
Throughout the semester, we had read many
stories and poems written many hundred years ago. Some stories focused on
war, magic, religion, and nobility, while others focused on love, power, kings
and knights. Such stories are Beowulf, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and
The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell.
Beowulf is known to be the oldest long poem
written in English. Many believe it was written more than twelve hundred years
ago, or even as old as the late tenth century.The poem focuses on many religious
symbols, both Christian and pagan. It makes many references to the Old Testament
and focuses on fate . In the poem, we read about Beowulf's
many encounters with monsters and dragons and his heroic way of life.
Sir Gawain and the Green
Knight is thought to be written around 1375-1400. This story focuses on romance,
nobility and the supernatural. In this story, we see how noble and couragous
the knights of King Arthur's Round Table are, more specifically Sir Gawain.
Sir Gawain is tested through the temptation of a beautiful lady and his bravery
and honesty are tested as well.
In the romantic story of
The Wedding of Sir Gawain and Dame Ragnell, we again see the nobility of Sir
Gawain to his king. King Arthur life is in danger and in order for his to
be spared he must find the answer to the question, "What do women most desire?"
His only choice is to marry off Sir Gawain to a loathly, old lady(who knows
the answer and propositions King Arthur...the answer for Sir Gawain's hand
in marriage). Sir Gawain, because of his strong nobility to his king, agrees
to marry a hideous, old woman to save King Arthur.
To learn more about these stories, visit our
virtual museum.
FREE ADMISSION! FOR A LIMITED TIME
ONLY!!
TAKE ME TO THE MUSEUM!!
Creators of this website:
Heba Dolah & Brian Kalma
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