Sir Gawain Vs Dream Of The Rood

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The Code of Chivalry The world of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is run by an established code of behavior. Chivalry shapes the values and actions of Sir Gawain and other characters in the poem. For example, Arthur’s court is ruled by the code of chivalry. Arthur is introduced to us as the “most courteous of all,” and since he is the king the reader can assume that rankings are based heavily on how chivalrous one is. Sir Gawain is first introduced to us as “the good knight” and sits next to the Queen, meaning he is ranked high in power and must also be very chivalrous. When the Green Knight enters the hall in order to challenge the king, he mocks them by sarcastically saying, “What, is this Arthur’s house…where is now your arrogance and your awesome deeds”. In response, however, King Arthur and Gawain remain completely calm and collected because of their code. From the beginning, the reader can see how taught in the ways of chivalry the nobility of Camelot are, and how highly people view this code and others that follow it. The ideals of knightly chivalry are also brought up in Gawain’s symbolic shield. Among other things, the pentangle represents the five virtues of knights: friendship, generosity, chastity, courtesy, and piety. The pentangle is a reminder for Gawain that all of these virtues are “confirmed in this knight” and that he must always uphold the code no matter the situation. As Gawain begins his journey, he leaves Camelot and enters the wilderness nearby. In the forest, Gawain is forced to abandon his codes of chivalry when he begins to “fear for his default”, and prays for assistance from above.. Once he prays for help, he is rewarded by the appearance of a castle. The inhabitants of the castle teach Gawain about a kind of chivalry that is more firmly based in truth and reality than that of Arthur’s court. These people are connected to nature, as

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