2006-11-27 07:48:29 · 4 answers · asked by lolland88 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
Well...Gawain keeps his head, but the Green Knight does teach him a lesson, which was really what he had intended all along. Make of it what you will...
2006-11-27 07:50:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you reverse the question and ask it in the negative
what happens to both of them, if Gawain loses the contest.
The answer becomes more clear.
Nothing Happens to the green knight
so he has nothing to lose and does not gain that much by Gawains win. In essence he really is not playing a game
he is teaching a lesson.
Since Gawain won. and he had more to gain by winning
and he was the only real contestant in the game. Id say he was the winner.
2006-11-27 17:58:59 · answer #2 · answered by Syberian 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you read the "Mabinogion", you get a better idea of the true challenge before Gawain; the word for "green" is the same for "grey"...and the grey knight is the lord of the Side'...the other world of ghosts, spirits, demigods....
Gawain's loyalty is actually being torn between the lure of eternal bliss with a demi-goddess and his word of honor...with a fight to the death with a belligerent "demon" ...
the original is much more enlightening than the Arthurian adaptation; the "gawain" episode only reinforces the "courtly" honor of a knight...there was really never any doubt as to the outcome...
2006-11-27 22:09:11 · answer #3 · answered by Gemelli2 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ultimately, Gawain wins. After his quest, he not only fulfills his promise to the Green Knight by returning, he has found himself and his own true character. It's easy to take the easy path, but it is the lessons that we must fight for, that cause us pain or difficulty, that garner the greatest knowledge.
2006-11-27 16:04:55 · answer #4 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋