curled was his hair, shining like gold, and from His head spread fanwise in a thick bright mop; ‘Twas parted straight and even on the top;
This is what I think he looks like from the description
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shining like gold,
Simile.
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Her forehead shone as bright as does the May,
Simile.
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And she leaped as a colt does in the trave,
Simile.
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love me, love me now,
Literary device: repetition or amplification. "love me, love me now". Love me is repeated to emphasize his infatuation with her.
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Clerks being as crafty as the best of us;
Curb your microaggressions bro, generalizing and stereotyping a group of people is not cool.
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caught her by the puss,
Imagine Chaucer, sitting at his desk in full character and thinking, "what would a miller say? How can I be more vulgar?"
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Or yet for any good yeoman to wed.
Is he taking shots at one of the other guys there? The yeoman?
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125 Fair was this yonge wyf, and therwithal As any wezele hir body gent and smal. A ceynt she werede, barred al of silk, A barmclooth as whit as morne milk Upon her lendes, ful of many a goore. 130 Whit was hir smok, and broyden al bifoore And eek bihynde, on hir coler aboute, Of col-blak silk, withinne and eek withoute. The tapes of hir white voluper Were of the same suyte of his coler; 135 Hir filet brood of silk, and set ful hye. And sikerly she hadde a likerous ye; Ful smale ypulled were hire browes two, And tho were bent and blake as any sloo. She was ful moore blisful on to see 140 Than is the newe pere-jonette tree, And softer than the wolle is of a wether. And by hir girdel heeng a purs of lether, Tasseled with silk, and perled with latoun. In al this world, to seken up and doun, 145 There nys no man so wys that koude thenche So gay a popelote or swich a wenche. Ful brighter was the shynyng of hir hewe Than in the Tour the noble yforged newe. But of hir song, it was as loude and yerne 150 As any swalwe sittynge on a berne. Therto she koude skippe and make game, As any kyde or calf folwynge his dame. Hir mouth was sweete as bragot or the meeth, Or hoord of apples leyd in hey or heeth. 155 Wynsynge she was, as is a joly colt, Long as a mast, and upright as a bolt. A brooch she baar upon hir lowe coler, As brood as is the boos of a bokeler. Hir shoes were laced on hir legges hye. 160 She was a prymerole, a piggesnye, For any lord to leggen in his bedde, Or yet for any good yeman to wedde.
This whole thing is imagery riddled with similes and metaphors. Also, the colors white and black appear a lot too. Maybe this is juxtaposition? White is the color of innocence and purity and black was the color of farmers from a quick google search. The way the narrator (or Miller?) describes her makes it seem like she is too good for the carpenter and to be his wife, like maybe she is meant to be the wife of someone with higher social standing.
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As weasel’s was her body slim and small.
Simile.
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For youth and age are often in debate.
That means the age gap also has a significant culture gap. Where someone who is old knows the world and lived through youth probably just wants to settle down and watch Jeopardy reruns, someone who is young has yet to know the world and wants adventure.
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And he kept counsel, too, for he was sly And meek as any virgin passing by.
"he kept counsel" means, in my opinion, that if he knew something or saw something he kept it to himself for strategic purposes. He plots and schemes on the low. And his meekness may serve to mask suspicion for ulterior motives.
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I will believe full well that I am none. 55 A husband must not be inquisitive Of God, nor of his wife, while she’s alive. So long as he may find God’s plenty there, For all the rest he need not greatly care.”
I think he's saying that since they are wed, they made their vows to God and God sanctioned the wedding in a way, so in questioning his wife and his marriage, in turn, he is also questioning God. In my opinion, he's playing it safe with God, and in the case that she does cheat, he does not care as he places his trust fully on God and wants to go to heaven.
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Let be your ignorant drunken ribaldry! It is a sin, and further, great folly To asperse any man, or him defame, 40 And, too, to bring upon a man’s wife shame. There are enough of other things to say.”
He's chastising him for being slanderous, or accusing him so.
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This is a large cast of characters. I like the fact that many social ranks and classes were represented here. You have both nobles and high ranking clergy, and you also have your peasant class and laborers. I feel like this was deliberate and was directed at the country as a whole, for anyone and everyone to read. I also like that Chaucer didn't portray ideal archetypes. You have for example, the friar and the pardoner who are, by general rule, supposed to be holy and such but were shown to be somewhat wicked or blasphemous. I know we are desensitized to having free speech censored here in modern USA but I can't see how this would fly in those times. I know the clergy and Church had a bunch of political power back then so it's interesting that Chaucer paints that picture for the public. Maybe the Church assassinated him for that, who knows. But I like that the characters aren't cookie cutter black and white archetypes of themselves. It gives them depth and makes them human. I like it.
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Our decision was not so far to seek; We thought there was no reason to debate, And granted him his way at any rate, And asked him tell his verdict just and wise,
Hey!... who is speaking here? Did we just switch narrators?
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Riding the roads as dumb as is a stone;
Simile.
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Now have I told you briefly
4th wall. Addressing the audience directly.
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To gain some silver, preferably from the crowd; Therefore he sang so merrily and so loud.
He didn't sing to praise the Lord, he sang to make profit.
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And in a bottle had he some pig’s bones.
Witchcraft?
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A voice he had that sounded like a goat.
Goats were often associated with Satan. Maybe this is alluding to this Pardoner not being all that holy.
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This pardoner had hair as yellow as wax, But smooth it hung as does a strike of flax;
2 similes again.
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his poultry house,
Chicken coop!
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His mouth was like a furnace door for size.
Simile
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Red as the bristles in an old sow’s ears;
simile
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His beard, as any sow or fox, was red, 555 And broad it was as if it were a spade.
2 similes.
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Whoever, of high or low financial state, 525 He put to sharp rebuke, to say the least.
He doesn't care how much money someone has, if they mess up, he's getting on that ass. No McPennances from this guy.
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Who Christ’s own gospel truly sought to preach;
True follower of Christ with the good intentions to preach.
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As broad as is a buckler or a targe;
Simile.
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And if one did, indeed, so angry was she It put her out of all her charity.
She didn't like to be asked to make clothes.
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Since gold in physic is a cordial, Therefore he loved his gold exceeding all.
So he values gold, not because it itself has value but because it's an aesthetic to him. Or so I gathered.
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Their friendship was a thing not new begun.
Litote. I think.
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In all this world there was none like him 415 To speak of medicine and surgery; For he was instructed in astronomy. He cared for and saved a patient many times By natural science and studying astrological signs. Well could he calculate the planetary position 420 To improve the state his patient is in.
What'n tarnation? Huh? This right here is why we have a Board of Physicians and Surgeons in this country today. But to be fair, in historical context, astrology played a big part in medieval culture.
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havens,
I wonder if he's referring to havens for people in general or havens for criminals and murderers.
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And each of them, for wisdom he could span, Was suitable to serve as an alderman;
Alderman served as chief officers of districts. And the narrator is speaking to the ethos and credibility of these men being able to hold such a position.
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Besides their wives declared it was their due, Or else for certain they had been to blame. It’s good to hear “Madam” before one’s name, And go to church when all the world may see, 380 Having one’s gown carried right royally.
The wives want to be hedonistic and have the benefits of being married to aldermen.
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white as morning milk.
Simile.
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It seemed to snow therein both food and drink
Hyperbole. It's impossible for it to "snow" food and drink, therefore he's greatly exaggerating the situation to emphasize just how much food and drink he has in his home.
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He loved to dip his morning bread in wine.
the medieval equivalent of putting Schnapps's in your morning coffee.
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Nor he was worldly to accept secular office. 295 For he would rather have at his bed’s head Some twenty books, all bound in black or red, Of Aristotle and his philosophy
He's not materialistic in the least.
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And he too was not fat, that I take,
Litote
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As lean was his horse as is a rake,
Simile. Also, feed your horse dude.
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On books and learning he would swiftly spend,
He's an intellectual, or scholar.
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Stressing the times when he had won, not lost.
Is he compensating for something? Maybe he loses more often than he wins.
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As do the stars within the frosty night.
Simile
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It’s unsuitable, as far as he could see, 245 To have sick lepers for acquaintances. There is no honest advantageousness
So he's superficial and an opportunist.
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Men should give silver to the poor friars.
There's too much sin and it's no use to fret over it with sadness and prayer. So why not give money to the poor friars and get a McPennance for the low.
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For his power of confession met no equality That’s what he said, in the confession to a curate,
So he's boasting.
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He was not pale as some tormented ghost.
Literary element: simile. Also, I guess the stereotype for monks were that they were skinny and malnourished. That's not too surprising as I looked up online and the lowest class of the religious system were monks. Comparable to peasants and even serfs as they were made to transcribe bibles. Now, I don't know if they were FORCED to do it, but it kind of sounds like they were since there were no printing presses back then.
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His palfrey was as brown as is a berry.
Literary element: simile
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His head was bald and shone like any glass,
Literary element: simile.
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Since riding and the hunting of the hare Were all his love, for no cost would he spare
He likes to hunt rabbits and wouldn't sell their meat or fur for any price.
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What sholde he studie, and make hymselven wood,
Why study until he turns into wood? What good would that do?
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He gave for that text not a plucked hen Which holds that hunters are not holy men; Nor that a monk, when he is cloisterless, 180 Is like unto a fish that’s waterless; That is to say, a monk out of his cloister. But this same text he held not worth an oyster;
He's a progressive monk. He doesn't exactly follow customs.
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Is like unto a fish that’s waterless;
Literary element: simile
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abbot
Abbots were the highest ranking monks in monastic churches. So the narrator is speaking to the ethos of the monk.
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Her mouth was small and therewith soft and red; But certainly her forehead was fairly spread;
Juxtaposition? the narrator compares and contrasts her small mouth were her big ol' fivehead.
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her eyes were grey as glass;
She's blind.
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She was in pains to imitate the cheer 140 Of courtliness, and stately manners here, And would be held worthy of reverence.
Sounds like she can be superficial or wants recognition. Or it could be that she wants to lead by example.
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Her upper lip was always wiped so clean That on her cup no speck or spot was seen
She's very proper.
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- Feb 2019
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while night told her tale,
Literary device: personification. Night is given the human trait of telling a tale.
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All full of fresh-cut flowers red and white.
Literary device: symbolism. According to a website I found, these are what colors symbolized in the Middle Ages:
White: a symbol of pureness, innocence and compassion;
Red: the colour of kings, given that it stood for fire, and thus for power, victory and shelter from illnesses and evil spirits.
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He was as fresh as is the month of May.
Literary device: simile.
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Embroidered he was, as if he were a meadow bright,
Literary device: simile. A comparison using "like" or "as".
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With locks well curled, as if they’d laid in press. Some twenty years of age he was, I guess. In stature he was of average length, Wondrously active, agile, and great of strength.
Literary device: imagery. We're being painted a picture here of how he looks.
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His steeds were good, but he was not gaily dressed. 75 A tunic of simple cloth he possesed Discoloured and stained by his habergeon; For he had lately returned from his voyage And now was going on this pilgrimage.
Literary device: imagery. Also, it's alluding to the knight being humble. He's not wearing this fancy armor we sometimes hear about in these kind of stories where knights are a subject of.
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as it appeared to me,
This is a bit of an oxymoron in context of the story. It appears he's feigning his omniscience point of view as we will see here in a bit.
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To describe to you the state of every one
So... breaking fourth wall here. Narratorial metalepsis.
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Before yet further in this tale I pace,
Meta/self-referential. The narrator acknowledges he's telling a story to an audience.
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as I lay
Literary element: POV. The point of view is established here as first person.
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The holy blessed martyr
Jesus?
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Well, in short, Gawain was hoodwinked, bamboozled, played, guiled. It turns out it was all a ruse to test his character. The story was definitely more about the journey than the destination. I was wondering why it took so long to get to the point. Here I thought the point was going to be the green knight killing him or having a change of heart last minute with some moral lesson at the end. So I feel like I got bamboozled as well. Anyway, there is a moral or lesson to be taken away from the story here and that is: you should always conduct yourself with honor even when it might seem inconsequential or meaningless. Think about it, Gawain knew he was riding off to his death, he had accepted that, so what was keeping him from just hooking up with the Lord's wife? He could've at that point just said, "fuck it why not I'm going to die anyway" but didn't. Why? because he conducts himself with honor and in the end, that same honor is what saved him. Ironically, it also led to him condemning himself for, in his eyes, acting dishonorably.
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‘Curse upon cowardice and covetousness both! In you are villainy and vice that virtue distress.’ Then he caught at the knot and pulled it loose, and fair flung the belt at the man himself: ‘Lo! There’s the falseness, foul may it fall! For fear of your knock cowardice me taught to accord with covetousness, forsake my kind, the largesse and loyalty that belongs to knights. Now am I faulted and false, and ever a-feared; from both treachery and untruth come sorrow
He feels guilty that he "cheated" and condemns the green knight for cheating.
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Ask no more debate than I did of you then
Don't cry
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rang
onomatopeiac word
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whirred and whetted
onomatopoeiac words
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for he is a mighty man, and shows no mercy, for be it churl or chaplain that rides by the chapel, monk or priest of the Mass, or any man else, he is as quick to kill him, as to live himself.
Looks like he is evil. He kills indiscriminately, even innocent people.
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three
The number 3 is popping out a lot in the story. Probably because the holy trinity; the father, the son, and the holy spirit. Maybe it pops up because it might be an allusion or symbolism to associate Gawain with holiness or that he's being looked after by God himself. Or it might just be nothing. Maybe the author was born in March and 3 is their favorite number.
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left him so pure that Doomsday yet might be declared on the morn.
which means he wasn't pure of sin before. It's the implication.
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for whatever man is girt with this green lace, while he has it closely fastened about him, there is no man under heaven might hew him,
Oh shit this is how the green man was able to withstand being beheaded. So he cheated.
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Lo!
I thought this said "lol"
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urged him so near the edge, he felt it behoved him either to bow to her love, or with loathing refuse her.
Backed him into a corner, now he has to choose between an ultimatum; either just give in to her advances or get mad and basically tell her to fuck off
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As I am true, I pledge you my troth you shall gain the Green Chapel, and render your dues,
That's why he was being so nice to Gawain. He wants the green chapel after Gawain defeats the giant man.
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ever our courteous knight the lady beside.
Did the story just break the 4th wall?
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flanks
The tusks
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war on the wild swine in woods where he fled.
Hyperbole. War is being used to exaggerate hunting game.
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set the sharp point firm in its chest-hollow, hit him up to the hilt, so the heart burst asunder, and he yielded him snarling, downstream was swept outright.
Damn, some bad ass imagery going on here where his sword pierced the boars heart and popped out the other side of it, heart and all.
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forth, fast through the ford, where the fell foe bides.
alliteration
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He alights lively adown, leaves his courser, brings out a bright blade and boldly strides forth,
He gets off his horse, unsheathes his sword, and walks straight for the boar.
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He got the bank at his back, began to scrape, the froth foamed from his mouth foul at the corners, and he whet his white tusks.
That's one angry boar. Imagery here, doing basically like a bull does just before he charges at a matador.
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marsh-side
swamp
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‘But would you, lovely lady, but grant me leave and release your prisoner and pray him to rise,
Pretty sure he's flirting with her. Also, metaphor.
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whistled
I'm pretty sure whistled is being used as an onomatopoeia here, right?
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so courteous, so knightly,
Literary device: repetition. She uses "so" to amplify Gawain's characteristics of being courteous and knightly.
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Shaping to shoot him some shoved through then, hurling their arrows at him, hitting him often; but their points were parried by bristling flanks, and their barbs would not bite there in his brow, though the smooth shaft were shattered in pieces, the head skipped away wherever it hit.
They couldn't get a head shot on the boar, but they did manage to hit him
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Then grieved many for three hounds at first thrust he felled to the earth,
The boar killed 3 hounds
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‘And I give all this to you, Gawain,’ quoth the man then, ‘for according to covenant you may call it your own.’ ‘That is so,’ quoth the knight, ‘I say you the same: what I have worthily won this house within, shall with as good a will be worthily yours.’
There is camaraderie shown here, a true sense of loyalty and hospitality. If I remember correctly, Gawain became a sort of temporary knight for this lord, or at least a limited knight since he still ultimately serves Arthur... maybe a sort of indentured servitude? In exchange for the lords hospitality he's a sort of a pro tem thane or knight.
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compassing in his conscience what this case might mean or amount to, marvelling in thought. But yet he said to himself: ‘More seemly it were to descry with speech, in a space, what she wishes.’ Then he wakened and wriggled and to her he turned, and lifted his eyelids and let on he was startled, and signed himself with his hand, as with prayer, to be safer.
Remember kids, Jesus is always watching. Homie Gawain thought twice about going to hell.
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In bliss without alloy the lord does spur or alight, and passes that day with joy and so to the dark night.
assonance for the vowel "a"
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‘Ware!’
Malapropism or colloquialism not sure which one; if it's a shorthand version of "beware", then it is colloquialism. If it is meant as "ware" like garments and clothing but said because it sounds like "beware", then it is malapropism.
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The beloved lord of the land was not the last arrayed for the riding
Litote
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earlybritishlit.pressbooks.com earlybritishlit.pressbooks.com
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So far I'm enjoying this story, even though it likes to fixate and drag out in excruciating detail at points. I noticed that there was a noticeable tone shift. In the first half of the story, it's told heavily in poetic rhymes. The first half of the story is very happy and celebratory, this all changes when the green knight appears. It goes from heavy rhyme schemes to more subtle rhyme schemes of telling the story. It was interesting to see how the beginning was very happy and sing-songy and did a hard switch when it got more serious. That green knight is a trip though. Homeboy got his head chopped off, picked it up, and walked off with it all nonchalantly like he just got done playing basketball or something. And Arthur's homies were kicking it around like it was a soccer ball, that made me laugh, but I digress.
I haven't read the next part of the story but I can already point out a few motifs and maybe even a theme which are; honor, chivalry, loyalty, duty, and the theme of unwavering bravery in the face of adversity or when the odds are against you. I liked that the green knight, though he came to challenge Arthur and his knights, did so in a peaceful way. He came with a symbol of peace and offered a challenge, this made the difference between anti-villain and evil villain trope the story could have gone with. It chose anti-villain, because though the green knight is not our hero in the story, he is not quite an evil villain either. His actions are that of honor and civility and conflicts with his image of a giant brute who is disrespectful and intruded on Arthur's celebration. I feel like, should the story had wanted it, it could have made the green knight into a cookie-cutter villain who just arrives and raises hell for the sake of it or takes a much less tactful approach than the one he took in the story.
Also, the way he is presented in the story plays a part in why he is a reserved anti-villain instead of an evil villain. He is shown to be a decorated knight or his armor and horse are. If he showed up and just started shanking dudes left and right he would not be wearing so fancy an armor and warhorse. The fact that he is a knight must be reflected in his interactions, a knight would not act so dishonorable like straight up shanking people but a knight is also allowed to start conflict with things he disagrees with. In our case, the green knight disagrees that Arthur and his boy band are the strongest warriors in all the realm and sought to test that in a knightly way. I think there is much more to be said about the anti-villain of the story but I'm going to stop right here. The next part will tell us more and confirm or deny my ideas.
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Graunt merci
many thanks
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blithely
In a manner of improper or callous cheerfulness.
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‘Now hospitality,’ he said, ‘I beseech you grant!’
3rd Amendment
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Saint Julian,
Patron Saint of travelers, inn keepers, and boatmen
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to Mary made his moan,
Catholicism peaks it's head
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tarry
Delay leaving
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Then thinks Gawain full soon, of his wearisome voyage.
I'd be worried too if I had to fight a headless horseman giant.
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‘What, is this Arthur’s house,’ quoth the horseman then, ‘that all the rumour runs of, through realms so many? Where now your superiority and your conquests, your grinding down and your anger, your great words? Now is the revel and the renown of the Round Table overthrown with the word of a wanderer’s speech, for all duck down in dread without dint of a blow!
He's talking shit about Arthur and his homeboys who were supposed to be these great warriors and such but are proving to be cowards in front of this stranger. It sounds like the stranger doesn't want a violent war or battle, but an honorable test of might to take these "great warriors" down a peg or two and see what all the riff raff is all about.
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The head of an ell-rod its large length had, the spike all of green steel and of gold hewn, the blade bright burnished with a broad edge as well shaped to sheer as are sharp razors. The shaft of a strong staff the stern man gripped, that was wound with iron to the wand’s end, and all engraved with green in gracious workings;
Imagery describing the axe.
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hauberk
Chain-mail shirt
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He looked as lightning bright,
Simile
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And all garbed in green this giant and his gear: a straight coat full tight that stuck to his sides, a magnificent mantle above, masked within with pelts pared pertly, the garment agleam with blithe ermine full bright, and his hood both, that was left from his locks and laid on his shoulders; neat, well-hauled hose of that same green that clung to his calves and sharp spurs under of bright gold, on silk stockings rich-barred, and no shoes under sole where the same rides. And all his vesture verily was bright verdure, both the bars of his belt and other bright stones, that were richly rayed in his bright array about himself and his saddle, on silk work, it were tortuous to tell of these trifles the half, embroidered above with birds and butterflies, with gay gaudy of green, the gold ever inmost. The pendants of his harness, the proud crupper, his bridle and all the metal enamelled was then; the stirrups he stood on stained with the same, and his saddle bows after, and saddle skirts, ever glimmered and glinted all with green stones. The horse he rode on was also of that hue,
Imagery. Lots and lots of imagery going on.
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a la dure main
with an iron fist; hard hand; and similar synonyms
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with Guinevere, full gaily, gracing their midst, dressed on the dais there, adorned all about – splendid silk by her sides, and sheer above of true Toulouse, of Tartar tapestries plenty, that were embroidered, bright with the best gems that might be price-proved with pennies any a day.
Imagery
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chimed
Onomatopoeia?
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dais
Throne
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where war and wreck and wonder betimes have worked within, and oft both bliss and blunder have held sway swiftly since.
Poetry alternate rhyme scheme: ABAB
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And when this Britain was built by this baron rich, bold men were bred therein, of battle beloved, in many a troubled time turmoil that wrought. More flames on this fold have fallen here oft
Couplet poetry rhyme scheme: AABB
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banks all broad Britain
Alliteration
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fared over the French flood Felix
Alliteration
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Langobard in Lombardy lifts
Alliteration
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Soon as the siege and assault had ceased at Troy
Consonance for the sound of "s"; soon, as, siege, assault, (cea)[s]ed
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burg broken and burnt to brands
Alliteration
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traitor who trammels of treason there wrought
Alliteration and finishes off with consonance; wrough(t)
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his high kin
Assonance for the vowel "i"
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well-nigh
Well-nigh means "almost"
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well-nigh of all the wealth in the Western Isles:
Alliteration
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forth rich Romulus to Rome rapidly
Consonance and alliteration; fo(r)th, rich, Romulus, Rome, rapidly
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business that burg he builds up
Alliteration
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names it with his name, as now
Alliteration
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Ticius to Tuscany, and townships
Alliteration
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burg
A burg is an ancient walled-in fortress or town
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Romulus
Romulus was the first king of Rome.
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earlybritishlit.pressbooks.com earlybritishlit.pressbooks.com
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marvelled at a fairness beyond that of any earthly woman
Literary device: hyperbole
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The Maiden herself showed such as I will tell you. Passing slim was the lady, sweet of bodice and slender of girdle. Her throat was whiter than snow on branch, and her eyes were like flowers in the pallor of her face. She had a witching mouth, a dainty nose, and an open brow. Her eyebrows were brown, and her golden hair parted in two soft waves upon her head. She was clad in a shift of spotless linen, and above her snowy kirtle was set a mantle of royal purple, clasped upon her breast. She carried a hooded falcon upon her glove, and a greyhound followed closely after.
Literary device: imagery
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that no king on earth might hope to buy trappings so precious
Literary device: hyperbole
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white as snow,
Literary device: simile
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great grief
Literary device: alliteration
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Launfal went forth, to his own deep sorrow. Had any man slain him on the road, he would have counted him his friend.
He's ashamed and would consider being murdered on his way to see Arthur and the King a mercy.
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sad and sorrowful
Literary device: alliteration
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smiled more sweetly
Literary device: alliteration
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There was no lord who had need of a lodging in the town, but Launfal brought him to his hall, for refreshment and delight. Launfal bestowed rich gifts. Launfal redeemed the poor captive. Launfal clothed in scarlet the minstrel. Launfal gave honour where honour was due. Stranger and friend alike he comforted at need. So, whether by night or by day, Launfal lived greatly at his ease.
Literary device: anaphora. Launfal is repeated in successive phrases possibly for rhythm.
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destrier
Definition: War horse
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there seemed no goodlier varlet under heaven
Literary device: metaphor.
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“Fair lady,” he answered, “since it pleases you to be so gracious, and to dower so graceless a knight with your love, there is naught that you may bid me do—right or wrong, evil or good—that I will not do to the utmost of my power. I will observe your commandment, and serve in your quarrels. For you I renounce my father and my father’s house. This only I pray, that I may dwell with you in your lodging, and that you will never send me from your side.”
Yup, romance stories out here brainwashing our youth and teaching them to be submissive to THE GOVERNMENT because who do these maidens represent? The Queen. And what is the Queen a product of? monarchy. And what is a monarchy? THE GOVERNMENT. Full circle.
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since it pleases you to be so gracious, and to dower so graceless
Literary device: consonance for the "s" sound; (s)ince, plea(s)e(s), gra(ci)ou(s), gra(ce)le(ss)
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for his heart was litten by another’s torch.
Literary device: metaphor
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fair friend, it is for you that I have come from my own far land
Literary device: alliteration; fair, friend, for, from, far
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so sweet a sight
Literary device: alliteration.
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Very fresh and slender showed the lady in her vesture of spotless linen. About her person she had drawn a mantle of ermine, edged with purple dye from the vats of Alexandria. By reason of the heat her raiment was unfastened for a little, and her throat and the rondure of her bosom showed whiter and more untouched than hawthorn in May.
Literary device: imagery.
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She lay upon a bed with napery and coverlet of richer worth than could be furnished by a castle’s spoil
Literary device: hyperbole.
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Whiter she was than any altar lily, and more sweetly flushed than the new born rose in time of summer heat
Literary device: metaphor. He's comparing the maiden [or government propaganda] to being whiter than a lily and her face to a rose.
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so sweet a shelter
Literary device: alliteration
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Certainly neither Semiramis in the days of her most wanton power, nor Octavian, the Emperor of all the West, had so gracious a covering from sun and rain
He's expressing his giddiness and excitement.
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Right glad was the knight to do the bidding of the maidens.
Yup, propaganda again. "Yeah sure I'll do whatever you want, no questions asked. I'm even HAPPY to do your bidding".
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like a discreet and courteous gentleman.
I feel like this is propaganda. Hear me out. Remember how in class we talked about how these stories were a medium for those who otherwise would have become violent criminals and were taught to lust over the Queen and stuff? Well, I feel like things like this line are there to teach those young men how to act. It gives them a model on how to behave. It teaches them how to be proper and knightly and that this is what they should THINK they look like when simply standing up to address someone. That make sense? It's these things that are in the back of their minds constantly, subconsciously and even consciously. They make decisions based on what they've been taught (through propaganda like this) about how the ideal man should act.
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