Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
by Jessie L. Weston
Then Arthur took the axe and gripped the haft, and swung it round, ready to strike. And the knight stood before him, taller by the head than any in the hall; he stood, and stroked his beard, and drew down his coat, no more dismayed for the king’s threats than if one had brought him a drink of wine.
Then Gawain, who sat by the queen, leaned forward to the king and spake, “I beseech ye, my lord, let this venture be mine. Would ye but bid me rise from this seat, and stand by your side, so that my liege lady thought it not ill, then would I come to your counsel before this goodly court. For I think it not seemly that such challenge should be made in your hall that ye yourself should undertake it, while there are many bold knights who sit beside ye, none are there, methinks, of readier will under heaven, or more valiant in open field. I am the weakest, I wot, and the feeblest of wit, and it will be the less loss of my life if ye seek sooth. For save that ye are mine uncle naught is there in me to praise, no virtue is there in my body save your blood, and since this challenge is such folly that it beseems ye not to take it, and I have asked it from ye first, let it fall to me, and if I bear myself ungallantly then let all this court blame me.”
Then they all spake with one voice that the king should leave this venture and grant it to Gawain.
"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" by Jessie L. Weston
Question
In the tale Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the character of Sir Gawain is an example of the hero archetype. Which of the following best describes this archetype in literature?(1 point)
Responses
It signifies a character who is hated by most but admired by some.
It signifies a character who is hated by most but admired by some.
It represents purity and goodness in an environment that is highly corrupt.
It represents purity and goodness in an environment that is highly corrupt.
It signifies a character that is clever, resilient, and that faces great challenges.
It signifies a character that is clever, resilient, and that faces great challenges.
It represents power, wisdom, and a weakness that proves to be a tragic flaw.
1 answer
The best description of the hero archetype in literature, as illustrated by the character of Sir Gawain in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, is:
It signifies a character that is clever, resilient, and that faces great challenges.
This accurately captures Gawain’s willingness to take on the challenge posed by the Green Knight and his determination to prove his valor, reflecting the traits commonly associated with heroic characters.
