Francis Ingledew's book makes the case that Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, one of the canonical works of medieval English literature, should be recognized as a response to King Edward III's foundation in 1349 of the chivalric Order of the Garter. As well as providing the basis for a thorough reinterpretation of the poem's purposes and meanings, this argument dates to the mid-fourteenth-century reign of Edward III (1327-77) a poem conventionally ascribed to the reign of Richard II (1377-99). Through close readings of the poem and of an array of overlooked historical sources, Ingledew presents Sir Gawain and the Green Knight as a critique of Edward III's sexual and military behavior. Ingledew's argument takes him deep into chivalric practice in Edward's court of the 1340s, much of it connected with the early years of war with France. Ingledew pursues the significance of sexual scandal associated with Edward, especially the rape of the Countess of Salisbury confidently imputed to him by the formidable Liégois historian Jean le Bel. At the same time that he was trying to conquer France and Scotland and preside over a court vulnerable to scandal, Edward also called on the history (as it was seen) of King Arthur and the Round Table, associating himself with Arthur's imperial and moral authority through the founding of the Order of the Garter. In its portrayal of the Order of the Garter, Ingledew argues, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight sets itself at odds with Edward's central ethical and political projects. "Exhaustively researched and insightfully theorized, Ingledew's study proposes historical, cultural, and discursive contexts for Sir Gawain and the Green Knight more comprehensive, and more persuasive, than any hitherto attempted. It sets an exalted critical and scholarly standard against which to judge future interpretations of this complex and elegant poem." -- Robert Hanning, Columbia University

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is a masterpiece of medieval English literature and one of the finest Arthurian tales in any language. Though its ingenious plotting and verbal artistry continue to dazzle readers, it is written in a challenging regional dialect and uses many words that were already archaic when the poem was written in the late fourteenth century. This edition is designed to make the poem, in its original Middle English, accessible to students and general readers. Following standards adopted for editing other Middle English poets, the edition lightly normalizes spellings to make words more recognizable for a modern audience. Extensive marginal glossing of difficult words, thorough on-page explanatory notes, and a comprehensive glossary offer further support for readers. The historical appendices include other examples of medieval romance from France and Britain.

This Middle-English poem about the moral testing of a young hero is commonly described as the greatest Arthurian romance in our literary tradition. It is a question still as to who the author is, but this poet is considered second only to Chaucer.

Incorporates some material from the author's theis (doctoral--University of the West Indies (Mona), 1972) presented under the title: The conceptualization of death in Old and Middle English poetry.

'The finest translation in and for our time' (Kevin Crossley-Holland) Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, with its intricate plot of enchantment and betrayal is probably the most skilfully told story in the whole of the English Arthurian cycle. Originating from the north-west midlands of England, it is based on two separate and very ancient Celtic motifs of the Beheading and the Exchange of Winnings, brought together by the anonymous 14th century poet. His telling comprehends a great variety of moods and modes - from the stark realism of the hunt-scenes to the delicious and dangerous bedroom encounters between Lady Bercilak and Gawain, from moments of pure lyric beauty when he evokes the English countryside in all its seasons, to authorial asides that are full of irony and puckish humour. This new verse translation uses a modern alliterative pattern which subtly echoes the music of the original at the same time as it strives for fidelity. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

This distinctive comparison of Islamic and Christian mysticism focuses on the mystic journey in the two faith traditions.

Each volume provides substantive critical essays and biographical information on four to eight major poets from all eras. A cumulative title index to the entire series is published separately (included in subscription).

A poem by an unknown author written in the Middle Ages, in which the hero's knightly virtues are put to the test by a huge green knight on a green horse.

King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table are in the middle of a Christmas feast when a green-skinned knight offers them a simple but deadly challenge. A challenge the brave Sir Gawain quickly, and fatefully, accepts.

This is an innovative and original exploration of the connections between Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, one of the most well-known works of medieval English literature, and the tradition of French Arthurian romance, best-known through the works of Chretien de Troyes two centuries earlier. The book compares Gawain with a wide range of French Arthurian romances, exploring their recurrent structural patterns and motifs, their ethical orientation and the social context in which they were produced. It presents a wealth of new sources and analogues, which reveal and illuminate the Gawain-poet's sophisticated literary and moral understanding of the conventions of Arthurian romance. Throughout, Ad Putter pays close attention to the ways in which the modes of representation in romance are related to social and historical contexts. Focusing on the importance of conscience, courtliness, and self-restraint in Arthurian romance, this book explores the ways in which literati such as Chretien de Troyes and the Gawain-poet adapted chivalric ideals to the changing times.

This Companion offers a chronological sweep of the canon ofArthurian literature - from its earliest beginnings to thecontemporary manifestations of Arthur found in film and electronicmedia. Part of the popular series, Blackwell Companions toLiterature and Culture, this expansive volume enables a fundamentalunderstanding of Arthurian literature and explores why it is stillintegral to contemporary culture. Offers a comprehensive survey from the earliest to the mostrecent works Features an impressive range of well-known internationalcontributors Examines contemporary additions to the Arthurian canon,including film and computer games Underscores an understanding of Arthurian literature asfundamental to western literary tradition