Archetypes In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight - 1100 Words

In almost any story, whether novel or poem, lies a hero. Depending on the path, a variety of archetypes usually accompany the hero. The Merriam Webster dictionary defines â€Å"archetype† as â€Å"the original pattern or model of which all things of the same type are representations or copies.† Joseph Campbell’s A Hero With A Thousand Faces introduces the common archetypes often found in various pieces of literature, explaining â€Å"The parallels will be immediately apparent; and these will develop a vast and amazingly constant statement of the basic truths by which man has lived throughout the millenniums of his residence on the planet,† in his preface to the 1949 edition. To summarize, after learning of the different archetypes found in a story, one†¦show more content†¦Examples such as the Green Knight, a product of Morgan le Faye and Morgan’s castle and everything that lies within it support this idea. Although, not only can green repr esent the envy that makes the story, it can also represent a connection to nature, perhaps even other-worldly. The fact that the Green Knight made up of green demonstrates a very important relation between him and the world, revealed through his weapons of choice such as his holly branch and axe. Meanwhile, red and gold, strongly associated with Gawain, contrast the Green Knight’s green and gold. The color red represents love and life (blood) while gold represents wealth and prosperity. The colors serve as a wonderful visual to Gawain’s character— very noble. The role of the temptress, a character archetype identified by Joseph Campbell, tests the moral values of the hero in the hero’s journey. In mythology, sirens or nymphs often depicted the temptress, but in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the temptress took the form of a human seductress. In the poem, as Sir Bertilak sets off to hunt every morning, the lovely Lady Bertilak, otherwise known as Sir Bertilak’s wife, pays Sir Gawain a visit. A seductress should bear some beauty to impose the threat of seduction, because this gives the temptress the ability to hold power over the hero’s head with something he or she wants, or something material. What better characteristic to seduce a knight than appear as The fairest of ladiesShow MoreRelatedArchetypes In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight829 Words   |  4 PagesArchetypes can be found in most literary work, especially in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight most characters or objects se rved to aid in the development of the hero by being either a situational, character, color, or a symbol archetype. The poem begins with a challenge being presented to the knights of the Round Table by the Green Knight. While seeing that no one else will accept the challenge, putting Camelot’s honor at stake, Gawain accepts and then realizesRead MoreArchetypes In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight773 Words   |  4 PagesArchetypes are utilized to analyze the common patterns of human nature in literature and major motion pictures. In the poem Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, Gawain accepts the challenge the Green Knight has to offer and goes on a quest to redeem the honor of Camelot. The Green Knight teaches Gawain a lesson which changes his values. A number of archetypal situations occur in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight that serve to promote Gawain’s moral development. The Green Knight makes his first appearanceRead MoreTheme Of Archetypes In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight864 Words   |  4 Pagesfollow Archetypes. The concept of Archetypes presents itself in Joseph Campbells’, Hero with a Thousand Faces. 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Sir Gawain was apprehensive of his journey at first, but as time passesRead MoreTheme Of Archetypes In Sir Gawain And The Green Knight768 Words   |  4 PagesThe archetypes that are prevalent in many different stories all have have common origin in Joseph Campbells Hero With a Thousand Faces. More specifically, in the medieval story, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, there are distinct archetypes that are especially necessary to the theme of the story.An understanding of three key archetypes—the temptress the magic weapon, and the task—reveal the essence of Gawain’s role within the archetypal quest motif. 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However, there was alsoRead MoreComparing Beowulf And Sir Gawain And The Green Knight Essay1555 Words   |  7 PagesBeowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, both reflect attributes of loyalty, specifically the testing of one’s loyalty and the consequences of disloyalty, which reflect the behavior and values shared by the Anglo-Saxons and the people of the Late Medieval era. When analyzing loyalty in both of these works one will see that one’s own self-worth turns loyalty into selfishness to save oneself rather than risking one’s life for the sake of the community. Joseph Campbell outlined archetypes in his Hero