The Knight-

The knight has traveled across Europe seeking to fight for God. He follows the code of chivalry and is very noble.

He is modest and polite (pg 5)

He has good horses but does not dress fancily (pg 5)

Chaucer views the knight as a good and noble man who is good and just. He admires and respects the knight.

Squire-

the squire is the son of the knight but he is young and noble. He acts mainly to please women, however.

He is young strong and handsome (pg 5)

He wears fanciful clothes and was talented in many educated arts (pg 5)

Chaucer admires this character less than the night but alos respects him because of his fancy clothing and many talents.

Yeoman-

the servant of the knight who is lean and a good woodsman he was well dressed.

Had high quality equipment such as a good bow and peacock feathered arrows (pg 6)

Dressed well and neatly (pg 6)

Chaucer thinks less of this man becasue he dresses up so neatly and yet he is a woodsman and a servant who shouldn't be more fancy then his master.

Prioress-

She is depicted as a proper lady with good manners and dress. She is righteous but isnt entirely devoted to the church. She is very learned and knows French

She has great manners at the table and is a very clean eater (pg 6)

She wore a charm that said "love conquers all" (pg 7)

Chaucer thinks that she is a proper lady and respects her for it but also shows that she is not a perfect nun. She has a desire for court life that shows in her trinket, because it doesnt have a christian saying on it. It more represents something that a noble or lady of the court would wear.

Monk-

the monk loves to hunt, however, he is a man of the church. He is a proper man with good form and money, but he doesn't follow the churces rules well.

He does not take the rules of the church seriouly(pg 7)

He loves hunting (pg 7)

He dresses well and his horse is well (pg 8)

Chaucer thinks down on this man. Although he is a proper man, he is not a good monk. He gives chaucer a portal through which he can criticize the church by making it's man look like a fool.

Friar-

The friar is not righeous at all, he has sex with women, has many mistresses, is glutunous and greedy, beggs for a liing even though he has quite enough money and is entirely devoted o money and women.

He loves money and beggs for a living (pg 9 and 10)

He gives gifts to women and treats them nicely until he has sex with them and marries them off (pg 9)

Chaucer does no like this character. even though the friar is rich, chaucer does not look kindly on his morals and deeds.

Merchant-

Completely oriented around money this merchant trades in the northern seas and is preyed on by pirates. However, there is a hint that he is himself a pirate.

He dresses in a good fashion that is proper yet not exuberant (pg 10)

He is very good at "bargaining" (pg 10)

Chaucer is questionable about this character. he thinks that he is a good fellow but he doesnt know his name and is skeptical about his morals.

Clerk-

Oriented only towards books and learning. He has been educated for years but wont ge a job because he wants to read.

He dresses poorly and his horse is in horrible condition (pg 11)

He owns many books and doesnt have a job (pg 11)

Chaucer does not like the cleric. He categorizes him as lazy and jobless. CHaucer believes that the clerk should have goten a job long ago.

Sergeant-at-law-

He was a judge who had studied law for a very long time and is very prosperous and righteous.

He is very learned about legalities and laws. (pg 11)

He is wise and smart (pg 11)

Chaucer admires and respects this man. He acknowledges his wisdom and respects that also.

Franklin-

a very prosperous man he is motivated by wealth and nobelity. he loves to live higly.

He enjoys extravegant foods and is sure to have a great many feasts every year (pg 12)

He has made a fortune for himself and is very good at gaining money (pg 12)

This man is respected becasue of his money and lavishness, however, chaucer views him as a little too frivolent and spendy. Even though he is wealthy, he still spends too much money on pleasures.

Habbadasher, Carpenter, weaver, dyer, and tapestry maker-

All well off men who had succeeded in life and married. They were average good doers.

They were all nealy trimmed and clothed in fancy but not extravegant ways (pg 13)

They had daggers of silver meaning that they have money (pg 13)

Chaucer admires these men who are normal everyday people who have made a liveing and are prosperous. These trais are the ones that he admires most in a man.

Cook-

a very good cook but it is implied that he is a bit disgusting in appearance.

The cook has a nasty ulcer on his knee (13)

He can make any sort of food and is great with spices and flavors (pg 13)

Chaucer is kind to the Cook but he does not admire or respect him very much. He views him as a little bit disgusting, but talented at what he does.

Shipman-

this man hailed from the west, he owned a ship called the modeleuyne and uses it to steal wine. He is money oriented but is also a good seaman, and captain.

The skipper steals and isnt the most righteous of men-(pg13)

He is not used to land riding (pg 13)

He is an excellent captain and is good at swiping wine (pg 13-14)

Chaucer does respect this man. He views him, even though he does pirate and ignore te finest laws, as a hard working person and an overall good man.

Doctor-

The doctor was a good doctor. However, he did much of his work by following the stars. He also sold perscriptions to people and made a good profit off of it. He is good at making moneyeven if it isnt in the most honest way.

He follows the stars and is an astronomrer as well as a doctor. (pg 14)

He sells and prescribes many drugs (pg 14)

He lives very simply and does not spend his gold because it is supposed to be good for the heart. (pg15)

Chaucer acknowledges hat this man is a somewhat good doctor, however, he does think down on him because of his morals and for no indulging very much.

Wife of Bath

a greedy woman se marries husbands and sexs them to death. She is mostly in i for the money that she gets after each husband. She is well off lready since she travels so much.

She, like the night, has traveled all over Europe and is quite successful (pg 15)

She was not very beautiful and yet she has had five husbands. (pg 15)

Chaucer admires this ladies cleverness and money. As well as her status in life as a well off woman.

Parson-

He is a loyal member of the church, a poor man and a good one.

The parson is a good church goer he is always preached the gospel (pg 16)

He also was poor (pg 16)

Chaucer likes this man for his hard work and dedication. However, chaucer does not like the poor very much.

Plowman-

The brother of the parson, he was an honest worker and a loyal man of god. He was a good man.

He worked hard for an honest living and lived without extremely fancy clothes or ways(pg 17)

He was religious (pg 17)

Chaucer also likes this character. he is a hard worker and a good man. He s not to poor which chaucer admires.

Miller-

A massive miller who is dishonest and hot headed. He is motivated by money and greed.

The miller fights alot and is very strong and hotheaded (pg 18)

He swindled people out of their money by charging them more than what there grain was worth. (pg 18)

Chaucer does not like this man. He views the miller as rash, tempered, and as not a hard worker because he steals.

Manciple-

a man not of noble birth or high stature but a cunning and genius man.

He watches the market and makes a living at speculating. (pg 18)

He can survive in any environment and live as well as he likes (pg 18-19)

Chaucer admires this man for his ability to make money and outsmart any noble or man of higher class than he.

Reeve-

Old thin man who oversees his lords lands, he is a carpenter and a very cunning man. He is rich and beomes so by lightly stealing from his lord here and there. However, he cannot be caught because he is so smart.

No one could accuse him of stealing because they could not get an ounce of evidence against him(pg 19)

He wore fairly nice clothes and his horse was good but he was not too frugal (pg 19)

He is a carpenter (pg 19)

Chaucer thinks that this man is very cunning in his ways, however, again he does not like a theif.

Summoner-

An extremely ugly man, he drinks excessivly, smells bad, and is disgusting. He is supposed to be a church man who collects sinners for the churches court. However, he lets sinners be for just a bit of alcohol or money.

He is as ugly and nasty a man as you can imagine (pg 20)

He accepts a quart of wine as payment for sins and does not take the people who pay. (pg 20-21)

Chaucer, again, does not like a dishonest man. Despite that chaucer is revolted by the mans apperance.

Pardoner-

A holy man who pardons sinners. His main duty though is that he sells fake relics of christianity, passing them off as the real thing. He is another con-artist.

The pardoner has a strong singing voice and was not very atractive (pg 21)

He sold a pillow case as the Virgin Mary's veil along with many other fake relics. (pg 21-22)

Chaucer does not like this man. He views the pardoner as just another con man and does not like it that he doesn't earn an honest living.

Host-

A decent man who is an inn keeper. He is motivated by money but is also a pleasent person and nice character. He is smart as well.

The Host comes up with the idea for the pilgrims to tell stories and the winner to get dinner at the tavern upon their return. (pg 24-25)

He is a merry man who is kind and happy (pg 23)

Chaucer likes this mans kindness and attitude. He respects that the Host follows money because that is a trait that gets men places in life.

Best Pilgrims-

Knight

Parson

Plowman

Sergant-at-law

Squire

manciple

Worst Pilgrims

Friar

Miller

Summoner

Pardoner

Wife of bath

Reeve

1) Sir Gawain and the Green Knight can be viewed as a journey from life to death and back to life. Discuss how this works.
The story of Sir Gawain can be viewed as a journey from life to death and back because of the different trials and places where Gawain goes. He starts out in a very lively place, Arthur's Court. Here they are partying and even when the Green Knight gets beheaded he is still alive. This is a place of great health and happiness. Gawain is also still very faithful to the code of chivalry and devoted to god.
However, when he goes to Bertilak's castle and the green chapel he is on a quest where he is supposed to meet death. While on the quest his faith in God dies and he believes that his chivalry honor died as well. The Green Chapel is a symbol of death and rebirth also.
Because the Chapel is a symbol of rebirth, Gawain is reborn into faith and life. He also returns to Arthur, alive, and joins in the joyousness and livelyness of the hall.
2) Sir Gawain is reborn both physically and spiritually at the end of the book how?
Physically he is reborn because he expected to die by the Green Knights axe. His livelyness is reborn uin that he did not die. He was spiritually reborn because he looses faith with god when he accepts the girdle as his protection over the protection of god. When the Knight confronts him he realizes that he has been unfaithful and is reborn into faith.
3) Whose Point of View are we suppose to exact at the end of the book? Why?
At the end of the book we are supposed to be looking through the eyes of Gawain. Throughout the story we look through his eyes at his hardships and trials. We see his personality and character change. The end of the story we see another change in character as he remorses for looseing faith in god. By viewing the story through his eyes, we also are given insight into the "silliness" of the people of Arthur's court
4) Is Gawain ruined as a knight or will we see great deeds from him again?
Gawain is not ruined as a knight. He is just being a sissy and not wanting to go on because he thinks that he has failed. however, with time he will realize that he is doing a greater misdeed by not being a knight than by being a knight who has made a mistake. He will take up the chivalry code again and will be a better knight than he was. This is because he would have already been exposed to his flaw so he can combat it.
5) In your opinion who is really in control?
Morgan Lafey is the controler of the story. She plans and executes the prank on gawain, not by acting herself but by controling those people around her. Bertilak and the lady, however, are not just pawns, they are powerfull people which emphasizes morgana's powers of control. Gawain is not in control because he is the one who gets jipped in the story. He is tricked and falls for it fully.

Fit 3 Questions Continued

2) What is your impression of Gawain during this section? How do you think he behaves? Does he uphold his honor while not dishonoring the lady and the lord?
Gawain does uphold his honor very well. He refuses to sleep with the lady and is very courteous to the Lord. His only flaw in this it is not giving the girdle to the Lord. Even this, however, is not a high offense because he had promised not to tell anyone about it. Gawain behaves very well in this Fit, this may be because he still follows god. It contrasts to fit 4 where he does not follow god and looks like a fool

3) What is the climax of the book?
The climax of the book is when the green Knight nicks Gawain with the axe. This ties into the idea of the story being a game because the climax is much less gruesome and serious than the reader would have thought it would be. The knight purposely doesn't behead gawain and plays t off as a game.

4) What does the girdle symbolize?
The girdle symbolizes a few things. It is a sign of paganism which contrasts heavily with the overall christian story. It also symbolizes Gawain's failure. He gives up complete faith in god for a material comfort which he does not know will work.

5) There are a few allusions to Christ, Mary and faith (or failure of faith) can you pick a couple out and discuss why they are there?

Ln 1255-1257
"They would prefer that pleasure to the richest possession, But praise Him who reigns in Heaven on High, By who's grace i have wholly in my hand the man desired by all."
The lady speaks this when she is attempting to woo Gawain. This could be inserted by the Lady in an atttempt to show that God encourages that "pleasure". She believes that this will allow Gawain to let down his guard and sleep with her. It is also inserted to show the start of Gawains straying from God's righteous path.

Ln 1381
"'Before God,' said Gawain, 'these are the finest beasts'"
This quote shows how God endorses the actions of the Lord and his hunt. Only God would allow him to find and slay such fine beasts. I the lord is blessed by god to have a good hunt then maybe the Lady is as well and she will succeed in her quest to lay with gawain. It also could mean that Satan has finer beasts and represent another striation by Gawain from complete faith.

Ln 1776
"'God help me,' he thought, 'that's not going to happen!'"
From Gawain, this is him subconsciously realizing that he has slightly slayed from thee path of right and honor by kissing and flirting with the lady. He wants god's help, which is ironic because eventually he betrays his faith in God for a girdle that hasn't even proven itself. It also shows that God is still with him because he does not end u sleeping with her. This is a christian statement that ties into the belief that god is always there for people. Even if they temporarily loose faith.

1. Bertilak and Gawain make an agreement to exchange whatever they may obtain throughout the day, Bertilak at the hunt, and Gawain lounging in the castle. Bertilak kills a deer first day and gives it to Gawain. Gawain gets one kiss from the lady and as agreed gives Bertilak the kiss. Bertilak kills a large boar second day, lady gives 2 kisses to Gawain, which again he gives back to the Lord. However on the third day Bertilak only kills a small fox for Gawain. Gawain receives three kisses, which he gives, but shows dishonesty when he denies Bertilak the Green Girdle that the Lady gives him. I interpret the fox as a symbol of deception and dishonesty. He kills a less significant animal, and then ironically Gawain lies and keeps the Girdle, breaking the arrangement of give exchanging. Bertilak is on the merciless hunt, and while he traps and kills his game, the lady is also in a hunt of her own. She traps him with her womanly deception, and tests his honor. The sign of trapping is seen in both scenes. “She comes nearer at that, catches him in her arms,” She catches him like her pray, or game, trust like Bertilak and his animals. “They spread around the crag and the jagged mound till they were certain they’d trapped inside their circle.” Another sign of trapping and hunting is seen in this line. “The lady lured him on, enticing him to sin. But she held himself back so well no blemish appeared.”

Fit 3 Questions

1) Each of the hunting scenes of fit 3 have a corresponding Bedroom scene of Sir Gawain and the Lady of the Castle. In the first hunt, the king goes for dear with his men and easilt hunts a great pile of dear using mostly arrows. This corresponds to the lady's first advances on Sir Gawain. Like the deer her attempts were futile but flattered the other. The hunters acheived great success, and so did Gawain in avoiding laying with her.
The second hunt consists of the men hunting a boar which tears at dogs and hunters and mames many. The lady also trys very abrupt and upright techniues in her effort to lay with Gawain. Still, however, her attempts, and the boars, end in failure as she just extracts a kiss from him and the boar only inflicts wounds upon the hunters but does not escape.
The third and final of the hunts is the hunt of the fox. The most illusive of the creatures. Likewise, the lady is a little more elegant in her ways this time, she isn't charging after Gawain for love. And the fox and the lady both acheive more than any of the previous attempts and still meet failure. The fox is eventually found and skinned, and the lady eventually gives up after three kisses and the giving of her gift of a girdle.