1) Look at the progression of each stanza in this section and briefly list/discuss in order what every stanza is about.
1. This stanza discribes how the spring, and life, pass normally and quickly while Gawain waits for his fate.

2. This describes summer passing as Gawain waits for his meeting with the Green Knight.

3. This stanza describes how the holidays come and a great feast is had to celebrate Gawains honorable quest. He is greatly honored by many knights and he explains to Arthur that it is Gawain's time to depart and meet his fate.

4.explains the intricate and expensive armoring of Gawain for his quest. It shows that he was a very important knight and highly valued.

5. Gawain attends mass in his extravegant atire then the story eners into another description of his horses expensive armor and saddle. The symbol of birds comes up when discribing Gawains armor.

6. introduces the symbol of Gwains sheild and the pentangle

7. explains what each point of the pentangle represents and ties into the knightly virtues.

8. The departure of Sir Gawain and it morns how he was such a good person and would have made a great lord if he could live.

9. follows Gawain through his journey as he travels many lands. Throughout the stanza it speaks of his affiliation with God and his servitude towards Him. Aslo introduces the theme of an outcast and of lonliness

10. Gawain rides on alone and faces many foes that are deadly to most. He is saved by the grace of God until Christmas Eve.

11. Gawain rides through rough terrain and bog on Christmas. He prays to Mary to allow him to attend Mass on Christmas and to find a holy place.

12. Gawain finds a holy castle in the midst of the forest and praises the Lord for it.

13. Sir Gawain examines the Castle and finds it to be an amazing and inpenetrable structure. He wishes to dine here for christmas.

14. Gawain is recieved properly into the castle by a host of respectfull peoples. He is invited to stay at the castle by the lord to stay at as long as he likes.

15. gawain describes his host as a noble fellow. He is taken and clothed in very extravegant "springly" clothes in an elegant room.

16. Gawain reveals that he is indeed a knight of the round table no other than Sir Gawain. This calls great praise to him by the servants of the castle.

17. Gawain meets the lady of the castle and her old keeper. A vivid description is given of both and a sharp contrast is drawn between them.

18. Gawain formally greets the lady with a kiss. The lord challenges the men to play games and dinner is served.

19. An extravegant dinner is served and Gawain and the lady have a good time in eachothers company.

20. The people of the castle celebrate St. John's Day with extreme festivities because many people are leaving the following day. Gawain and the Lord talk in the lords bedroom about how honored the people of the castle are that Gawain could stay there.

21.Gawain tells of his quest to find the Green Chapel and the lord reveals that it is not but a short ways away and therefor Gawain could stay longer.

22.Gawain decides to stay with the lord until the day that he must meet the Green Knight. Gawain and the Lord celebrate with women.

23. The lord introduces the bargain that whatever he acquires in the next days shall be given to Gwain, and all that Gawain gets is for the Lord. Gawain accepts this and they drink merrily.
2) Look at the motif of games and discuss how it works in this section.


The motif of games appears in Fit number 2 when Sir Gawain arrives at the Castle and is recieved royally by the Lord. Games are used mainly in this story to honor people of high distinction or to celebrate a particular important event. The lord puts on games for Gawain because he is a very honored knight. Also, games usually occur before battle or when a hero does a great deed. Games happen in Fit 1 just before Gawain beheads the Green Knight. In Fit 2 they celebrate just before the lord goes hunting, and Gawain, nobely, refuses the lady of the castle.


3) Other than the pentangle describe a symbol in this section and relate it to a theme. Discuss how this symbol reinforces the theme.
The symbol of birds appears in this Fit a few times. First, when Gawain is suiting up for battle he wears silk that has Bird designs on it. Again when he takes off his armor at the castle he puts on robes that have birds. Birds tie into the theme of peace. When he takes off his battle wear he puts on clothing that has birds. Also he wears the birds on his armor as a good luck sign.

4) How is Gawain different in this section as compared to the last?
In this section gawain ios much more noble as compared to Fit 1. In fit 2 he is portrayed as an accomplished knight who has glorious battledeeds and is famed in many lands. In Fit 1 Gawain is depicted as less of a crusader against evil.

5) Discuss the setting.
The setting of fit 2 starts in Arthurs castle, then extends to the English wilderness and finally ends up around christmas time in another castle. Christmas is an important part of setting here, it is a time of merriness and festivities which ties into the idea of the rich castle that Gawain ends up at. Also, it is Halloween when Gawain leaves Arthur. Halloween is traditionally a dark holiday and Gawain's entering into the dark wilderness is parralleled by a dark holiday,

2) Explain how the following themes work and what characters can be looked at as symbols of the theme.

Role of Kings: role of kings is shown by how Hrolf leads his men, and is shown in a bad way by King Frodi when he is not a fair king and doesn’t share his loot. All of the kings of the story represent this theme.

Role of the Warrior: showed best by Bodvar Bjarki when in the final battle he is described as always being by his king in Bear form and always being next to his king during and away from battle to protect him. He is honorable, he does not kill for no reason, and he defends his country and king. King Hrolf’s 12 champions are examples of warriors as are all of the unnamed soldiers.

Role of Women: this is shown by Queen Olof negatively and by her daughter Yrsa positively. Women are traditionally supposed to be wives and peace offerings to powerful men like Yrsa does. Queen Olof is a strong, opinionated woman. Hrolf’s daughter is another example of a traditional woman.

Concept of Magic: shown when Haki the farmer uses magic to move his farm ahead of Hrolf and his men. Also by the brothers Elk-Frodi, and King Thorir who use magic and can sense their brother Bodvar’s death. Magic is also used when Bodvar has Hott drink the Dragon-troll’s blood to become powerfull. Skuld, Bodvar, Elk-Frodi, Hott-Hjalti, Bodvar, and Thorir are magical.

Revenge: is best shown by Queen Olaf’s revenge on Helgi by tricking him into marrying his daughter. Olaf, Helgi, Adils, Elk-Frodi, and Thorir are characters involved in revenge.

Hospitality: shown at Hrolf’s court when the champions are inhospitable to Hott and Bodvar, also the Berserkers are inhospitable. King Adils court is also very inhospitable to the champions and Hrolf when they try to burn them. King Adils, Bodvar, the Berserkers, the Champions, King Hrolf, Hott, and Olaf are involved in this theme.

3) Discuss one event in the story that seems to represent what you believe the book to be about.

When Hrolf and his champions are visiting Adils in order to extract his inheritance is a good example of what the book is about. Adils attempts to kill Hrolf but his champions stand rue to their king and do not reveal which one is Hrolf. They protect him through all of the obstacles thrown at them. I believe this represents that this book is about the relationship between a king and his warrior.

4) How do hrolf and is champions compare with Arthur and the round table?

Arthur and his nights are much more about the code and being honorable. Hrolf’s champions are very harsh, they are brute warriors who demolish every enemy. Arthurs champions are also much more independent, there are many tales of them individually and not as one team like Hrolf’s champions are.

8) Compare Hrolf Kraki to Beowulf.

Hrolf Kraki is similar to Beowulf in that in the final battle he went on a warrior rampage and was an incredible warrior, however, he is a much better king than Beowulf, he controls and leads his men. Also he allows his men to fight for him and protect him. He realizes his importance, where Beowulf is a warrior first. Also, Hrolf does not go about doing things only to gain honor but to attempt to help his kingdom. Beowulf acts mainly to be a warrior and gather honor.

paganism vs. christianity-Good vs. evil
---main character is a religious knight
Role of Warrior (knight) vs role of King
Idea of Hospitality
Chivalry- Faith-truth-honor
Role of women
Pride

Symbols
-green
-green knight
-green sash

2. Explain how the following themes work and what characters can be looked at as symbols of the theme:

Role of Kings: Hrolf, Helgi, Frodi, Halfdan, King Adils, Elk-Frodi, Thorir, Hring, and Hroar are all kings. Some of the kings are fair and good kings like Halfdan, kings were supposed to be leaders and were supposed to win honor for their men
Role of the warrior:
Role of women:
Concept of Magic:
Revenge:
Hospitality:


3. Discuss one event in the story that seems to represent what you believe the book to be about.
4. How do Hrolf and his Champions compare with King Arthur and the round table?
8. Compare Hrolf Kraki to Beowulf.

Beowulf Literary Analysis Project

Logan Weber
Period 3 College Prep English

The Author and His/Her Times
There are many different interpretations of who the author of Beowulf could possibly be. The theory that I will mainly focus on is that the tale was originally passed down through oral tradition but was later interpreted by a monk in England between 800 and 1100 AD. Many of the themes of Beowulf reflect parts of a Germanic Pagan society; these are left over bits of culture from the original oration of Beowulf by the Pagan bards. However, the poem also has colorful inserts of Christianity that I will interpret as being added following the oral tradition.
When focusing upon the scop who originally sang of Beowulf’s glory in the pagan halls there is one main cultural trend of that society which effected the tone and theme of the poem most significantly: that of the warrior culture in the ancient Baltic region. Anglo-Saxon culture in the first millennium was based upon the warrior. The warrior society, however, had many characteristics; wyrd (or fate), wergild (blood money), and honor are three main parts of the warrior culture. Honor was very important to all warriors. They could only make it to Valhalla (heaven) by doing honorable deeds in battle or by showing great loyalty (Garcia). These honorable deeds would be sung at in the giant mead halls of kings by scops. The scop that had sung of Beowulf originally portrayed the main character of his poem as the epitome of a great warrior so that the warriors of the hall would be inspired.










Garcia, Christopher. The Anglo-Saxon Hero Ed. Natasha Boehm. Pace University, n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2009 .