The dual portrayal of the character of Sir Gawain in Middle English narratives
The dual portrayal of the character of Sir Gawain in Middle English narratives

Summary/Abstract: Arthurian legend is one most powerful and influential story of the Middle Ages. None other tale of the medieval times has retained such an immense popularity throughout the centuries. Despite the importance of King Arthur himself, there is yet another member of the Round Table whose exploits inspired the English audience even more than the fabled ruler’s. The popularity of Sir Gawain seems to be a uniquely English phenomenon. Often disregarded or even despised in the French tales, Sir Gawain retained almost infallible admiration and interest on the British Isles, inspiring such great masterpieces as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Especially the late Middle Ages witnessed a most remarkable discrepancy in the literary portrayal of King Arthur’s nephew. This paper strives to present the dual evolution of the character of Sir Gawain in the medieval literature, on the basis of a comparative analysis of various Arthurian texts both exclusively English as well as those based on or inspired by French sources. Sir Gawain, being King Arthur’s nephew, was always an important figure in the medieval Arthurian legend. In the English poems of the 14th century Gawain used to be almost more significant than the King himself. In a group of verse narratives of distinctively English origin, including Avowing of King Arthur, Awntyrrs of Arthur and Sir Gawain and the Carle of Carlisle, Sir Gawain is presented as a paragon of courtesy and knightly prowess. As much as the French tradition dismissed him and assigned all honour to Lancelot, to the English Sir Gawain represented the flower of all courtesy and gentleness, and all other knights, excepting only Arthur himself, are usually foils to his prowess and nobility (Barber 2004: 105). This magnificence of 107

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