Sir Gawain And The Green Knight - 1473 Words

â€Å"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight† translated by J.R.R. Tolkien is a narrative romance poetry depicting the journey of a knight errant. The foundation of the poem is based on a knight who struggles to maintain balance between his faith and the code of chivalry, particularly loyalty. On the voyage to achieve the promise he made to the Green Knight and to display his loyalty toward King Arthur, Sir Gawain encounters games testing his character. The games include forces of nature: death and human sexual desires; that challenge his faith and chivalric values. Furthermore, his inability to constrain himself from the seductive Lady Bercilak, affects his human morality and loyalty to his counterparts and God. Such behaviors and struggles are also experienced in â€Å"Lanval† between the mistress and Lanval. Sir Gawain possesses virtues that signify his relationship with God and his affiliation with humans; however, the tests presented to him, especially the fear of d eath and human desires, consume his ability to maintain both faith and loyalty to God and to human society. The introduction of Sir Gawain displays an individual who possesses knightly chivalric values. The first test displaying Sir Gawain chivalric values is during the first appearance of the Green Knight. The Green Knight proposes a game to King Arthur that involves a strike for a stroke. Sir Gawain’s loyalty and bravery is shown as he asks King Arthur for his permission to abandon the bench and to stand withShow MoreRelatedSir Gawain And The Green Knight1359 Words   |  6 PagesIn the poem â€Å"Sir Gawain and The Green Knight,† a protagonist emerges depicting an Arthurian knight named Sir Gawain. Sir Gawain, King Arthur’s nephew, takes initiative by accepting the challenge requested by the Green Knight in place of his uncle. He undergoes a perilous adventure, seeking for the Green Knight to receive the final blow. Although Sir Gawain is not viewed as a hero for his military accomplishments, he is, however, viewed as a heroic figure by the Knights at the Round Table for hisRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight862 Words   |  4 PagesIn Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, by an unknown author referred to as the â€Å"Pearl Poet,† we are introduced to Sir Gawain. Gawain is a knight of the Round Table and he is also the nephew of King Arthur. As a knight, Gawain is expected to possess and abide by many chivalrous facets. Throughout the poem he portrays many of the qualities a knight should possess, such as bravery, courtesy, and honor among others. Because of his ability to possess these virtues even when tempted to stray away from themRead MoreSir Gawain and the Green Knight1100 Words   |  5 PagesThe poem of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight compares a super natural creature to nature. The mystery of the poem is ironic to the anonymous author. The story dates back into the fourteenth century, but no one knows who origi nally wrote the poem. This unknown author explains in the poem of Sir Gawain not knowing of the location of the Green Chapel and or who the Green Knight really is. This keeps the reader entertained with the suspicion of not knowing. The author then does not give his name orRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay1687 Words   |  7 PagesSir Gawain and the Green Knight contains ambiguity and irony that make it interesting to read and teach. Gawain’s conflict arose when he accepted the girdle that could protect him and when he lied to his host, severing fellowship with the lord for courtesy with the lady. By utilizing a social reconstructionist philosophy of teaching that emphasizes personal beliefs and ethics, a teacher will help the students establish their identities and learn to appreciate classic literature. Sir Gawain and theRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight1514 Words   |  7 PagesSir Gawain and the Green Knight is an epic poem written in the mid to late fourteenth century by an unknown author. Throughout the tale, Sir Gawain, a Knight at the Round Table in Camelot, is presented with many hardships, the first being a challenge on Christmas by a man in which, â€Å"Everything about him was an elegant green† (161). This â€Å"Green Knight† challenged someone in Camelot to accept his game which they will chop off his head with his axe and the Green Knight will do the same to the playerRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight1335 Words   |  6 PagesSir Gawain: The Ironic Knight Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a tale of the utmost irony in which Sir Gawain, the most loyal and courteous of all of King Arthur’s knights, fails utterly to be loyal and courteous to his king, his host, his vows, and his God. In each case, Sir Gawain not only fails to perform well, but performs particularly poorly, especially in the case of his relationship with God. Ultimately, Sir Gawain chooses magic over faith, and by doing so, shows his ironic nature as aRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight906 Words   |  4 Pagesusually the latter. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight we see Sir Bertilak go off to hunt three very specific animals as a game with Sir Gawain. They agree that â€Å"what ever [Bertilak catches] in the wood shall become [Sir Gawain’s], and what ever mishap comes [Sir Gawain’s] way will be given to [Bertilak] in exchange.† (Sir Gawain†¦, ln 1105-1007). In this deal we slowly see Gawain loose his honor as paralleled with Sir B ertilak’s hunt. The first animal that is hunted by the knight is a deer, while thisRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay1521 Words   |  7 PagesFall 16 Donnelly Many years ago, knights were expected to form a certain type of relationship with their king, this relationship was otherwise known as fealty. Fealty is a knight’s sworn loyalty to their king (in other words a loyal relationship should be formed between the two). The use of this relationship is shown in the poem called â€Å"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight† ( the author is unknown). This poem has a classic quest type of formula, with a knight receiving a challenge and then going outRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight1455 Words   |  6 PagesHowever, for Gawain in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight temptation existed around every corner while he was playing the game of the Green Knight. Temptation existed every day and each day it existed in a new way. Gawain never knew what was coming his way throughout the grand scheme of the game, but one thing was for certain he was being tested. Without his reliance religious faith and dedication to his reputation, Gawain wo uld not have been able to make it through the game of the Green Knight alive andRead MoreSir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay1020 Words   |  5 PagesBoth Sir Gawain, from â€Å"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight† translated by Marie Borroff, and Beowulf, from Beowulf translated by Burton Raffel, serve as heroes in different times of Medieval English Literature. Many of the basic principles that describe heroes in Medieval Literature are seen in both of these characters even though they were written in different times. There are distinct similarities, differences, and also a progression of what the hero was in English literature, between Sir Gawain and

A Society Without Morals - The Great Gatsby - 891 Words

The streets are paved with gold has long been the allusion of the United States of America meaning that America is the land of opportunity and wealth for anyone. However what people fail to understand when they manage to get to America is that, although it is the land of opportunity, an individual is not able to magically go from dirt poor to filthy rich, they have to work for it. Even after working for it many people are disappointed not because they did not get more money, they just did not as much as the expected. In the 1920s this was because of all the illegal activity that was happening through out the country, mainly bootleggers such as Jay Gatsby. With illegal activity comes lack of moral conscience such as marrying for money or†¦show more content†¦(Fitzgerald 141). Gatsby being able to break the law, make a lot of money, and never get caught is a clear illustration of the failures of society during the 1920s. Having the ability to break the law also causes peo ple to have lack of moral conscience even if they disapprove of bootleggers. Tom Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson?s immorality becomes apparent when the reader finds out that Tom and Myrtle are having an affair. This is clear attempt by Fitzgerald to display the lack of care for morals in 1920 America. Tom is married to Daisy and Myrtle is married to George, however they both have no problem in deceiving their spouses and supposed love for life. What Fitzgerald really does to prove lack of care in the 1920s is make it very clear to the reader that everyone is aware of the affair. This is revealed to the reader when Jordan Baker, a friend of the Buchanan says to Nick, the narrator, You mean you don?t know Miss Baker, honestly surprised. ?I thought everyone knew. This quotation makes it obvious to the reader that although everyone in the novel knows of the affair, nobody does anything to stop it, therefore displaying to the reader the lack interest people have in the affair going on be tween Tom and Myrtle. Even Daisy, Tom?s wife, does not do anything about it, pointing to the flaw that people married for money and not love in the 1920s. Daisy and Tom?s marriage is a symbol for the mistake many people make by marrying for aShow MoreRelated The Great Gatsby and the Valley of Ashes Essay1149 Words   |  5 PagesThe Great Gatsby and the Valley of Ashes    Many times we hear of societys affect on people; society influencing the way people think and act.   Hardly mentioned is the reverse: peoples actions and lifestyles affecting society as a whole and how it is characterized.   Thus, society is a reflection of its inhabitants and in The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, it is a wasteland described as the valley of ashes.   Since the characters of this novel make up this wasteland, arent they theRead MoreSymbolism And Symbolism Of The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald993 Words   |  4 PagesConte Roe H English 10 December 2012 In every piece of great literature authors use symbols to convey a feeling or thought. The novel, For example, Lord the Flies, William Golding memorably uses a conch shell to represent order and the destruction of order. Or in To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses the physical and metaphoric sense of the mockingbird to convey the idea of innocence and the loss of innocence. In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald employs the use of symbols to enhance aRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1732 Words   |  7 PagesThe Great Gatsby is a novel that illustrates the society in the 1920 s and the associated beliefs, values and dreams of the American population at that time. These beliefs, values and dreams can be summed up be what is termed the American Dream; a dream of money, wealth, prosperity and the happiness that supposedly came with the booming economy and get-rich-quick schemes that formed the essential underworld of American upper-class society. This underworld in filtrated the upper echelons and createdRead MoreThe Great Gatsby And Of Mice And Men1405 Words   |  6 PagesIn the novel ‘The Great Gatsby’ and ‘Of Mice and Men’ F Scott Fitzgerald and John Steinbeck respectively explore the complex perspective of the true outcome of the American Dream. Although set within different eras of American society, the extensive failure of dreams throughout both texts shows how the American Dream is destined for annihilation despite the intention of hope and happiness. In its original form the American Dream encapsulated the ideal that ‘equality of opportunity is available toRead MoreGreat Gatsby: Moral Decay of the Nineteen Twenties 1628 Words   |  7 PagesThe Great Gatsby written by F.Scott Fitzgerald and published in 1926. The novel is set in the early nineteen twenties in the post world war one era and takes place in the New York on the west and east egg of Long Island. The novel explores the life of the central c haracter, Jay Gatsby. Nick Carraway, the narrator of the story, tells of Gatsbys ongoing quest to win over the love of Daisy, despite her marriage with Tom Buchanan. Fitzgerald uses ideologies and marginalizes class, education, race andRead MoreThe American Dream Through The Eyes Of F. Scott Fitzgerald1690 Words   |  7 PagesFitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby has been criticized, cited, and known as one of the greatest works of American Literature. With numerous themes and focuses, one of the most valuable is represented in the American Dream and how F. Scott Fitzgerald analyzes his idea of this concept. The American Dream is a concept centering on successes in many terms, such as wealth and social standing. These successes are achieved through hard work and can be obtained through a society with no barriers. HoweverRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1645 Words   |  7 Pagesnovel â€Å"The Great Gatsby† is a consummate summary of the ‘roaring twenties’ and a devastating show of the ‘Jazz Age’. Nick Carraway Chasing his own American Dream, lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby young, handsome, and remarkably rich always seems alone in the crowd, watching and waiting although no one knows what for. Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super rich, their illusions, loves and deceits. As Nick bears witness, within and without the worldRead MoreCaos and Crime in the The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 849 Words   |  4 Pagesevils in society. The 1920’s marked a time of economic growth in America’s, post World War 1. A new generation flocked from small towns to big cities in search of exhilaration, opportunity, and a modern way of living. People lived lavishly and had no need to be concerned about others. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald presents a harsh picture of this world, which he sees around him. It is fraudulent and devoid of any moral ity. He presents society in the story to be headed towards disaster. Society hasRead More The Great Gatsby American Dream Essay1731 Words   |  7 PagesThe Great Gatsby is a novel that illustrates the society in the 1920s and the associated beliefs, values and dreams of the American population at that time. These beliefs, values and dreams can be summed up be what is termed the American Dream, a dream of money, wealth, prosperity and the happiness that supposedly came with the booming economy and get-rich-quick schemes that formed the essential underworld of American upper-class society. This underworld infiltrated the upper echelons and createdRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of The Great Gatsby 1490 Words   |  6 PagesJaylinn Cooper Mrs. Fowler English III March 3, 2017 Literary Analysis of The Great Gatsby The 1920s in America, known as the Roaring Twenties, was a time of celebration after a destructive war. It was a period of time in America characterised by prosperity and optimism. There was a general feeling of disruption associated with modernity and a break with traditions.The Roaring Twenties was a time of great economic prosperity and many people became rich and wealthy. Some people inherited old

Columbian Exchange free essay sample

What was the most important motive behind European maritime expansion? What was the most important motive behind European maritime expansion? What was the most important motive behind European maritime expansion?Did the Columbian Exchange change the world for the better or for the worse? The Columbian Exchange refers to the period of cultural and biological give-and-take between the New and Old Worlds. Interchange of plants, animals, and technology renovated European and Native American ways of life. After Columbus discovered the New World in 1492 the exchange continued throughout the years of growth and discovery. The Columbian Exchange changed the social and cultural sides of all parties. Improvements in farming production, evolution of warfare, improved mortality rates and education are a few illustrations of the reason why the effect of the Columbian Exchange on the world over-shadows the negative effects such as the diseases that were exchanged. On a technological stand point the Europeans didn’t significantly benefit from the less innovative Native Americans. We will write a custom essay sample on Columbian Exchange or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The natives gained many advancements in weapon capabilities including firearms and steel knives. Hunting with firearms proved more beneficial compared to bow and arrows.What was the most important motive behind European maritime expansion? With these improvements they were also able to defend themselves easier from aggressive adversaries. The Europeans may not have gained much from the Native Americans in technology, but they did take advantage of their ideas and culture. The voyage to the new world was made by humans but also animals. Both domesticated and non-domesticated animals made a huge impact on both worlds. When explores brought over new bigger and stronger animals they introduced new means of transportation, labor form, and food source. Horses and cattle were one of the biggest influences on the new world because the horses provided improved means of transportation, the cattle were used for their meat and hides, and when they are both used properly they promoted agricultural growth. One of their downfalls was that they would devastate the native’s crops by trampling and grazing them, but a benefit that the animals had going for them is that they were rarely troubled by diseases that decimated the indigenous population. Diseases were transmitted from Europeans to Native Americans as well as vice versa. Since both were isolated from each other, their immune systems were primed for different ailments, the natives were susceptible to the European’s Smallpox,  Measles, and Yellow Fever; while the explorers were vulnerable to Syphilis, Polio, and Hepatitis. Natives were devastated by the illnesses because they were airborne and could spread by touch also. In some cases various tribes were infected and almost completely wiped out before they even made contact with the Europeans. At the time these epidemics made it easy to say that the Columbian Exchange only had a negative effect on the world. There is a positive side to this tragic tradeoff, without it we wouldn’t have been able to develop antidotes to help prevent them and make our immune system stronger. Natives benefited substantially from the exchange of technology, while the Europeans profited from the native’s ideas and culture. Even though the useful animals were able to prosper in the new land and help the agriculture thrive, many of un-domesticated animals crossed over to the New World carrying diseases, but without these viruses we would not have been prepared for them as well as we are today. On first glance, the damaging conditions seem to out-weigh the positive ones, but after taking the future’s benefit into consideration, being able to develop cures, and having the knowledge on how to handle dreadful situations whether it is violent, medical, financial, or agricultural they all easily counter the negative effects of the Columbian Exchange.