Raffel triumphs again Oct 1, 2000 (18 of 21 found this helpful)
This 14th Century poem is one of the earliest known works in English. Its provenance is a mystery because literally nothing is known of the poet. It is written in a unique dialect of Middle English and is pretty much unread in the original. This verse translation by Burton Raffel is terrific and does much to elevate the work to the level of Beowulf & Chaucer.
At Christmas time, a Green Knight enters Camelot and challenges any Knight of the Roundtable to smite him with one blow of a battle axe. The only catch is that one year hence the smiter must receive a similar blow from the Green Knight. Sir Gawain volunteers for this strange duty. He beheads the Green Knight who thereupon picks up his laughing head and reminds Gawain of his obligation & tells him to find him in exactly one year to receive the blow.
The enchanting adventure leading up to and inculding their subsequent confrontation is beautifully rendered by Raffel. The poem is exciting, humorous & deals with great themes: courage, honor, etc.
GRADE: A+
Hony Soyt Qui Mal Pence (Shame to him who finds evil here) Mar 26, 2009
I am a newbie to the Knights of the Round Table. I picked this book on a whim. When I learned that this tale is a parody of the Arthurian legends, I wasn't sure if I would be able to enjoy it. Burton Raffel's introduction proved me wrong. He explained the poem with historical and literary insights. He is very vocal about the other literary critics' interpretations. At the end of the introduction, Raffel gives a short list of Sir Gawain study guides, complete with Raffel's opinion of each. (His opinions will save a lot of time and money to Sir Gawain researchers.)
And, thanks to Raffel, I was able to enjoy this story. Keeping in mind that the Knights were parodied, I appreciated their idiosyncracies even more. Raffel cautions the reader not to overanalyze, and so I did not. (I enjoyed the book for what it is- a parody, rather than some such commentary on medieval life!) I was giggling over the interactions between Gawain and the lady- a medieval Sex and the City dialogue! There are two surprise twists at the end. The first, Gawain and the Green Knight. Second, Arthur and his court's response to Gawain's confession.
This is a poem about Christian human nature. Yes, Gawain is a Christian (of the Catholic tradition, but this poem is pre-Reformation, so...). Gawain attends mass, makes ejaculations, asks saints for intercession, and constantly blesses everyone. He has a fear of hell. He makes penance. Yet, Gawain is human- he is not perfect. He makes mistakes- we all do. He confesses, hopes to start again without committing the same sins. This represents so many of us living in 2009. Timeless poetry.
What was also beautiful, especially for this post-Vatican II Catholic, was the references to Christian holidays, saints, and God's power. Michaelmas is mentioned, as is Saint Julian (patron of travelers). The poet's Marianism is expressed through Gawain and others' dialogues. I also liked the use of the four seasons and liturgical calendar.
"But a year runs fast, and always runs different;
Start and finish are never the same.
So Christmas goes by, and all the swift year,
Each season racing after the other:
Christmas pursued by uncomfortable Lent,
Trying men's felsh flesh with simple food
And with fish; then fair weather fights with foul,
Clouds fill the sky, the cold shrinks away,
Rain falls clear in warm showers,
And flat earth opens into flower
And fields and plains grow thick and green,
Birds start their nests and sing like angels
For love of soft summer, creeping across
The slopes;
And hedgegrows swell tall,
And blossoms blow open,
And glorious woods are all
Echoing joy and hope.
And after symmer's soft winds, Zephyrus
Whistles quietly with seeds and herbs,
Sprouting delightful plants, painted
Wet with dew falling from leaves,
Wating to be warm in the bright sun.
Then autumn comes rushing, calling the plants
To watch for winter, to grow while they can;
And he dries the earth and drives dust
Swirling to the sky, and wild winds
Run to wrestle with the sun; leaves
Are thrown from trees and lie dead on the ground,
And green grass withers. And everything
Slender and new ripens and rots,
And a year runs away in passing days,
And winter winds back, as winter must,
Just so.
Till Michaelmas moon
Promises snow-
And Gawain soon
Recalls what he has to do.