The Headless Green Man

Good morn fellow lords and ladies!

Have you all heard about the story of Gawain and the mysterious Green Knight? I myself have only heard the beginning of the story, but am extremely curious to see how it is to end. I mean, seriously, Arthur was looking for a story, and I believe he certainly got one in the Green Knight. Who would ask someone to strike them with an axe and then continue to speak with their severed head in their hands?

I also think that Gawain, though he is far from being as amazing as my true love Lancelot, was very brave when he offered to take the axe over Arthur, as he knew that in a little over a year's time he would have to suffer the same fate as the Green Knight. However, I'm sure we all know that Gawain is not magical and therefore would not be able to survive like the Green Knight did.

After all, what exactly is this man the Green Knight? He is certainly not human, that much I know for sure. I have to say that I am extremely glad that my Lancelot was smart enough to sit this one out. I'm sure he didn't have me in mind when he decided not to be the one to strike the giant, but I like to think that he believes he has something to live for, whether it be me or that harlot Guinevere. Regardless, I am happy that my love will not be suffering the same fate as poor Gawain.

I am curious to see how exactly this story will end, and I hope for Gawain's sake that he will live to tell the story himself... Although I believe if he did survive that I would be hearing this story straight from the horse's mouth. But hey, you never know, right?

Until next time, beauties!

Love and lilies,

Elaine of Astolat

And a Story He Shall Get...

This story of the Arthur and the knights of Camelot is a bewildering one. Starting as they always do, Arthur throws a big party, (to which I am never invited) all of the knights and ladies of the land are there drinking mead and playing games. During the festivities Arthur, who although constantly gets whatever he wants, demands to hear a grand story. Just as he speaks his request, a bold knight clad in all green strides through the door on his horse inquiring about the leader of the house. First of all, usually Arthur has many guards watching the gates and surroundings of his castle, but I guess they were all too drunk to notice this man gallop through in all green. For he just busts into the party like he owns the place and starts presenting his own little game. Which hardly seems like a game to me.

When the green knight asks Arthur and his knights to hit him with his own huge axe and that he will repay the blow a year later, one of them should have stopped, sat down, and thought about the fact that one does not usually have the benefit of being alive a year later if hit by a giant axe. Unless of course, they have some sort of power that allows them to not die. If a man was so sure of himself that the best knight in the land could hit him without armor with his own axe and live a year later to fight him again, I for one would question such a challenge. But of course Arthur jumped right into the ring, only to give up the challenge to one of his knights, Gawain, a smart decision, but not a very honorable one. I think Arthur should fight more of his own battles himself, but I also respect the fact that his knights are willing to do anything to fight for him, even if its to accept a crazy challenge from a crazy dude dressed in all green.

Gawain gets trapped in this year long bet with a knight who cannot die. Talk about stressful. When New Years comes around the story follows his journey to find the green knight, but never does it really talk about how he plans to defeat the knight. I mean, the man had his head chopped clean off and still proceeded to gallop out of the castle basically saying, "see ya next year buddy." I mean how do you beat that? I dont care how shiny your armor is, or who is painted on the inside of your shield, your gona need alot more than courage and a good sword to defeat a guy who doesn't flinch when his head gets wiped clean off. I just hope this time he uses his own weapon.

Good luck Sir Impetuous

Ysbaddaden

All Sorts of Feels

Fair Maidens and Noble knights, 

Really though. What did I, King Uther Pendragon, just read? The story of Gawain and the Green knight has me feeling all sorts of feels that a mighty king like myself should not be feeling. Just, just no. I am left with so many questions from this story.

1) Did my son, King Arthur, said to have been one of the bravest kings to ever live, allow his nephew to take a challenge for him? Grow a pair, Arthur. When the Green Knight first came, he wanted to challenge you. But no, Gawain volunteered himself (as tribute) and Arthur accepted. Stop being a sissy, boy. You are supposed to be one of the bravest kings to have ever existed, so act like it. I mean I probably would have done the same as Arthur, but I do not have a noble and courageous reputation like him. Expect better from your kids, right? 

2) Why would the Green Knight allow his wife to kiss Gawain? Was it his plan to manipulate the whole situation just so that he might kiss the famous Gawain? Maybe he planned everything out: Went to King Arthur's court on New Years', challenged Arthur knowing the Gawain would step up, have Gawain make the deal and chop his head off, have Gawain pursue him a year later only to have him stay in the castle of strangers (a castle that was green, by the way - open your eyes, Gawain), made another game with Gawain knowing that his wife would go kiss him and try to seduce him, just so that Gawain can share the kiss with him. Very suspicious of the Green Knight, am I right? 

3) Why did Gawain take the girdle without sharing it with the Green Knight? He is supposed to be so noble, yet he withheld promised information. 

4) Why would the Green Knight, knowing that Gawain withheld a prize from him, only cut his neck rather than kill him? Maybe the Green Knight did not even want the girdle because he actually wanted Gawain...

Till next time, 

King Uther Pendragon

The Green Knight is one sly man, but no goodfella

Greetings once again to all my fellow members of the round table.

I can understand why Gawain would want to duel with the Green Knight. He may be my brother, but he is still foolish. The Green Knight was extremely confident in his abilities from the start of the proposal. Our mother did not raise us to be fools yet Gawain still takes on a challenge that is risky to all. It may be the fact that he is younger and feels the need to prove himself. It may even be that he wants to please King Arthur. I could have sworn I have told him time and time again that when you fight for Arthur it results in your death or you simply kill lots of people. The end result is always death never anything truly worth fighting for.

 For instance in the situation the Green Knight shows up to Arthur’s court and challenges anybody to a duel. Also, there are stipulations put into effect where the challenging knight even is rewarded a free strike upon the Green Knight. This just seems too good to be true my foolish brother being the young naive knight that he is would go and accept such a tempting challenge. I for one would never accept a challenge like this. It should be obvious that the Green Knight is either one of two things; extremely experienced in combat, or he is playing some sort of trick. Any knight would jump at the chance to win a battle especially one where you get to have a free strike. The Green Knight bated Arthur’s knights, anticipating that at least one would wish to challenge him.

 C’mon now I cannot express it enough if it seems too good to be true it usually is. I respect the Green Knight’s style though. He is tricky and clever and is playing on other people’s attributes, allowing them to believe that the battle will be short and sweet. Little do they know he has and ace up his sleeve. I guess stealing people’s girls runs through Gawain and I’s blood. Luckily my foolish brother was able to obtain the girdle from the woman or I would have had to go and kill the Green Knight myself. I may not respect Arthur and I may scold basically every knight, but I do care for family especially my brother Gawain.

 So, if the Green Knight is to kill my brother he best believe he will see me tomorrow and if not the next day and so on until I find him and kill him myself.

-Mordred

P.S. Green Knight be careful these maidens aren’t loyal out here 

What Kind of Knight is This Green Guy?

I can speculate many a reason why Sir Gawain chooses to accept the challenge presented to Arthur’s court by the Green Knight. He is the youngest of Arthur’s knights and he is Arthur’s nephew, so he must feel some sort of obligation to demonstrate his chivalry. In addition, he is rational; with one free strike, he can kill his opponent, thus one free strike can not possibly be returned. With this rationality, Sir Gawain begins to exhibit a common “fault” in medieval knights:

keeping ones word is held with great respect and honor, and with no nods to suspicion, it is expected that others will do the same.

Initially, however, I could not speculate any reason why the Green Knight chooses to gallop in on New Year’s Day, wait for a knight specifically like Sir Gawain to come forward, and deliberately trick him into waiting a year for his death. I was left thinking, what kind of knight is this green guy and what is his purpose? To me, it seemed that, time and time again, bad people appear in medieval literaure with bad intentions and manage to use the good intentions of respectable and honorable people against them for no reason other than the need for a plot device. Stay tuned - this is not the case for the Green Knight.

As I previously mentioned, knights such as Sir Gawain like to keep their word and expect others to do the same without suspicion. Under that principle and that principle only, Sir Gawain must be failing at knighthood when he goes against his promise to exchange his daily gain for Bertilak’s daily kill; he secretly withholds a girdle, given to him by Bertilak's apparently seductive wife, that he thinks will save him from physical harm. Sir Gawain therefore keeps his word to the seemingly random Green Knight who he believes will kill him, but he goes against his word to Bertilak when he discovers a loop hole. WHY? (Did I mention the damn girdle is green like the Green Knight who fooled him?)

In the end, we learn that the Green Knight and Bertilak are the same person, and his purpose was to test Arthur's knights, but what exactly was he testing? Well, it was not their levels of trust versus suspicion, nor was it whether or not they would keep their word by showing up a year later for inevitable death. Instead, he used those knightly characteristics as tools for the deceit he needed to test integrity - the ability to hold onto morals when no one except oneself would know otherwise. If one of Arthur's knights had integrity, he would have handed over the life-saving girdle to Bertilak, thus deserving true respect and honor. Instead of a plot device, the Green Knight has a legitimate purpose! However, he is frankly odd for using deceit the way he did...

 I give thanks to a story that might teach men to have some integrity. To the elderly lady who figured frightening Guinevere to death would make for bravura laughs, I also give thanks.

Sincerely speaking,

Lady of the Lake

Lacy, Norris J., and James J. Wilhelm. The Romance of Arthur: An Anthology of Medieval Texts in Translation. London: Routledge, 2013. Print.

The Green Knight is Kind of a Scary Guy

I remember the day the Green Knight came to court.  We were all enjoying a lovely Christmas dinner and then in walks this huge green man who wants someone to strike him with an axe.  I thought it was all over when Gawain cut off his head, but then the Green Knight did this:

What the hell?!  image from

I mean that's horrifying, right?  How does one simply pick up his own head and ride away?  I don't know how Gawain means to get himself out of this one.  I do think it was a little dishonorable for the Green Knight to not disclose his supernatural abilities.  I guess we should have known something was off though, I mean the man was huge and green and you don't see that everyday.

Unless it's this guy Image From

This story is certainly full of excitement and, though I always enjoy reading it, it does get a bit bogged down with descriptions.  I imagine that if a storyteller were to come to court and tell the tale for us it would be different hearing it than it is trying to read it.  Though I am familiar with how the tale ends, I can't wait to revisit its conclusion!

Tristan