Essay On Chivalry In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight

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Back in the Middle Ages, there were knights, and they had to follow the code of chivalry. Knights were courageous and had to be able to face any kind of combat. If their king passed away they had to protect the people from their village. The excerpt Sir Gawain and the Green Knight translated by Burton Raffel focuses on Gawain’s knightly character, by testing his actions and enhancing the characterization of Gawain’s following the code of chivalry in the Middle Ages. Knights were dressed in heavy armor that covered every inch of their body, and they rode on a horse everywhere. They had to have strength and many skills to face any type of combat that came their way (Alchin). They didn’t like to be humiliated in front of anyone. In Sir Gawain …show more content…
The Green knight once again lifted his huge ax and swung but stopped before he reached his neck. He held it back before it could hurt him (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 94). He stood still and the Green Knight noticed that he was not going to move anymore. But Sir Gawain then gets mad because he keeps stopping and not doing anything. So he stands up to him and tells him to do what he came for already, he was taking too long. You talk too long: Perhaps you’ve frightened yourself with these threats (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 94). Sir Gawain’s bravery hit a whole other level and he stood up to the Green Knight once again; knights have to be brave (Alchin). “Ah well,” said the green man, “you’ve turned so brave that I need to delay no longer, your time is now” (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 94). The Green Knight finally picked up his ax, and swoosh, he went for the neck but nothing happened. Only a speck of blood, the Green Knight was in awe; Sir Gawain rushed forward and told the Knight to stop, he had his one swing he promised, no more. “Stop, green man! Don’t swing again! I’ve taken a single stroke, and stood still for it: No more, or else I’ll repay you kind (Sir Gawain and the Green