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Name: Shiann Lee

Course Number and Section: ENG 200- Understanding Literature

Selected Text for Editing: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: Verse 1 in Fitt 1 (lines 343–490) and Fitt 4 (lines 2470–2530)

Introduction: Welcome to my Editorial Project for Sir Gawain and the Green Knight! I chose two compelling verses: Sir Gawain accepting the Green Knight's challenge (Fitt 1) and his return to court after the encounter (Fitt 4). These sections are interesting because they showcase the values of medieval chivalry, such as honor, loyalty, and courage, while also revealing human flaws and moral struggles. In Fitt 1, the Green Knight’s dramatic entrance, all green and holding a massive axe, immediately captures attention. Even though his arrival is strange and threatening, Arthur’s court focuses on the idea of a marvel and misses the danger. I want modern readers to see how this moment sets the stage for Gawain’s journey. He is not a perfect hero but someone who grows through his mistakes. The poem respects chivalry but also questions it by showing that both Gawain’s courage and his weakness are central to the story.

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No Generative AI used.

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AI Generated depiction of a Knight (source: Firefly)

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Chivalry: In Fitt 1, Sir Gawain's decision to step forward and accept the Green Knight's challenge dramatizes the values of medieval Chivalry. When King Arthur hesitates, Gawain humbly offers, "I am the weakest and the least in wit; / Loss of my life is therefore of little account. / I am, by birth, your nephew; besides that, nothing. / My one virtue, your blood that runs in my veins". (lines 353-357) This act of stepping in to save his lord's honor, despite claiming his insignificance, exemplifies the core tenets of Chivalry: loyalty, humility, and courage. The poem highlights this moment by showing that "The nobles thereupon / Confer, and all agree: / Gawain should take him on, / And let the king stay free" (lines 378–381), showing that the court agrees with the decision for Gawain to take his place. Nigel Saul's Chivalry in Medieval England further explores the broader impact of Chivalry on medieval social structures and individual behavior, providing a historical context for Gawain's actions. Nigel Saul's Chivalry in Medieval England examines the significance of chivalry labels in shaping both social structures and personal behaviors during the Middle Ages. Saul explains how the concept of Chivalry evolved in the 12th century, transforming the knight from a simple warrior to an "idealistic" figure that was divinely able to protect. This cultural shift helps us understand why Gawain is portrayed as more than just a brave warrior. He represents the knightly ideal shaped by a broader, richer social and artistic movement.

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Firefly_Image- A medieval illuminated manuscript depicting a knight, or a coat of arms. Sir G 714194

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History.com / Amoret Tanner / Alamy Stock Photo

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Note 2: Ritualized Violence & Medieval Games

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Note 2: Ritualized Violence & Medieval Games

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The Green Knight's challenge, involving an exchange of blows, is a strong example of ritualized violence in medieval courtly society. He arrives during the Christmas season, which is a time filled with feasting, games, and celebration. (Roos) He is carrying a large threatening battle axe. The setting and his green color make the challenge appear more like holiday entertainment than a real threat. His statement, “Let’s repeat our agreement before we go further” (Helen, verse 378), emphasizes the formal, game-like structure of the event. This festive atmosphere sets up an expectation for entertainment, causing everyone present to focus on the spectacle and to overlook the danger of the actual challenge. What is appearing to be a “marvel” is a deadly test. Tison Pugh’s article “Gawain and the Godgames” explores how games in the poem are often layered with deeper meaning, turning playful rituals into severe moral trials. Gawain’s participation in this “game” ultimately tests his courage, integrity, and adherence to the chivalric code.

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Sir Gawain wearing the green girdle around his neck. sources: Firefly Ai generative image.

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Note 3 The Green Girdle as a Sign of Human Vulnerability:

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Note 3 The Green Girdle as a Sign of Human Vulnerability:

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The green girdle becomes a symbolic element in Gawain's journey, especially in Fitt 4. Gawain explicitly states his intention for the girdle: "But I shall see it always, as a sign of my fault / Wherever I ride, remembering with remorse, in times of pride / How feeble is the flesh, how petty and perverse." He calls it "What a pestilent hutch and house of plagues it is, / Inviting filth!" (lines 2432-2437) This reveals his profound sense of human vulnerability and shame after his encounter with the Green Knight. He further explains, "This band belongs with the wound I bear on my neck: / Sign of the harm I've done, and the hurt I've duly received / For covetousness and cowardice, for succumbing to deceit." (line 2506). What was once thought of as a magical charm to keep him from harm, the green girdle then becomes a sign of his vulnerability, reminding him of his failures and subsequent growth. As a blog post by "Thomas" explains, this significant element is explored throughout Gawain's journey. Thomas emphasises that according to different people in the story, the green girdle has various meanings. For Gawain, it is a sign that he values saving his own life more than he values honoring the “knightly virtues.”

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Firefly_create an image of Sir Gawain from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight wearing a green gi 168950

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Sir Gawain standing before the court like upon his return. Source: Early British Survey

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Note 4 Knighthood, Honor, and imperfections

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Note 4 Knighthood, Honor, and imperfections

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Sir Gawain and the Green Knight explores the true meaning of being a knight. The poem shows both the praise and pressure that comes with honor and chivalry. In Fitts one, Gawain steps up to take King Arthur’s place in the Green Knight’s challenge. His court approves, saying, “Gawain should take him on, / And let the King stay free (lines 363-364). This moment showcases the people's admiration for bravery, loyalty, and self-sacrifice. But by fit 4, Gawain returned home ashamed, confessing his “covetousness and cowardice” (line 2508) and feeling shameful, saying, “what's done is done and cannot be undone” (line 2512). Gawain realizes that he is no longer the flawless knight, but rather someone who has made mistakes. Although Gawain is struggling with that notion, suprisingly instead of theKingg and court judging him or casting him out they start laughing loudly and decide that they would wear a girdle to honor Gawain, saying “ a band of green / The same as Sir Gawain’s to keep him company. / All agreed it was good for the Round Table’s renown; / He who wore it would be honoured evermore.” (lines 2517-2520) I believe that this response indicates that the people of this time recognized that perfection was not attainable. Real honor and knightlyhood came from owning up to your flaws and learning from them. Gawain’s story reflects a “mature” view of knightlyhood in the 1300s. It teaches that you should value humanity and growth over unattainable perfections and virtues.

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Chivalry- According to The New Arthurian Encyclopedia, chivalry is described as, “descriptions of the practice of chivalry emphasize that honor, prowess, and loyalty are the knight's cardinal virtues; important corollaries include generosity, compassion and pity, courtesy, courage, and religious zeal. “ (Norris P. 87)

Battle Axe - As described in Wikipedia, it is an axe used for battle. Battle axes were especially popular in the middle ages/medieval period, “Most medieval European battle axes had a socketed head (meaning that the thicker, butt-end of the blade contained an opening into which a wooden haft was inserted), and some included langets—long strips of metal affixed to the faces of the haft to prevent it from being damaged during combat. Occasionally, the cheeks of the axehead bore engraved, etched, punched, or inlaid decorative patterns.” (Wikipedia)

The green girdle-Something that encircles or confines: such as an article of dress encircling the body usually at the waist(“Definition of GIRDLE”). In the Poem, the girdle given to Gawain is described as being made of green silk with a gold trim sewn around it. (line 1832)

Feeble-Feeble- is described as very weak or not good enough: not successful or effective.(“Feeble Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary”) So when Gawain talks about ‘how feeble is the flesh, ' he is saying that he is weak and not good enough.

Pestilent hutch. In the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, pestilent is described as destructive of life: deadly (“Merriam-Webster Dictionary”), and hutch is sometimes referred to as a small encloser or a prison. In the verse, Sir Gawain is referring to his own BODY as a “pestilent hutch,” a disease-ridden, shameful vessel that is prone to sin and corruption. Gawain expresses his disgust at how easily his body and human nature betray his virtues.

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For this assignment, I utilized generative AI to assist in structuring and organizing the Padlet. The AI assisted in designing a five-column layout that included sections for the introduction, explanatory notes, creative resources, vocabulary and definitions, and a bibliography. This provided a strong starting framework, which I then adapted and refined as the project developed. While the AI assisted with the initial setup, I remained responsible for creating, editing, and curating the content.

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Cover of Medieval Masculinity by Clara A. Lees 

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Throughout Gawain's journey, the poem subtly explores medieval masculinities. In Fitt 1, Gawain embodies the “ideal male” figure of the court as far as being brave and protective in his offer to take King Arthur's place. However, Fit 4 expresses the pressures and expectations placed upon men in this society—their expectation to be perfect, powerful, and without fault. Gawain’s deep shame and self-reproach as he confesses his “fault” and “cowardice” in concealing the girdle reveal the societal scrutiny and personal burden of maintaining an honorable male image. Clara A. Lee’s Medieval Masculinities: Regarding Men in the Middle Ages examines how men in the Middle Ages were held to a higher standard than women and were perceived as superior. Clare A. Lees, in Medieval Masculinities, explains that men were expected to be role models and seen as exceptional. While Gawain sees the girdle as proof of his weakness “how feeble is the flesh, how petty and perverse” (line 2435), the court turns it into a symbol of pride, the “renoun of the Round Table.” This suggests that the concept of manhood in the poem is unresolved. They change depending on how people choose to see them.

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Generative AI Use Overview:

I used generative AI on Adobe Firefly to create an image for this project, specifically to find an image that complements Chivalry. I typed the prompt “A medieval illuminated manuscript depicting a knight, or a coat of arms” into the image generator. The AI used this prompt to make an image that matched the theme of my project. I chose the one that fit best and added it to enhance the content's interest and visual appeal.

I used Generative AI to help me come up with titles for my five explanatory notes. I knew what I wanted each note to represent or be about, but I was having trouble coming up with titles for each of them. I used AI to help me come up with the titles for Notes 3, "The Green Girdle and Human Vulnerability," and Note 4, "Knighthood, Honor, and the Nuance of the 1300s." I decided to change the title to 'Knighthood, Honor, and Imperfections' instead, as I thought it made more sense in relation to the subject matter.

I used generative AI to create an image for a green girdle. I used the prompt, “Create an image of Sir Gawain from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight wearing a green girdle around his neck. The girdle is described as being silk with gold embroidery stitching on the edge,” on Firefly.

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I used Generative AI to ask what 'Pestilent hutch' means in the poem because I wanted to ensure the definition I received from the dictionary aligned with the actual meaning in the story. The dictionary also provided me with several meanings of 'pestilent,' and I wanted to ensure that I used the correct one.

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Info-graphic Poster showing Sir Gawain's journey and key themes to discuss.

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Artist's Statement: "Gawain's Green Journey: A Thematic Infographic Poster" is a digital visual created to highlight the central themes of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight in a simple, engaging way for book club members. I chose the infographic format to make complex ideas more approachable and easy to view at a glance, especially on a Padlet. At the center of the image is Gawain, holding the green girdle, which symbolizes his inner journey. Surrounding him are visuals and phrases representing five key themes I am explaining in the padlet: chivalry, ritualized violence, human vulnerability, knighthood and honor, and medieval masculinity. Each element is designed to spark discussion and help viewers see how these themes are connected and changed throughout the poem. The goal is to give readers a memorable, visual starting point that supports understanding and makes Gawain's story more relatable.

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I used Generative AI to create an infographic poster for Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. In my prompt, I explained that I wanted a central image of Sir Gawain holding the green girdle to represent his journey. I also included a list of the five explanatory notes I would be discussing in the book club. I asked the AI to include visuals for each of these five themes, along with the words for each topic, branching out from Gawain at the center.