Commentary: Fitt IV Essay example -- English Literature

Commentary Fitt IVThe extract from Fitt IV describes the first intended desolate of theGreen Knight against Gawain. Many lines at the beginning of theextract are dedicated to creating the image of the Green Knightpicking up his weapon and preparing himself to cross the deadly blow toGawain. Much of the focus is on the Green Knights physical strength,for example With alle the bur in his body and Hade hit dryven adounas drey as he atled, / Ther hade bend ded of his dynt that doghty wasever. Moreover, the description of the weapon also provides aformidable presence for Gawain, Gederes up hys the Green Knighsgrymme tole, Gawayn to smyte.However, instead of landing the disastrous blow on Gawains neck, asdiscussed in the contract of the game, Gawain flinches away from theaxe. The Green Knight is outraged and tells Gawain Such cowardise ofthat knight cowthe I never here(predicate) as Gawain recoiled in fear beforeencountering any pain. The Green Knight sees Gawain moving away fromthe bl ow of the axe as compromising his reputation as a knight at thecourt of Camelot. Throughout the first three fitts of the baloney Gawaincan be seen as the epitome of chivalry, a virtue immanent to anArthurian knight. His behaviour when first accepting the challenge ofthe Green Knight demonstrates the dauntless asset of selfless liegetytowards his King, but also shows his humble berth by the languagehe uses And lest lur of my lyf, quo laytes the sothe / Bot for asmuch as ye ar myn em, I am only prayse / No bounte bot your blod Iin my bode knowe. These chivalric qualities are further stressed bythe Gawain-poet when describing Gawains armouring scene. Gawainsshield, featuring the pentangle, is an iconic i... ...rldseems more virtuous than himself at that moment.The extract from Fitt IV is an essential moment of the story of SirGawain and the Green Knight. It encompasses part of the climax of thestory, depicting that which Gawain has been working up to all year.The section also act s as a moment of tension in spite of appearance the finalbeheading scene as it is expected that Gawain will endure the blow andlose his head. However, the act of Gawain flinching away from the axeworks as an anticlimax, a pattern which is repeated for the next twoattempts of beheading. It is also surprising from the readersperspective that Gawain should recoil from the blow as up until thispoint he has been characterised as knightly, loyal and truthful. Thismoment in the story is an interesting change in pace and foresees thesudden twist in the plot at the end of the beheading scene.