Blog #10

Gawain’s quest for the Green Knight is accompanied by detailed descriptions of the changing seasons of the year. How does this attention to weather and landscape complement the figure of the giant knight, who appears both in green and, as Sir Bercilak, with a beard “of a beaver’s hue”—that is, a deep brown? How would you compare the role played by seasonal change in the characters’ lives here with that in other poems and narratives you have read?

The changing seasons in Gawain's quest starts in part 2. When Gawain leaves Camelot, the season is fall. The seasons change throughout the story because Gawain's emotions and feelings change. His feelings and the seasons are directly correlated. When Gawain is happy and cheerful, the season is winter which can be associated with the holidays and Christmas. The weather becomes hotter and more summer like when Gawain is has to fight the green knight. This season could show his nervousness and fear of having to fight the green knight. At the end, when the green knight spares Gawain, the weather is pleasant and cooling. This weather shows a weight off of Gawain's chest for completing the fight and surviving. 

The green colors of the knight may show how alive and strong he is. The color green can show strength and show aliveness like the leaves on a spring or summer day. The colors of the knight show a mental picture in the reader's head. The green knight could easily blend in with the landscape in the spring and summer. 

Sir Bercilak had a deep brown hue which could represent the bark on trees. This could also represent strength. The branches and trunk of the tree is brown and allows the tree to stand up straight. Brown could also symbolize fall which is the ending of the year. 

Choose a song and pictures to complement your response.

A song that I feel would represent the quest that related the season to the character's emotions and feelings is "I could be the one". This song has many tones and background sounds which describe all the emotions that Gawain and the green knight are feeling. The song also talks about "being set free" which may be what Gawain feels throughout his journey before having to fight the green knight. Gawain wants to get the fight over with.